Page 158 of Forgiving Fate

I lean down to rest my forehead against hers and our eyes lock.

Our breaths become one as I sway to the nonexistent music. The waves and the rain are the only music we need.

The rain falls harder, but that doesn’t stop us.

I can’t stop myself and I place a gentle kiss on her lips, her lashes fluttering as I pull away.

We stand there wordlessly. Our silence is unique and one of a kind that can never be replicated. Allie and I have a love that can only be described as magnetic and beautiful.

I know all I need to do is look at her beautiful face and everything will fade into the distance.

Allie rises onto her toes and wraps her arms around my neck. Lifting her off her toes, I slowly spin us around and her arms go out to the side like she is flying.

Maybe she is just feeling free, but I choose to think she is sharing her moment of finally being free with me and for this, I will be eternally grateful.

I spin us faster and the sound of our laughter joins the sounds of the ocean and the rain.

As I set her back on her feet, Allie’s hand goes to cup the side of my face, her thumb brushing back and forth over my cheek.

Raindrops fall down her face and she tilts my head down, so I have no choice but to look into her eyes. She doesn’t look away and her eyes tell thousands of stories, but right now, I can see ours playing out in them.

The story of two souls, two broken puzzle pieces that somehow fit perfectly.

Completing each other’s shattered hearts that were seemingly unfixable.

Connecting and forming an unbreakable bond that can only be explained as fate.

“I love you, Bluebird.”

“I love you, Storm.”

Our lips connect and just as everything fades away, her lips pull away and my eyes open to a devious smile spreading across her drenched face.

“Catch me and I will let you win Uno tonight.”

“Oh, sweetheart, I will always catch you, but never let me win because my favorite thing is to see the look on your face when I beat you fair and square.”

Her grin grows, and she takes a step towards me, rising on her tiptoes and whispers in my ear, “I will always win.” With that, she takes off running to the beach and I chase after her.

I will follow this girl to the ends of the earth because she is my light, and I made a promise to never let that feeling go once I found one that shines the brightest.

Epilogue

Together, Mom and Isit on the edge of the dock, looking out at the water of our favorite place.

To say the journey here has been nothing short of rocky would be an understatement, but we made it.

Today marks the first day of Mom’s new journey, and it’s bittersweet. Over the last few months, we have tried everything in our power to get Sutton to speak to us once we found out she was safe. She wants to meet us, but she is nowhere near ready, and that’s okay.

We have all tried to keep ourselves busy while we waited for answers from Lachlan about Sutton’s recovery. Today marking the biggest thing off our list. It took some time, but when Mom decided she wanted to make Cliff Haven her permanent residence, we placed my childhood home on the market.

Today we are here saying goodbye to the house I called home for most of my childhood and the place we used to escape to.

It came at a perfect time because when we get back, I will be starting a job at Cliff Haven Elementary as the school nurse. Landon wanted me to wait longer, since I was assisting Mom somuch as she still struggles with her mobility some days. Mom quickly nipped that in the bud and insisted I take the job. I think she could tell I was itching to get back to work, even if it was a tactic in distraction. Regardless, since I accepted the job, I have felt an overwhelming sense of peace. The only thread left hanging was saying goodbye to this place.

Something hits my shoulders and I look up to see Landon draping my favorite gray flannel of his over me before sitting down next to us, and wrapping his arm around my waist.

The last time we were here, life was so different. We were both shells of humans, drifting from one wave to the next. Now we are here, better versions of ourselves and as one.

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