The Stars of My Heart [Completed]

Chapter Fifteen

   "Well done."

It is like a dream. All I can see is white light. Did I faint? Am I dreaming? Her voice. It's really there. As real as the moon and stars. My muscles relax. I must be dreaming. I have never felt so floaty in my life. Feeling as though all the weight of the past five years has been lifted. Warmth. I feel warm. Warm arms wrapped tightly around my shaking body.

"Thank you."

I hug them back. Everything is gone. Every lie, every cheat, every crime, every nightmare, gone.

"Zaria, look at me."

I open my eyes. They flutter open, getting blurry on the spot as tears fill them. I see it. The green. Those emerald eyes. Voices surround me. Too much for a dream. I squeeze the shoulder of the arms that wrap around me. Flesh. Living, breathing.....

"Mom!"

The world stops. Nothing else matters. She's here. Finally here. After all this time, she can hold me in her arms. She can guide me through this messed up life. I can have someone to love again.

"You did it. I knew you would."

I wipe my eyes to look at her. She looks the same. The same sparkle in her eye, same soft skin, same angelic smile, same melodic voice. This is her.

"What... what do you mean?"

"I mean, I knew my daughter would go to the lengths of the earth to do what is right because that's who you are."

She smiles at me. Smiles like I have done no wrong. Like, I am truly her daughter, but I'm not.

"I'm so sorry."

I funnel my head into her arms again. Her sleeve now soaked in my tears. She is here. She is perfect, but I am not.

"I did so many things for dad. I wanted to do what was right, but I couldn't. I couldn't..."

She wraps me tighter, trying to release some of the pain that escapes me. "I know honey. I know."

We sit on the steps embracing one another. I force myself to open my eyes and look to the side. Beside me is Crista in her mother's arms as well, Rebecca, Crista, and her in a big reunion. I see the smile on Crista's face. The smile that makes a hundred roses bloom.

The moment is perfect. A perfect moment I never thought would ever happen. Only in my dreams would this happen. Some nights, I would open my window. I would stick my face into the cool breeze, filling my lungs. Wishing on every star in sight, I would squeeze my eyes and pray. At the time, I didn't know who to pray to. Just someone, anyone who would listen, anyone who would hear my cries and one day deliver. I never once thought the day would come.

In that moment, the clouds open, washing away the rain that had once poured down this morning. Beautiful clouds shine in through the windows. Soft colors filling the sky.

"Hmmm. I don't mean to interrupt this little moment, but I still need my payment."

My mother turns to look at the old woman. She looks at my mother the same way she looks at me. A hint of familiarity, with a smidge of hatred.

My mother turns to whisper in my ear, "What did you pay Eden?"

I try to connect the name with the face, still nothing comes. Before I can turn to answer her, Crista rises. Her mother holds her hand as she walks up to Eden. She must know. Know what her daughter has done for her. I'm glad that someone can be up there to hold her hand and walk her through the storm.