Page 146 of Dirty Plans

“I want to show you something,” he proclaims, his voice tinged with an emotion I can’t quite decipher.

Dropping my hands after a final squeeze, he retrieves his phone and navigates to YouTube. The bright screen casts a gentle glow on his face, highlighting the seriousness etched in his features.

He selects a video, and the familiar opening to "The War of the Worlds" radio broadcast fills the air.

I can’t count how many times I’ve listened to it at this point. Finding it on Youtube years ago helped me feel connected to London.

Our eyes lock, and in that moment, memories of a past life, of youthful innocence, and an unbreakable bond flood back. The broadcast, the night he left, our unspoken words—they all come rushing back with a breathtaking intensity.

“I’ve carried this moment with me, Lily,” London’s voice is a soft whisper, his words weaving through the haunting opening of the show. “Every day, every night—it’s been with me, a constant reminder of what I left behind.”

Emotion glistens in his eyes, mirroring my own. The magnitude of his revelation, the vulnerability in his admission, binds us together in a shared moment of truth.

“And now?” I manage to utter, my voice choked with the sentiment.

“Now, I want to create new memories. Ones that don’t revolve around goodbyes, but hellos. I don’t want to dwell on what was left unsaid and what we had no control over, but instead, focus on what we can say now, and every day moving forward.”

He pauses, his gaze unflinching, as if searching the depths of my soul for an anchor. “Starting tonight, I want to rewrite our story, Lily. Are you with me?”

The intensity of his gaze, the sincerity in his voice—it’s overwhelming, yet exhilarating. A wave of emotions, as tumultuous and profound as the ocean, crash over me.

I’m at the precipice of a new beginning, a moment where the past and present converge, offering a bridge to a future yet unwritten—and yet, somehow,foretold.

The broadcast continues to play as I grasp his hand tighter, a silent, yet unequivocalyes. The stars above bear witness to our silent pact, their twinkling lights illuminating the dawn of a new chapter in our entwined lives.

Above us, the universe unfolds its cosmic dance, and beneath the stars, amidst the echoes of a haunting tale, London and I embark upon a journey where time is not a barrier, but a canvas—waiting to be painted with new memories.

We lay back, our hands still intertwined, as the broadcast weaves through the silence of the night.

In this moment, we are not just two souls marked by time and distance—we are cosmic entities, star-crossed lovers destined to find our way back to each other.

The old memories, the unuttered goodbyes—they still linger, but now they share space with something new, something profound.

After the final notes of "The War of the Worlds" dwindle to an end, London speaks again, his voice soft yet determined, "I used to think that some things are too broken to be mended, some distances too vast to be bridged. But tonight, with you here by my side, under this vast expanse of stars, I realize that sometimes, the universe is willing to give you a second chance."

I turn to look at him, tracing the lines of his face, each one telling a story of the years gone by. The weight of our past, the depth of our connection, and the possibilities of our future hang in the balance of this one, singular moment.

He continues, "I don't want to waste that chance, Lily. Not anymore."

Tears, born out of years of longing, heartbreak, and newfound hope, form in the corners of my eyes. I blink them back, not wanting to break our gaze.

“I know we can't change the past,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion, "but we have the power to shape our future. And I want that future to be with you."

Our eyes lock, and in them, I see a reflection of our shared hopes, dreams, and the promise of many tomorrows. We lean into each other, our foreheads touching, our breaths mingling, the world around us fading away.

The significance of the moment isn't lost on either of us.

It's a beginning—a fresh start.

In this timeless moment, with the world at our feet and the universe as our witness, we embrace the promise of a love reborn, infinite and unbreakable, ready to face whatever the future holds,together.

Epilogue

LONDON

Ipace back and forth in my office at Nocté, rechecking the clues and little notes for what feels like the hundredth time.

Everything has to be perfect tonight.

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