DAZED ᵍᵃˡˡʸ

twenty-four

If you told Asa in the maze that she would be where she is now, she would've laughed, said that was impossible. A safe haven was merely a dream back then. It was something that she didn't consider a need for, the maze was her safe haven. It was her home.

Her home had been destroyed by the very people who put her there. Her family, was torn apart and if they weren't dead, they were scarred. She survived, though.

She survived it all.

Asa didn't want to use the safe haven as a place to forget everything that happened to get there. Wicked had thrown her through hell and back, she would never forget that. But, she had things, people she had fought for over the years.

Watching Clint die, that was never how she wanted to remember him. In the scorch, she felt guilt over it, blamed herself for the friends she lost. She never gave herself the chance to realize, Clint wouldn't want that.

They had talks about it, what they would do if they ever got out of the glade. Clint had told her once about how he would love to be able to watch the sunset under the horizon. They never got the full experience from behind the glade walls.

And although Asa could hear Jeff teasing Clint over his weird wish, she knew Jeff wanted it, too.

The first night they arrived at the safe haven, Asa carved their names into the stone. She couldn't find herself to join everyone by the bonfire, despite the air being filled with nothing but joy.

Instead, Asa found a part of the beach that hadn't been taken over by the celebration. She sat on an old log, a pencil and notebook—that Jorge had given to her—in her hands. Asa was no artist, and by far no comparison to Clint, but she attempted.

Sitting alone, listening to the waves dance against the sand, Asa let herself breathe. It was the first time for as long as she could remember, where she had nothing to run from.

She sat there for what could have been hours before her peace was finally disrupted. Asa knew better than to expect quiet for long but she was fortunate for what she got of it.

"I've been looking everywhere for you." Gally spoke softly and Asa set down the notebook.

Asa didn't say anything in response as he sat beside her. She let her head rest on his shoulder, but she watched the now moonlit water with contentment. She could feel the tension built in Gally's body, especially as she sat closer.

They hadn't talked about when he had kissed her in the city. They barely had time to comprehend the kiss as it happened.

Asa didn't care as to why he kissed her, she knew the answer to that. What she did care about though, was whether he would do it again. They were safe now, and if Asa could find away to be with the man she loved, she would.

Her hand found its way into his, intertwining their fingers as they fit together like pieces of a puzzle. Gally's heart pounded, bringing her knuckles to his lips, kissing them longingly.

"I love you, Asa." Gally confessed, his voice shaking as if he expected rejection.

"I never stopped loving you."

FIVE MONTHS LATER

"Asa?" She leaned against the cold rock, taking in the coolness as her body felt overheated. She was rushed with nausea, for what felt to be the hundredth time that week.

It was Minho who had heard her, he must have been coming by on his morning run when she was having her morning sickness. Asa wasn't dumb, she had predicted this day but it was coming sooner than she thought. She was one of the two assigned doctors on the island, it wasn't hard for her to diagnose herself.

Asa wiped her mouth as she stood up properly, "morning, Minho." She greeted him, taking the canteen of water he was offering.

"Are you sick?" He asked, but his face turned to confusion as she shook her head.

"At least I don't think so.. I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant." Asa answered, she knew she couldn't lie to Minho anymore. She was surprised though, as a smile formed large on his face.

"I'm going to be an uncle?!" Minho exclaimed, rushing to hug his sister until he realized she had just thrown up. "Ew, sorry—"

"Shhh, Gally doesn't know."

His face went to shock, "you told me first?" He asked her, and she nodded slowly.

"I wanted to tell you first.. just not like this." Ada left out a light laugh and this time, Minho brought her into a hug.

FIVE YEARS LATER

"Hey, doc."

Asa wasn't surprised to see Brenda waiting for her as she left her office. They had a community, small businesses as architecture grew around them. Asa had her own doctors office, one that had been built early on and had shortly grown into a their own emergency medical clinic.

Asa pulled her hair down with a smile, "I think everyone decided they were gonna hurt themselves today." She stated, waving to the night time doctor as they passed each other.

"That kinda day?" Brenda asked, earning an exhausted nod from her best friend.

"Clint would not sleep last night so I'm just over today." Asa told her, running a hand through her hair as they neared the park. "I bet he and Gally just did this all day, too." She sighed, noticing her husband and child on the field.

"Mmh, they went to Fry's for lunch and I think I saw Gally and Vince planning out some new things they want to add." She said, handing over a sandwich she had gotten from Fry's on the way over.

Asa took it graciously, taking a much needed bite of food. She had been exhausted, between training and taking care of the patients she had coming in and out. But, with a toddler Asa wasn't sure how much longer she could stay awake.

"You look like shit." Brenda told her best friend, and Ada wasn't surprised by the blatant truth.

"Can i come hide at your house for a nap?" Asa pleaded, noticing her son as he began running towards her.

"Mommy!" He exclaimed, wrapping himself around her legs as her got to her. Gally wasn't far behind, a big smile sprung over his face, something that Asa would never take for granted.

"Hey, CJ!" She lifted the boy into her arms, kissing his cheeks as he shyed away.

"How was your day, my love?"

authors note,
i know it took me literal years to get here but it's done. ive had writers block within block with this book but its something I truly wanted to finish and seeing asa finally have a happy ending in a normal life is something I'm content with.