Thirteen Years | P. Galliard

Epilogue

** Thank you all to have read this in its entirety and thoroughly enjoyed reading it as much as I loved writing it.

Much love,
Dodger <3

Creative liberties have been taken for the sake of the ending, the main plot remains the same.

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It didn't hurt when he took his final breath, didn't hurt when the boy he once knew cracked his bones with an ear piercing snap, nor did it hurt when all he saw was an inky blackness. A darkness he fully allowed himself into, and greeted like an old friend. The sensation wasn't dizzying, not confusing in the slightest as he welcomed his death willingly. A sacrifice woefully taken as means to an end he hoped those still alive could capture. He wasn't scared when his eyes flickered open once again, not in the slightest. As he was greeted with an overwhelming joy that freedom had to offer - true freedom. Not a freedom that was tested and had restrictions, a freedom he could feel in every fiber of his body. A freedom that held no bounds.

The air around the man was warm and inviting, filling his senses to the brim every time he inhaled. The lush grass underneath of him smelled earthy and stuck to his clothes as he looked up at the dark sky with a smile. Hazel eyes darting across the midnight sky, taking in every ball of light there was to offer. A chuckle passing his lips from he and his comrades conversation, he looked over at the brunette with a loving, cheeky smile. "I actually convinced them to marry me too, Marcy" he mused, and the brunette bolted up from his laying position.

"Are you serious?!" Marcel asked rhetorically with a laugh, "and you never believed me when I said you two assholes were perfect for each other!"

Rolling his eyes, Porco nudged his brother with a laugh. "You don't have to tell me 'I told you so' even in death."

"Apparently I do," he spoke with a laugh, nudging Porco back all the same. "I'm sorry you had to leave them so soon," he said thoughtfully. "Death certainly has a way in finding the worst moments - believe me."

Porco paused a moment from his brother's words and let a sigh pass his lips. "Yeah," he said simply, "it does." Though his sacrifice was given willingly, he did so with a heavy heart. Whatever way his chose, he knew his death was imminent in those last few moments he had, figuring he might as well make it a heroic last stand. Sitting up to join his brother, he glanced away at the ground and sighed deeply, "at least they out lived me. That's all I wanted."

Porco felt another nudge against his arm from his brother, but neglected to look up to see his soft smile. "They'll be here soon enough," he reassured. "Then you both can annoy me for all of eternity."

Dying was such a terrifying concept to you that you didn't take to it willingly. Screaming, gnashing, and trying to claw your way from the dark chasm of your own demise. You hadn't felt the crunch, hadn't heard your sickly snapping and breaking as you were crushed; it happened suddenly and without warning. Dizzy and confused from a sensation completely unknown to you, you were scared and utterly alone. A sensation that you opened your mouth to scream from, but not a decibel of sound leaving your throat. You wanted to cry, but no tears came. All you could think was your own fear - until you suddenly didn't. Almost giving you whiplash the way your emotions jerked to a stop, you felt calm. You felt at peace.

Your eyes fluttered open to a deep, night sky; an awe inspiring darkness speckled with stars that hung in the air graciously. This didn't feel like death, it felt more like a dream as you opened your eyes to such beautiful surroundings. You were laid in a grass field, waking up under the stars like you had just taken a nap and woke up from a nightmare. It felt normal, but it felt safe - a serenity that was suspended in the air that you felt as if you could reach out and grab it.