𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | ✓

Epilogue

The movers are slow and constantly Mom and Mason have to shout at them to be careful with our things. Especially the valuable ones from the life before everything went downhill.

I'm pretty much useless other than making sure they don't misplace anything and put them in the right room, while Mom is outside making sure they handle the fragile items with care.

Even though Mason is still in his wheelchair, his arms have grown stronger. Overall he's in a much better shape and mood. 

The one million dollars are resting in the bank. Mom and Mason are going head to head, neither backing down from their respected views. Mom claims we have to return the money to the organization or give it to a charity because it's not good money to start a business with. Mason on the other hand is hell-bent on starting a new business as he believes they shouldn't let all my efforts and sacrifices go to waste.

I have been busy occupying myself to the fullest with anything that doesn't remind me of Spencer. Obviously, I've stayed out of their arguments.

Instead, I've been digging up the details of moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and living there for two years to get my MBA degree.

I'm grateful for the change of scenery and I'm hoping it'll set me right.

I gaze at my couch, the same Spencer and I sat and watched movies on when he came over on New Year's eve. I definitely need to get away from everything that reminds me of him and what we had and could have had. And what I ruined.

I sigh and lean to the wall next to the TV as one of the movers carries a huge box dropping it to the floor. I glare at him and he apologetically glances at me.

I roll my eyes.

"That room." I lift my hand, pointing at the now empty room that once Melody was occupying.

Wordlessly he nods and picks up the box, taking it away.

It's been a rough month. I've been trying to come to terms with this life.

Spencer was right that day, even though it hurts like hell to agree and admit, but it's the truth. I chose my path, I decided what I wanted more. If I wasn't so scared of losing the prize money aside from him, maybe I would have risked telling him the truth. I made my choice and I have to learn to accept the consequences and live with them.

Just like I have to give Spencer the space he needs to move on from me.

Perhaps that's a part of growing into a real adult. About time for a twenty-two-year-old girl to start doing that.

I keep reminding myself there are hundreds of girls out there, going through heartbreaks, some even rougher than mine. That it'll get better because if so many people can live through it, then so can I. But there are days these words are easier said than done. I suppose that's a part of the healing process.

The doorbell rings, snapping me out of my thoughts. I walk over and peer out the already open door.

A delivery guy is standing, holding up a yellow packet. "Gracie Stewart?"

I nod and sign the clipboard he holds out for me before accepting the mail. I smile as I tear it open and pull out the book from inside. My smile widens when I see Melody's name on the beautiful cover. Still smiling, I roll my eyes at the dramatic title. A graceful betrayal.

Turns out the publishing she had a meeting with over two months ago, liked her work, and signed a contract with her.

It was the same day I lost Spencer. But at least she gained what she had been dreaming for since forever, and I can't be happier for her.

I fish out my phone from the back pocket of my jeans and text Melody quickly, letting her know I've got her book.

Life didn't stop moving forward... because that's the thing with anything connected to time. It never stops and it never goes backward. It moves forward and forces you to go along with it.

One day, I'll learn to embrace the shitty choices I've made in life and hopefully, there will come a day where it doesn't seem like it was all for nothing.

I'll keep on learning, and growing, fighting my way through life. Maybe even one day I'll learn to love someone else. Even though it seems a long way from now, but who knows the future? Nothing's set in stone.

Life is just a series of knots in a long string of an individual's time here in this universe. As long as there is time, there is hope, because, in every ending, there's a new beginning.

Even though I screwed up and tangled the knots of this part of my life awfully, I still have the coming parts to improve this long string of life. And hopefully don't screw up as bad... or at least, screw up in a different way.

For now, I'm far more than ready to leave this part of my life behind myself. Being an undergrad, coping with bankruptcy, my father's suicide, and my first ever real heartbreak.

Because in this chapter's ending, there's a ray of a new beginning and I cannot be readier for it.