Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
We never want to let go,
Alone together always.
Because we are one, just us,
Existing as the world stands still.
I’m crying as we kiss, holding him tighter, knowing I’ll relive this moment a thousand times.
EPILOGUE
ONE MONTH LATER
Kai
“Is that all you got?” Ryan says, laughing as I jab the heavy bag.
He’s standing behind it, steadying it. He’s far healthier than he was just one month ago. The world seems different from before the road trip, brighter somehow, though summer’s nearing its end. There’s this light inside me, making laughter come easier.
The memories of the forest, all that hell, the bloodshed, and the violence. It all fades away as I chuckle and toss Ryan a wink. It’s sheer joy just being here with my best friend as my fiancée checks on the lasagna inside the house. It feels so perfect, especially with the sun setting.
“Take it easy,” I tell Ryan.
He grins, walking around the bag and leaning against my garden fence. It’s freshly painted, and I’ve arranged some flowerpots around the edge. Since my woman moved in, I’ve got much more motivation to make the place look good.
“I feel fine,” he says. “Healthier than a horse.”
“That’s because you’re not human,” I tease. “That shot would’ve killed most men.”
“No, Kai,” he says, shaking his head.
“It would have. Trust me.”
“No, you’re right, but I didn’t survive because I’m tough. That’s not how injuries work, and you know it. I was lucky. I’m here. I get to witness this.”
“You sound drunk.”
Ryan grins, taking his beer from the ground and waving a casual toast before sipping. “Maybe a little,” he chuckles, “but I mean it. Every time I come here, I’m so happy you found each other.”
“It’s so surreal hearing you say that,” I reply, shaking my head like I always do.
I keep expecting to wake up back at the gas station. It turns out I didn’t take out Randall and his criminal goon. I didn’t save my woman. Instead, I’m bleeding. My soul’s trying to keep me going by feeding me my perfect life, but it’s real. Ryan’s smile is real.
“It’s the truth,” he says. “I never thought I’d say it, but it is…”
He trails off, looking over my shoulder. I see my fiancée standing with an object in her hand, shaking all over, tears in her eyes. I rush to her, thinking about war and violence. Then I get closer and see the big smile on her gorgeous lips. A happy flush spreads across her face, her eyes sparkling, joy beaming from every inch of her.
“Tell me,” I say, taking her hand, the one not holding the test.
“It’s positive,” she says, voice cracking. “We’re going to be parents. Ryan, Ryan, you’re going to be an uncle.”
Ryan rushes over, then stops, looking at me as if I’ll resent him being part of this moment. I wrap my arm around him and pull him into a hug. The three of us embrace. Kay’s crying softly, my eyes stinging as I think about our son or daughter. The start to the life I wanted the first time I saw her on that dusty road, framed by sunlight.
EPILOGUE
SIX YEARS LATER
Baby Fletcher
“I’m not a baby anymore, Uncle Ryan.”
I wrap my arms around Uncle Ryan’s big, strong body. He’s so big and sturdy and carries me around pretty good. We’re going to the best place ever, the garage. My little sister is sleeping, not my first little sister, Jasmin. She’s the new one, the crying one, baby Lola.
Lola is very cute and cries and eats a lot. Mommy and Daddy say I was like Lola, but I tried to get in her crib once, and it didn’t work very good.
“Okay, big man Fletcher, then. How does that sound?”
I laugh at Uncle Ryan’s funny voice. We’re walking past the park, and lots of people stop to say hello and tell me I’m cute. They also say hello to Uncle Ryan and talk about motorbikes and stuff like that. I like the sunshine and the clouds, so I look at them, but not right at the sun. That’s a baby move, and I’m big man Fletcher now.
“Uncle Ryan, do you like me or Lola or… or Jasmin more?”
My sister’s name was really hard to say once, but it isn’t so bad now.
Uncle Ryan laughs. It’s so cool to get him to laugh like that. “Still trying to get me on this question, eh, kid?”
“Big man Fletcher!” I remind him.
“Sorry, sorry. Big man Fletcher.”
“Is it ’cause Lola is the smallest and cutest and cries a lot?”
“All of you are miracles, Fletch. That’s the thing. I look at you, and I see my dad’s eyes. I see Kai in you, too. I see my little sister. It’s the same with all of you, little pieces of our family.”
“But why m-m-m…”
“Miracles?”
“Yeah!”
“When you’re older, you’ll learn about how your mom and dad met. You’ll learn things that make you wonder how they ended up together. You’ll see why I think it’s a miracle. They had every reason to fail, but look at them now, Fletch.”