“Everyone, buckle up. It’s a nine-hour drive to Chicago so get comfortable,” Jagger said.
I sat back in my seat. We put our seatbelts on as the car moved forward. I held Alex’s hand and rested my head on his shoulder. I had no idea I fell asleep until the car stopped.
We were at a gas station.
“Where are we,” I asked as my voice rumbled to life.
“Just outside of Des Moines. Still have a way to go,” Alex said and I could feel something tickling my neck.
Alex was playing with my necklace.
“With all that has happened, this necklace never got lost or broke. It always stayed with you.”
I instinctively reached up to touch the gold heart and dusted Alex’s fingers in the process.
“Yeah, for a cheap necklace my sister saved up for to buy when she was thirteen, it has held tight.”
“Because it’s her heart,” he said and I gazed up at Alex. “You never left her behind, Aria. She’s been with you the whole time.”
I nodded as my face crumbled. He pulled me into his arms and let me cry. All those tears I held inside me, all those years I pushed the thought of her away—they were finally free.
We were all finally free.