The Last Genie: A Novella

Chapter 38

Grace and Ithel and Kari spent the next few months going to every national park, landmark, beach, and city Grace had ever dreamed of visiting. But, Grace grew tired of just aimlessly traveling, and she told Ithel that what she really wanted to do was become a doctor.

Ithel told her she had to apply to medical school. So, she did, and she got into the school of her dreams, which Kari agreed to pay for with the money she was making as a social media influencer and model not from the one million dollars she had wished for.

Ithel went with her and helped her in every way he could. He cooked; he cleaned; he ran errands; he helped her make note cards; he quizzed her; he did everything he could to get her through med school, and she did. She graduated near the top of her class and was chosen for one of the best pediatric residency programs in the nation. Of course, Ithel followed her there too.

After she finished her residency, Grace told Ithel that she wanted to apply for a job in a small hospital in rural Peru, but that it might be hard for him to follow her. He told her not to worry about him and to just apply. So, she did, and she got the job, and Ithel figured out a way for him to get the paperwork to go with her.

After a few years working at the hospital and seeing the troubles the children she was treating were enduring, Grace knew what she had to do. So, Grace asked Ithel if he'd be willing to open an orphanage, and Ithel quickly said yes.

It took them almost five years, but with Ithel's skill as a carpenter, Grace's ingenuity, and donations from Kari, they did it.

Grace and Ithel couldn't have asked for a better life, but as with all things, except for Ithel, Grace's life had to end, and he had to grant her last wish.

On a beautiful spring morning, a few days after she passed, Ithel placed the small urn with Grace's ashes inside a backpack with some water and snacks and started hiking up the mountains that Grace had come to love. He hiked all the way up to the mountain's highest peak.

Then, he waited for the sun to start to set, and as the edge of the golden sun dipped under the horizon, Ithel opened up Grace's urn, and as her ashes floated down over the mountains, for the briefest of moments he thought about joining them. But, he quickly pushed those thoughts aside because thanks to Grace he knew multitudes of people that he loved and who loved him too. So, he just stood there and watched as the sun slowly worked its way over the horizon with a pleased smile on his face knowing deep in his heart that wherever Grace was she was at peace.

The End

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Author's Note:

Thank you so much for reading my story. I truly appreciate it, and I really value all your comments. They mean so much to me.

I am thinking about doing a prequel that delves into how Ithel became a genie or a sequel that explores the next phase of his life, and I love to know which story you would be more interested in reading.

Thanks again, and I look forward to hearing from you.