With Your Heart Wide Open

Epilogue

-6 years later-

"Aaliyah, we leave in fifteen minutes. Get yourself and Richie ready!" Esther yelled.

Aaliyah quickly put her shoes on and dashed to Richie's room.

He only has his shirt on along with his jeans.

"Come on, kid. We need to go. Why in the world are you wearing jeans?"

"They look nice," he tried to explain.

"It doesn't matter. Today is Mom's special day, and you got to wear something special," Aaliyah tried to make him understand, but he was five-year-old and had no clue.

"Okay," he agreed and let Aaliyah chose his pants and brushed his hair.

Meanwhile, Esther was helping Jeremy with his tie.

"You look stunning," he said, looking at Esther's form-fitting beige dress.

"I guess you look okay too since we are matching.

He held her chin, "In case you didn't notice. I am super proud of you,"

She smiled at him, "I think you should postpone that for later today,"

Much later, Esther opened her eyes and grinned wide during the ceremony when she heard her name. She walked to the podium with her purple cap and gown to shake the dean's hand. In the assembly, she could see Jeremy clapping next to Aaliyah, who was holding Richie. Ma Elsie was there too. Jeremy had driven to Red Valley to get her a week before the graduation.

Esther earned a bachelor's degree in bioengineering. After she married Jeremy, they left Red Valley as she decided to go back to school. At first, it went well since she quit her job, and Jeremy supported the household's financial needs. Then, she got pregnant and gave birth to Richard. For a long time, she struggled to balance her duties as a mom and a student, but Jeremy and Aaliyah stepped up to help her. Aaliyah helped with Richie, and Jeremy helped her study.

Jeremy's grandfather had passed away, and his wife decided to spend her retirement at a peaceful place, Red Valley. Ma Elsie and her got along surprisingly well and kept each other from being lonely.

Esther rarely heard from her mom. She usually spent her summer vacation at Red Valley with Jeremy and her kids. There, she would randomly see her mom at the grocery store or local events. They were courteous to each other but not close enough to know what was going on in each other's life. Nevertheless, Esther was pleased to hear that she had taken Ruthie, the girl Stephen got pregnant, in her house. She took care of her and the child once she was born.

Stephen has been sentenced to fifteen years of prison. Right after, Jeremy had officially adopted Aaliyah.

There was a party at Esther's house after graduation. Jeremy and Esther cuddled on the couch, watching their relatives and friends interacting. Aaliyah forced Richie to play with some of her friends' siblings, but the little boy kept on refusing. He was the complete opposite of her sister: shy, sensitive, and quiet. Despite their differences, they did get along.

"Thank you," Esther softly whispered to her husband.

"For what?"

"Today wouldn't have been possible without you. You've been incredibly supportive of my studies despite all the meals you've burned,"

"Babe, that's not fair. I only burn one meal per month,"

"That's your new record, I guess,"

"We've come a long way," Jeremy said as he gently rubbed Esther's temple.

"Always stating the obvious," Esther teased.

"Come on! You know I'm right. This is what happens when you marry the most dashing man on the planet,"

Esther chuckled and nodded to humor him. However, she had another theory in mind.

This is what happens when you open your heart, the young woman thought.

THE END

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A big thanks and shoutout to everyone who read, voted, and commented on this story. Thank you for following Esther's journey. I love you all!