Shattered Illusions

Chapter 18 - Crumbling away

Allysa's POV:

Dancing with him in his arms was indeed the most precious moment of my life. Afterwards, he took me to a street down the road to the society. The cobbled pathway drenched in the rain and mixed with the smell of the soil gave way to the most euphoric feeling. I love being here with him, where all of him lie bare in his utmost raw form.

I look up at him in admiration as he kept showing and telling me about each and every places' history in detail. He was so lost in nostalgia and excitement, he didn't even notice that I have been just looking up at him instead of listening. I smiled slightly seeing him this happy.

Finally, we reached a shop and he stopped there looking at me. I was confused. What's wrong? "Have you even been listening to anything I said?" I looked at him in surprise, stuttering, "Y-yess of c-course" He chuckled, shaking his head, knowing that I was lying. But he was still content.

He picked up a small wooden heart shaped object and gave it to the shopkeeper. "A.C." He said. The shopkeeper nodded his head and smiled at him. They looked like they have known each other a long time. I just stood there waiting patiently for whatever he wanted to show me. After a while, the shopkeeper gave it back to us and I smiled.

Alex still didn't say anything. We just went to the farmhouse from there and I kept bugging him with questions about what it was. He laughed at my curiosity. "Patience princess, you'll know soon." I huffed. We reached there and he opened the garage like storehouse. I followed him inside as he turned on the lights. He went to a showcase and opened the glass door, bringing out an old wooden box. "Open it." He demanded. I obliged and saw similiar heart shaped objects kept in their respective moulds. It looked beautiful.

"My father bought this. He decided that whenever a new member joined our family, he would carve their initials on a heart and store it forever with him. And you, my princess, are the newest member of our family. I welcome you with my whole heart and continue this tradition." He said keeping the heart with my initials beside Marcus's, the last member born in their family. I smiled with tears in my eyes. He is the best thing to ever happen to someone like me. What did I even do to deserve such an amazing soul? I thank every God that is possibly out there listening to my prayers.

I pulled him towards me and crashed my lips against his. Starting with a slow rhythm and his soft lips moving against mine, igniting every fibre of my being on fire, he closed the remaining distance between us by wrapping his arms around me and deepening the kiss passionately. After a while, we pulled apart breathing heavily, trying to catch our breaths. The best few days of my life.

We locked the farmhouse taking a final look at it with longing. I am gonna miss this place so much. We left to pack our bags, so that we could leave for the airport at time. As soon as we reached his home, Marcus approached us with a boquet of flowers in his hands. I looked at him questioningly. "I thought that since we are leaving tomorrow early morning, we should pay a final visit to our father's grave as well. We have not been there since the time we buried him. Since everything is understood and forgiven, it's time we let him know as well." He said everything quietly. I hugged him and he hugged me back instantly. It looked like he really needed one. Alex nodded his head, agreeing with him.

We reached the cemetry and to his father's grave. "To the hero who would forever remain in our hearts." His epitaph read. Marcus placed down the flowers there and Alex kept a bottle of bourbon at his grave. His favourite drink. I smiled sadly. They stood there remembering their father and all their moments as we paid our respects. I was grateful for this moment. They have finally got there much needed closure. My family.

Next day, we left back for New York. This has been one hell of a emotional rollercoaster kinda vacation. Also, Alex and I finally exchanged our first I love you's. I smiled giddily in my seat like a teenage girl finally kissing their first crush. Well technically, he was my first crush, so nevermind, let me have my moment. I closed my eyes and basked in the remaining bliss of the day. The plane finally landed and we reached New York. Ugh, back to reality!