Don't Burn Out (Currently Editing)

Epilogue

Epilogue

"Since I was young, I have always known this: Life damages us, every one. We can't escape that damage.

But now, I am also learning this: We can be mended. We mend each other."

I run my fingers softly over the last words of Veronica Roth's closer of the Divergent series, Allegiant, before closing the worn book and placing it with the others. The air is warm, and the grass is fluffy as cotton ball and green as well, grass. The wildflower are in full bloom. They decorate the grass in rainbow colors: scarlet, indigo, pink, sky blue. I made myself and a now eight year old Chantelle flower crowns earlier this morning.

I'm pregnant with baby number two which I highly suspect to be a boy. Chantelle wants a little sister and Zayn wants a mini version of himself. Like my first pregnancy, the sex isn't a massive thing for me. I just want a healthy child, but he's a boy I can feel it.

As the warm winds pass over my body, I lie back on my fuzzy blue blanket.

I sigh closing my eyes and crossing my hands over my growing stomach. My life started off so rough. I was constantly scared, living in hell. War was always looming just around the bend. I've watched too many loved ones perish. For seventeen years, everyday I questioned whether this day would be my last. If I would finally die like everyone else around me.

Everyday hurt a little more than the until the dam cracked and a tidal wave was released and swallowed me hold like a tsunami. My father's favorite saying, "Strength takes pain," holds true mean to me.

I've grown up rather quickly in my short life. Once upon a time I was afraid and quite helpless. Now I know I am so much more. I've evolved into a warrior afraid of very few things. I'm the woman I've always dreamed to be. The woman I know my parents would be proud of and my little sister would look up to.

'Tiffany..' The big, black, horse-sized wolf scolds from above me, 'You know you're not supposed to be out here alone.'

"I'm not alone I'm with the Girl on fire," referring to Katniss Everdeen of the Hunger Games, "and the former initiate trainer of Dauntless" referring to Tobias Eaton of Divergent.

Even as a wolf I can see the grimace on his lips, so I sit up. I know I can get out of this. I can tell him the right words and get him to let me be, but I also know what would make him happier. "Come lie with me and I promise to go inside soon." I pat a stop on the blanket not covered in novels.

The wolf lies down next to me and I curl up next to him. "Zayn?" He purrs as I rub his ear. To think I once was his "kitten"...

'Hmm...'

"Do you ever think of the time for Chantelle was born? The war.. That damned family..my mother and Chanel?"

'Not really. It was an awful time. I really wish I could forget all of it.'

"I find myself drifting off and remembering those days. Sometimes I actually smile when I do. Those months weren't all bad. A lot of good things happened.. Like when we met," he looks like he wants to say something, but I continue knowing what he wanted to say," my Mother stopped suffering, my sister is finally at peace and is no longer a mindless drone, and I finally realized I needed help and actually accepted the help. To be honest I think that might have been the best year of my life. It was the year that ended my life long suffering, it was my ship out of hell. I used to be so depressed and sad, but I'm good, I'm wonderful and fantastically good. I'm happier than I've ever been in my life. Those months were just the beginning of this happiness. It must rain in April before the May flowers bloom."

The wolf begins to say something, then thinks otherwise. 'I love you.'

"And I love you too!"

I am no longer the forest being set a blaze, but the fire itself.

x the end x