fade to black | james hetfield [1]

forty

chapter forty: and all things will end

Iris never pictured the day when she could say that life was good. Months ago it seemed laughable to think that she would come to terms with who she was someday.

But as she sat there with James by her side, she felt at peace where she was, and so did he. The past couple of weeks had been a whirlwind of self-discovery, change, and hope. 

They were both doing their passions while being there for each other. Iris was pursuing art as her career, and Metallica was starting to become bigger than they thought was possible with every passing day. 

If you asked either of them if they would be able to do it on their own, the answer would be no. Because without the other person, there was no telling how different things would be.

For a couple of weeks, Iris had been reminiscing on their time together, and she began to look at James as her guardian angel of some sort. 

He found her at her lowest point, never left her alone, and somehow managed to be the best thing to ever happen to her. Even though they had their ups and downs, there was no hiding how much she cared for him, and how much he cared for her.

So one night, she decided to tell him. "You know, sometimes I think you're my guardian angel, James." She said, honesty written all over her face.

It took a second for James to respond. He never thought about their relationship that way, but he could see why. She had no one for years, and he became that "someone" that she always wanted.

"Guardian angel?" He raises an eyebrow, still thinking about what she said. Iris nodded her head, trying to show how grateful she was to have someone like James.

"You were sent to save me, I know it." She was sure about this. Iris hoped she didn't sound like that crazy person who believed in spirits and stuff, but it was the truth. That feeling hadn't gone away.

The point she was at in her life, anything could've happened and James never gave up on her once. Even when he left, he never considered actually leaving for good. He always knew he was going to come back to her. 

While James would never tell Iris of the nightmares he once had all those months ago, it wasn't a coincidence that she felt that way about him. The dreams were a sign of something, he just didn't know what.

James wrapped his arm around her, looking down at her. "If you ask me, I don't think I 'saved' you. I just helped you to realize that there's more to life than all the bullshit you've had to put up with."

Iris felt tears well up in her eyes. She didn't even know why she was getting emotional, but they were happy tears. She didn't know what she did to deserve someone like him, and she would forever be in his debt.

"I'll be here with you every step of the way, okay?" James said as he gently wiped her tears away before they could fall. She nodded her head, trusting him completely. 

Iris curled into his side, looking up at the boy she bumped into at a shitty bar that night. They both had no idea that things were going to lead them to where they were today, right now, at this moment.

But they wouldn't change a thing. Because in another lifetime, things would be different, and it was scary to think about a life where they didn't have each other. 

James leaned and kissed Iris, lingering for a moment before pulling away. He rested his forehead against hers, whispering his love for her. He was always going to be there for her, no matter what. 

It was the perfect ending to a story shrouded in darkness and despair, and the beginning of a lifetime of unwritten chapters that would only bring them closer.