Page 104 of Quake

And the only thing that could make it better would be you,I think to myself, wishing that Alex really were here to see this.

But who knows?Maybe he is.

Epilogue: Part One - Gianni

Thursday, December 18, 2025

I’m not sure I’ve ever been as happy as I am in this moment, though I’m nearly certain the feeling I’m about to experience in just a few minutes will be twice as good as this.

Butterflies are flying rampant in my stomach today as I lead the love of my life into a quiet bookstore. A bookstore I’ve managed to rent out for the evening.

As we enter, the owner waves at us from behind her desk but quickly disappears after greeting us.

Lark looks like she’s moments from taking off down the aisles like a woman on a mission, and her giddy excitement fills me up inside.

“Calm down,” I joke gently. “It’s just a bookstore.”It’s anything but.

Her mouth drops in shock. “Justa bookstore?! Are you kidding? There’s no such thing! Besides,thisbookstore only sells romance, which automatically brings it to the top of my list.”

I remember not so long ago, a time when there was an entirely different kind of list she was adding items to. And we haven’t stopped since we crossed off all that she started with. Nowthatis my favorite kind of list.

She tugs on my hand, leading me toward an aisle I’m keenly familiar with after this morning. “Not so fast, little red. I have a surprise for you,” I tell her.

Her wide eyes meet mine, and a smile tugs at her lips. “I love surprises!” she shouts. Once upon a time, I hated them, but seeing how goddamn excited she gets about them has easily changed my mind.

Not that that’s a surprise to anyone.

I lead her toward a pile of books in the center of the room and grab the first one on the stack of orange illustrated books, handing it to her. She stares at it for a moment, and finally, she opens it up to the first page, where a note is handwritten inside for her.

She reads it aloud.

“Dans l'ascenseur, nous montons,

Appuyez sur le bouton, lancez la tendance.

Où les repas sont préparés et les cœurs se réjouissent,

Suivez-moi dans une piéce si lumineuse.

Pas à pas, nous glissons à travers les portes,

Vers un espace où la chaleur réside.

Écoutez bien, la bouilloire chante,

Trouvez l'endroit où le confort s'accroche.”

In the elevator, we go up,

Press the button, start the trend.

Where meals are prepared, and hearts rejoice,

Follow me into such a bright room.

Step by step, through the doors we slide,

Toward a space where warmth resides.

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