In Every Bird.

Chapter 14: So This is Love

And so the cold case becomes solved.
I end up going home to my parents, skipping the last week of school and I explained everything to them.
They took it as good as one possibly can, and they didn't think of Cole any differently.

Tons of sexual assaults got solved on campus due to Grahams secrets camera, and the school hired a new male music teacher but not without the new set up of cameras all around campus that don't require wifi.

That summer I went through therapy, and slowly but surely recovered from the PTSD. Cole was extremely patient.
He asked for permission for stuff as little as hugs.
After around five months we eventually were able to reconnect and make soft love.
It didn't hurt, it wasn't scary, it felt right.

We started to the new school year and on New years, Caleb proposed to Emily and we're set to get married in June.

The school was finally at peace and there wasn't a single sexual assault the entire year.

It's now May of 2024.
And I've been given an opportunity to play a solo on violin at my last recital before graduation.

"Wow, you look beautiful babe." Cole says while we're backstage.
I'm wearing a silk, teal dress which is the awareness color for victims of sexual assault.

"Thank you." I say and he kisses me then watches as I walk on stage with my violin and bow.
I stop in the center and raise my violin to my shoulder.

I begin to play "Your Power" by Billie Eilish.

I lock eyes with my mom and dad and try my hardest not to cry.
Seeing them cry hurts me.
And knowing who hurt us hurts my heart even more for Cole.

But it's time to stand up and not let someone have power over us anymore.
Graham may have taken away some sleep, some tears, some skin, but he'll never take my sound away.

Once I'm done, I walk off and see Cole and Emily backstage crying.
I put my violin up quickly and hug Emily.

"You're so beautiful baby." Emily says and I start to cry.

"Thank you for being my best friend." I say and she hugs me tighter.
We then let go and I hug Cole.

"You are the strongest woman I know." He says.

"No, your mom and sister are." I say in his chest.
"And you're the strongest man I know." I say and look up at him.
He smiles and I wipe the tears from his face.

After the show I'm awarded best solo.
I take my award and we are all dismissed.

After I take photos for the school, Cole and I walk out back to find my parents.
"Baby." My dad says and hugs me.
My mom hugs me after him and we all wipe our tears.
"God it was so beautiful." My dad says.

"Just like you, look how gorgeous you are." My mom says.

"I know right, I'm very lucky." Cole says.

The next day is our graduation.
Emily and I are in our dorm getting ready together for the last time.
Well, we're crying not getting ready but we eventually do.
We put on our white dresses and heels, curl our hair, and put on our navy blue caps and gowns.
We look at each other and try not to cry and ruin our makeup.
"Come here!" She yells and we hug.

"We made it." I say.

"We did." She says back.

We go out and meet the boys but are then seated to await our name calling.
Once we all walk, we are told to turn our tassels and we throw our caps.
Emily grabs my face and kisses me quickly.
I laugh and our caps fall back to us.
We pick them up and everyone starts to take photos.

All of our parents take photos separately with Cole to give him a sense of family, because he is.

He's so handsome. His hair is flowing perfect out from his cap, his white button up tucked in nicely into his black dress pants. And of course his navy graduation gown.
This is surreal, everything is.
The experience I've had here, the people I've met. It's been life changing in a good way.
I've come out of this place stronger, and more loved and loving.

Once we're done, Cole then takes my hand and leans into my ear.
"Follow me." He says.

"What?" I say with a smile.

"I want to take you somewhere." He says and then starts running, and I run with him.

Our graduations are always on the football field because its the only plays everyone can.

Cole takes me inside the empty school, and we run to the auditorium.
"What're we doing?" I laugh as we slow down.
He walks me up the steps of the stage, holding my hand so I don't fall in these heels.
"I just want to be up here one more time where you played so much." He says.

He walks me to the middle in front of the grand piano, and the lights are lighting us up.
We look at the empty seats, then Cole looks at me.
"Olivia." He says as he reaches his hands out for me to take.
I look up at him and rest my hands in his.

"You are my person." He says and my eyes fill with tears.
"We have been through the lowest of lows and the highest of highs, and I wouldn't change the person I experience it with for the world. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I wanted to know if you did too." He says then reaches in his pocket and gets on one knee.
My hands come to my face as my jaw drops and I start to cry.

"Olivia Brown, will you marry me?" He asks as he tears up but still smiling.

"Yes!" I cry.
Cole lets out a laugh of relief and takes my left hand.
He slips the ring on, it's beautiful.
It has a clear stone and a green stone next to it, it fits perfectly.
Cole then stands up and hugs me.
I squeeze him tighter than ever, then he pulls away and grabs my face, kissing me softly then dipping me.
Then we hear cheering.
Cole lifts me back up and I look over into the stands and my parents, Emily, and Caleb are in the seats a couple of rows back, Emily with a camera.
Cole and I laugh as they run up to congratulate us.

"Cole this ring is beautiful." I say.

"It was my mom's, she loved green." Cole explains.
I hug him again and then I get a tap on my shoulder.

It's Emily.
I squeeze the life out of her and she jumps.

After we celebrate, we take some staged pictures in the auditorium then go to dinner.

That year Cole goes into the police academy and becomes a cop, later to become a detective.
While I become a phycologist, mostly for victims of sexual assault.

Cole and I got married on November 17th.
Our honeymoon was in Cancun and we moved into a house closer to my parents.

Meanwhile Cole's dad pleaded guilty to several sexual assaults and the murder of his wife and daughter.
He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Two years after Cole and I got married we became pregnant and had a beautiful girl on August 3rd.
We named her Harper Jane Walker after Mellisa Harper and Shanley Jane.