With You // J.G

Epilogue

10 years later

I sit back in my chair after a long day of work at the hospital. Being a nurse is more tiring than it seems. But, I'm helping people and that's all I care about.

I went to school, full time and the Gilinsky's helped me pay for college at Duke. I can't believe I made it into that great college.

Once I finished college, came back to Omaha and bought a house with my husband.

It took me a while to finally accept the fact that Jack was gone and that he wasn't my husband. I will never move on from him though. I will always remember my first love. I'll never forget the way his arms looked when he layed his head on them, how he moved his arms when he ran, how angelic he looked when he was sleeping, everything about him, I will never forget nor will I ever stop loving.

My parents were thrown into jail and I was "adopted" by the Gilinsky's a few weeks after Jack's death. After my parents were arrested I was allowed to be taken in by the Gilinsky's but I wasn't legitamitely adopted because I was a few weeks away from turning 18 anyways.

"Hey babe," Shawn walks through the front door. He walks over to me a give me a peck on the lips. I shoot him a sly smile and he smiles back. His beaming smile makes my heart melt.

"How were all of your meetings today?" I ask him politely.

"Tiring," he says as he plops onto the couch next to me. "My tour is going to be full of so many security gaurds. Are you sure you don't want to come on the tour with me? Everyone says it's okay and my whole team loves you. Not as much as I do though." My cheeks begin to turn red and I shake my head.

"I'll be okay, Shawn. I have to work," I reassure him.
*
*
A few days later, Shawn leaves for his national tour.

"I love you so much. I'll call you every night. Stay safe. I'll be back soon, I promise." Don't make promises you can't keep. Is what I want so say, but I choose not to. Shawn gives me a kiss on the forehead. I hug him and then give him a long kiss on the lips. As I wave goodbye to him, I feel my heart drop into my stomach. What if he doesn't come back? Will I lose him just like I lost Jack? I can't feel that pain again.

I begin to take a few jogging steps towards him. Then I realize that I need to let him go. I just have to reassure myself that he will be coming back; he said it himself. I take a few deep breaths before calming down.

I pull out my phone and text my best friend, Jack Johnson. He's happily married, just like me. We always make time to see eachother though, given that neither of us have any kids to look after. I tell him to meet me at the spot we always meet at almost every weekend.

I drive to the watertank that Jack and I used to go to every night. I get up the rusty ladder and sit on the edge. As I wait for Jack Johnson I look out into the city.

I remember the first day I came here with Jack like it was yesterday. He took me here as a surprise on his motorcycle. Then he opened up to me up here. He told me his secrets and I told him mine.

I turn my head to the left and see Jack sitting next to me. He's wearing a plain white t-shirt and grey sweatpants. He looks at me with his beautiful brown eyes and smiles at me with his priceless smile. The crinkles that frame his mouth are back and same with his eyes. I've missed them so much. I notice that his arms are helping him sit up on the ledge.

I begin to reach my right hand out to touch his face. Just one more time. I think to myself. I have to touch him one more time. I need to say goodbye. But when my hand would make contact with his perfectly structured cheek, he fades away. He fades away with no trace. I take deep breaths but it doesn't help. Tears begin to fill my eyes. When they pour out, I hear Jack Johnson coming up the ladder.