Epilogue

Life basically depends on the core concept of moving on.

With the events that pull us apart and then put us back together, the only option left for us is to move on.

How do you do that though?

It is not that easy as it seems. The events that have traumatized us aren’t something we planned for. They were always unexpected and when something unexpected hits you so hard…it rattles you beyond comparison. So we try to escape.

We go to a place where we are needed so desperately, where there are people who are happy to see us and want us to be happy and would do anything to make that possible. We will lead ourselves away from the doubts in life and make ourselves feel validated.

‘I am just glad that you are okay Sean. I really am. I might sound selfish at the moment saying that I’m glad that you alone are okay but…I am and I can’t hide that.’

‘N-No Claire, I understand. I am happy that you care for me. I am lucky to have you.’

‘Are you going to be alright within though, Sean?’

‘I really don’t know Claire; I am not going to lie. You will be there with me though, right?’

‘I am not going anywhere. I am not going to leave you alone in any other situation in your life. I promise to you, that you will not lose me. I am here for you.’

‘Shall we confirm it right now?’

‘What do you mean? W-Wh-Why are you going down on one knee? Oh my god, really?!’

‘Clarence Regina Dawson, will you marry me and give me the honor of being your husband forever?’

‘Y-Yes! Absolutely yes! Oh my god, you are putting a ring in my finger. Shit, I am crying now.’

‘And I promise you, the tears you shed anymore will always be out of happiness. I vow to you.’

‘I love you so much.’

‘I love you too dear.’

Or we go to a place where we feel like we need to be. There may be people who love us there or there needn’t be one. We just want to be at a place where we feel like we may belong no matter what. it just helps further if you had someone to care about you there.

‘Mia…he’ll be back. He’s gone just gone to the grocery store for a supply run. Standing at the door, staring into the dark, empty lane isn’t going to help the way you fell in anyway.’

‘I know Kelly…I know. I just want to see him walk into that lane as soon as possible. I’ll then know he’s alright.’

‘I have never seen you like this Mia. Frankly, you are scaring me. Since you returned home and Deke joining you a week after, you’ve been real jumpy. I thought you’d be happy that he’s around more just to be with you.’

‘I am happy, Kells…you have no idea how much though. But I cannot help but be scared for him. After the events that happened back there, after all that he went through, after Ayu…I just cannot help but be scared for him. I wish that I hadn’t been involved in any of this crap. I feel like I've lost my normality. The whole ‘take life as it comes’ attitude is a goner. I've lost that part of me and it kinda sucks.’

‘I need you to realize the bad times are over Mia. You don’t have to change your life because of the past. None of it was planned. I am just glad that things are okay for all of you now. But realize this. It is all over. The losses and pain have stopped and you need to come back to reality. Now, close your eyes and take a deep breath.’

‘It makes no difference Kells. I am…’

‘Just do it, will you? Close your eyes.’

‘Fine. But for how long though?’

‘Until…now!’

‘What are you playing at…Deke? You didn’t go the grocery store did you?’

‘I have no work there when I have to celebrate the birthday of my girl.’

‘Flowers? How clichéd?’

‘So you would like a whole chicken roast to yourself for a treat now wouldn’t you?’

‘Now boy, you are talking.’

‘How did you manage to feed this beast Kelly?’

‘Boy, I ask that same question to myself every single day.’

‘Hey, it is my birthday, cut me some slack.’

‘Or some meat…’

‘Deke!!’

‘Alright, don’t break anything while chasing each other around the club!’

‘Sure thing Kelly!’

‘Kids…Love… What’s not to like?’

Else, you re-create your system. The life you had before the surprise, you might want to gather the remnants of it and hope to re-live a part of your past in the future and work to make it better.

‘How are you doing Ms. Wood? You just woke up? That is good. You’ve slept a solid five hours without medication. I guess you are healing sooner than we anticipated.’

‘I am trying my best. Hey, how-how is Ethan?’

‘Why don’t you ask him yourself huh?’

‘What? How do I do that?’

‘You can turn your head for starters…’

‘Ethan? You are out of emergency care?’

‘I had to. I needed to be right next to you. That place started to feel too lonely.’

‘Six broken ribs, a broken knee, scars and cuts all over your body and you still manage to be romantic? You do realize that we are at a hospital, lying in our beds next to each other wounded and battered right?’

‘I know, thanks for stating the obvious by the way. But I have to be romantic and I have to make you smile. I have been spending a lot of time making you cry and worry. That is not fair on my part, especially when I am in love with you.’

‘So you are in love with me? When did that start?’

‘I never stopped loving you. I don’t intend to stop sooner too. I can’t really do anything to earse the past but I intend to write my future with you. I hope you know that. I really do.’

‘I am glad that you are going to.’

If none of the methods work, you can try acceptance. You can accept that life screwed you over and you weren’t aware of the consequences. You can allow yourself to believe in the fact that you couldn’t have done anything to save yourself and your loved ones through the ordeal and make it out, as a whole, and maybe live a life where you were all together. You understand that there was nothing you could’ve done. Now, that is just a truck load of crap.

‘So… A ‘warrior’ you say?’

‘I can’t apologize for that reference. It is how I look at things and…’

‘Hey…no criticism here. But the ‘peasants’ reference was a bit too much.’

‘Well, it is my license to use.’

‘It is more like an abuse though.’

‘Whatever…you are just jealous.’

‘So…do you miss her?’

‘Hmmm… you want me to be honest about it?’

‘Isn’t that the whole point?’

‘Then honestly, not really. I am glad that Sebastian’s dead. The police came in and shot him down like the monster that he was in reality. They managed to get to Rachel and Ethan before it got worse too. With Sebastian off the picture, my parents, especially my dad can relax. And my brothers can move on with their lives. I mean, if you see all these factors, I am actually happy that Aysha’s not around anymore.’

‘I am happy to hear that from you. It is time we moved on further don’t you think?’

Nevertheless, you move on because life calls for it. Eventually, we all do too. Despite the pain, the anger, the loss and the devastation, we all move on.

‘Oh…I actually forgot one more thing. I am glad Aysha’s dead. More than that, I am glad I have you next to me baby. I am really happy that you are here. Our future will be great.’

‘I know Ryan…I am feeling the same way.’

Eventually…

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