Love and Ambition

Epilogue

1 year later...

Christian, is his name. He was born in December. 4 months old, by now. 

His toothless smiles brightens his face, the same way his mother's does. I look between him and Jenn to see a striking resemblance. The only thing of his father's are his green eyes. 

I notice the arm Ryan has on her waist as she pushes the stroller. And I notice the same beaming look on her face as she glances over him. 

"Aw, don't look at me like that, Brooke," Ryan chuckles. "I've straightened up my act, I swear!"

"He has!" Jenn looks over at me, still beaming. "He's been the most amazing father and post-partum partner I could have asked for."

"I'll trust your word on it," I say. 

Looking ahead of us, the golden sun bleeds through the trees and onto the pavement.

When winter dissolves to spring, the ground still covers itself with white slush. What once was a sleepy, cold town, turned into a groggy hangover.

But as spring arrives, the flowers blossom and the grass crinkles as they sway against the wind.

The trail towards the hut comes closer. We stop to a halt, smiling at each other once more. 

"This is me," I give the couple a hug, and wave the sleeping baby good-bye. 

Climbing up the hill during spring is less of a trek than during winter. Without the snow and ice dragging me down. Wind gushes past me, and I smell the familiar scent of tobacco. Even with one year together, the thought of him still brings a skip to my step.

Approaching the hut, I hear the beat of a song and Jason humming to the tune. 

"What are you listening to?" I sit beside him and he pauses the music.

"Becca released a new song. 'Dear Narcissist'," 

"Quite appropriate," I comment, recounting the gun-incident last year. 

I lean my head against his shoulder, watching the town before us. The sun at its highest, bounces off the rooftops, creating a sparkle. Like the town is covered in glitter.

"One year," I say, reminiscing. 

"One good year," Jason shifts, looking at me. "One year is a long time right? One year is a good time frame like there's no rush. Because one can be little or a lot, depending on the context, like—"

"Jason," I cut him off, laughing. "What have you been smoking?"

Briefly, he smiles. "Well," he clears his throat. "I've been doing a lot of thinking. And to me, it feels right. I really don't see myself with anyone else. And it doesn't have to happen soon, either. I just... Want to know you feel the same."

He moves in front of me and I notice him take something out of his pocket. I tilt my head to the side as he kneels in front of me, revealing a sparkling diamond ring in a box.

"Brooke, will you marry me?"

I take a deep breath, like I haven't thought of this several times over. I already had an answer a year ago, now I'm actually saying it out loud. My lips curl to a smile as I lean closer to him.

"Yes."