Taint Me More ☑️

EPILOGUE

•a few months later•

I opened the car door and hesitated for a few beats before planting my feet to the dirt road. I turned to Aaron and said, "I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Are you sure you want to do this now? We can wait till you're ready." He offered.

"No, I'm ready." I replied and stepped out completely.

I massaged my growing baby bump and breathed in the scent of fertilizer, my face warming in the summer breeze. I adjusted the bundled flowers in my hand and took several steps till I got to the lawn. I looked to the side at the signage that read 'Jory land cemetery'.

I moved in a straight line till I got to my destination. I stopped in front of the tombstone and read out the words written on it.

"Here lies Oriana Charlotte Vitale, 1998-2014. A loving daughter, sister and friend." I spoke in a small voice, swiping away at a fallen tear.

I wondered who designed her tombstone. I wished I'd been there through it all.

"Hey little sister." I said with a chuckle, "I promised I wasn't going to cry when I get here, but I'm such a softie and you always teased me for this." I paused and cradled my heavy belly as I crouched down to take a seat on the grass. "Sorry, I get tired more easily now that Charlotte is almost due."

I sighed, and inhaled deeply as I tried to catch my breath. "You would have loved it in New York City, you know? The weather is shitty, but one can get used to it."

I paused for several seconds before I finally gathered the courage to say what I was really here to say. "I'm sorry Oriana. I'm so sorry. I should have been here when they put you down and I hope you'd understand why I left the way that I did. It was selfish of me, I know, but if I hadn't left when I did, I may not have been able to leave again and maybe I wouldn't have met Aaron. God Aaron, he would've loved you, I guess you two would have gotten along fine, because you two are similar in many ways that I can't count. Either that or you wouldn't have been able to stand him." I breathed out a laugh.

I pulled out a single stem of pink rose out of the bunch and placed it on the floor. "Remember that one time you got a pink rose for Valentine's Day from your secret admirer, and you kept it by you window, always forgetting to water it till it withered. Well, I brought you a bunch of it." I placed the rest of the flowers in the pot by her tombstone.

"I hope you and papa are together and I hope you both are at peace. I know you'll be watching over me and little Charlotte." I sniffled. "I don't know if I'll be a good mother, but I'm willing to try. Aaron has been really supportive so far."

"I love you, little sister." I blew out a shaky breath. "I always will. Arrivederci. (Till we meet again)."

I struggled to get to my feet, then I got assistance from Aaron.

"How long have you been standing there?" I asked him.

"Long enough to feel like the center of attention between two sisters." He chuckled.

I smacked his arm mockingly. "You're weird." I looked at him and held his hand in mine. "Thanks for coming with me."

"I would go to the ends of the earth for you." He smiled and crouched in front of me. "And for you too Charlotte." He kissed my belly.

"Let's go home." I said to him.

We flew back to New York City. To our friends turned family.

Aaron and I moved in together into a suburban home, where he worked as an art tutor. He still kept his mother's dream, but he did it differently, he was now the founder of a successful program for young sculptors, archeologists, and aspiring painters. He couldn't have done it better. And I was there to assist him in every way I could, mainly by running the blog just for it. It was surprising how many people were into the art.

The Lopez's kept their museum though. Andrea was charged with assisted kidnapping and trespassing, so she was penalized. The police were still searching for Ronald, he would've fled the state or even country, staying under the radar. We never heard from him again, but I always was cautious each time I stepped out of my home, with leftover fear and worry that he'd one day show up and do something terrible to me or my family.
I did my part in fulfilling Victoria's last wish. Her teenage sister Evelyn was a charming young girl and I was glad to know her. Although she was doing just fine on her own, I offered my hand to her every now and then, supporting her in the little ways I could.

My mother did stay in New York City, things like I knew were never going to be normal between us, but I never deprived her of being a grandmother to Charlotte. After all, she did try her best to save Aaron's life.

As for Gabby, she married Adrian a few months after Charlotte was born, they had a son together nearly a year after.

And Heather, to my surprise, got into a relationship with Brian. As awkward as things were supposed to be, they weren't. I barely saw him, and even when we did, we just flowed normally like nothing ever happened, which I appreciated.

At the end of it all, each and every one of them contributed to who I was and what my life turned out to be. I was grateful for every moment, there were a few regrets here and there, but that was what made life what it was.

I ended up with the best man in the world and I was thankful for the fact that I needed a smoke break that fateful day, and I had to do it in that empty alley.