Hard to Love

-epilogue-

"Hey sweetie did they let you switch?" Asked my mom as she kissed my cheek. "Yeah." I spoke in a monotone voice. I was originally studying to be a doctor but after Olive's sudden death I've decided to be a therapist to help people struggling like she was. Just because I couldn't help her doesn't mean I can't help others.

It has been two long miserable years since Olive Quinn passed away. And I'm still not ready to accept that she's actually gone. She's not coming back. But let me fill you in on what's been happening. Milo proposed to Ainsley like Ollie told him to and Ainsley is pregnant with a little girl who is due very soon. Trent moved to New York to live with his best friend David. As for me- well I'm here. I'm surviving. For now my only goals are to graduate and to just get up out of bed and try to keep on breathing.

I've been numb, like there's no escape. I have dreams at night where I see her and I get to hold her one last time. That's why I drink. To forget and if I remember, I drink some more. After knowing Olive she's thought me not to take things for granted. So I visit my mom more often, after all I'm all she's got left. But as much as I love my mom.... I'd rather be out drinking right now. So I hop in my Mustang and go.

Nursing my sixth beer I feel a warm hand slide up my thigh and when I look up to see who the hand belongs to I see, "Ollie?" "Who's that? She a girl who hurt you babe?" Without thinking I stand quickly to my feet and look down at the freckled brunette girl in front of me. "Move." She does as I say.

I haven't even so much as touched a girl in two years. I can't without seeing the only girl I've ever loved with my whole being. My phone vibrates erratically in my back pocket. I answer as I stumble back a little. Milo's voice streams through, "River, Ainsley's water broke! Meet us at the hospital!" He hangs up after he gives his message.

I know I probably shouldn't be driving but I want to be there. I weave in and out of traffic as fast as I can and I soon arrive, thankfully in one piece. "Ainsley Harper." I tell the lady at the front desk. She gives me the room number and I rush down the hall. "Has she had the baby yet?" I ask a doctor leaving her room. "No. She's only four centimeters." She sounded and looked very tired.

I knocked on the door before I entered to see Ainsley in pain and a frantic Milo. "Hey how are you doing?" "Oh swell! I love feeling like I'm being stabbed!" She sarcastically yelled at me and I chuckled.

   Soon the doctor came in again to check on Ainsley. "Okay you're ready to push." "No I want Olive!" Milo gave her a sympathetic look as more nurses came in to help. "I'm sorry but you're going to have to leave." A nurse told me "Push!" I heard the doctor yell as I was being shoved out of the room.

   17 hours later Milo came out smiling with his hands clasped together. "Do you want to meet her?" I nodded and followed him inside. Ainsley handed me the most beautiful baby girl I've ever seen, "What's her name?" "Olive." Ainsley softly spoke as a single tear rolled down her cheek. "Prefect."

    After spending more time with the happiest family, I decided to give them privacy by going to visit someone I haven't visited in a minute.

   "You'd love her you know. She's beautiful. Just like you were. She looks just like Milo, except for her eyes. I wish you could see them but more importantly I wish that it could've been us." I sit down cross legged in front of her head stone and laid a fire lily on it muttering the words I always say when I visit, "I love you Ollie."

   When I fell asleep that night I saw Olive again although it doesn't feel like a dream. She ran towards me and gave me the tightest hug I've gotten in awhile. "Come home Riv. Come be with me again." She persuaded. "Would love to Ollie." "But?" "But I can't. I can't leave my mom or anyone else for that matter. But you have no clue have much it hurts." She cups my face. "My heart aches for you my River, but you take you're time. I'll wait for you." I lean down and give her a passionate kiss. "I love you Riv." "I love you Ollie." We repeat the last words we ever spoke to each other as we hold each other tight.

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Word Count: 860

It's kind of bittersweet to say this but this is the end of Hard to Love. Thank you to everyone who has voted on and supported my first book! I love you all very much!