THEN YOU CAME BACK [mcd]

epilogue

Once upon a time, there was a girl. An orphan from a small village near a swamp. She was adopted by a lord, and she gained a sister to fill in missing pieces of family her and her brother couldn't cover. Adored by her father, she grew up happy, but no one could replace her brother.

Time went by, and she grew up. Fell in love. Watched her home burn in flames. Heart was broken a few times. Fate went against her and froze her in time for fifteen years, making it feel like fifteen minutes. Her father passed, and her sister moved away. She fell in love again, and he loved her back. She adventured the world, and helped upgrade an island that was forgotten in time.

But her brother left her behind, and her best friend left shortly after her. She was alone.

She got married and had two children.

Life was great, but her brother came back. All she knew was thrown around and forced her to make hard decisions. Her best friend came back soon after.
Now she's here, and her brother is leaving her once again. But this time, it's different.

"But Uncle Waurance, I'll miss you."

For once, Vylad stayed. He managed to outlast Laurance before he would leave again.

My daughter stands in front of her uncle, tears pouring down her cheeks. He's on his knees, holding her tight to her chest. "I know, Elizabeth, and I'll miss you too. But we both know I have to go."

My heart breaks at the sight. I was afraid of letting him get close to her because I didn't want him to leave. I didn't want her to know who he was because I thought he wouldn't come back again. She's upset, like I knew she would be, but I didn't think it'd hurt her like this. I didn't think he'd stay for this long.

"I know." Her head hangs as she walks away from him, hugging my leg and crying into my skirts. She's hiding herself from him like the first time they laid eyes on each other, but it's for a different reason.

The relationship between Garroth and Laurance slowly started to grow again. Now there's tears in my husband's eyes that are threatening to spill, but he holds them in. When the two hug, my heart sinks down to my stomach. Am I really the last one?

Garroth takes Holden from me, and Elizabeth goes to his pant leg. I thought I was strong enough for this.
"You're really leaving," I say, smiling sadly. I can feel my lips struggling to stay upright. My vision is going blurred because of my tears. "I'm losing my brother again."

Laurance shakes his head, pulling me to his chest. I can't help but wrap my arms around him, burying my face into the crook of his neck. I sniffle away the tears. "I'll come back, Al, I promise. Soon." My shoulder begins to feel wet. He's crying too. "I made you cry again."

I pull away and leave my hands on his shoulders, one breaking free to wipe my tears away. I let out a single breathy chuckle, smiling afterwards. "It's a happy and sad cry. Sad because you're leaving again, but happy because I know you'll come back."

He places his hand on my cheek, wiping away a stray tear with his thumb. "I said goodbye this time."

I let go of him, taking a step back towards my husband and my little family. "Come back for Holden's birthday?"

He nods his head at this, trying his hardest to stay in a convincing happy state for Elizabeth. She can't hold in anymore tears. I can hear her cries clear as day.

It's growing cooler. It's September, so Laurance stayed for a total of four months before he left again. First, he'll go to Meteli to have havoc in Cadenza's life before going off and seeing what else has changed in seven years. Well, eight now.

"Watch that little walker for me, alright? And make sure you have a list of every word that I haven't heard yet," Laurance says, looking over at the small baby who doesn't understand what is happening. My beautiful ten month old baby. "And take my place in playing dollies with Elizabeth. Playing with someone else is far better than on your own."

"You know I will."

He nods his head one last time before waving goodbye. We stand there as he turns his back and slowly gets smaller the further away he walks.

Four months ago, I thought that Laurance's homecoming would ruin everything I had made for myself. I thought I would crumble into the ground and forget all that I had to learn to be here.

All the strength it took to move forward, wasted. Learning how to dependent on myself rather than everyone else, useless.

I was wrong.

Laurance Zvahl was a man I thought walked out of my life forever. I depended on the thought that nothing in the world could go wrong as long as he was by my side.

He proved me wrong. Maybe Laurance walking out on me was something I needed. Something that would allow me to have my own story and live my own life. One that didn't revolve around him. Maybe that's something I should thank him for, but I think he knows already.

I ended up with my own happily ever after. I went from Alexandra Zvahl to Alexandra Ro'meave by marrying the man I love most. I was blessed with two children who own my heart.

I'm not the same person as I was eight years ago. I've grown. Matured. I've become my own person.

That's something I can't replace.

And this. . . this is my story.