Finding Love

Chapter 57

Lynn's POV

I pick at the pieces of grass surrounding me, feeling a bit emotional as I sit on the cool ground.

I glance up, catching AJ staring at the fire in front of us.

We're alone outside Alora and Becca's house. It's just passed midnight, and the sky is full of stars. The only light around us is from the firepit we lit.

"I didn't think this dream of ours would come true, AJ," I whisper, breaking the silence we've been in for the past few minutes.

AJ doesn't look away from the flames, but a small smile does come to his lips. "I didn't think we'd survive," He whispers back, shoving his hand in the pockets of his dark black jeans.

He leaves his right hand hanging loosely by his side. After reinjuring it by punching Marcus last week, he's back wearing a splint on it for the next few days.

I think about his words and sigh. We never really talked about it, but we both knew the likelihood of us outrunning them for the rest of our lives was low.

AJ bends down and picks up his file from the ground.

I glance at mine. It lays closed beside me on the grass. I haven't opened it.

I know AJ read over his file, but I don't care what mine has to say. And I don't want to know either.

AJ holds out a hand suddenly. "You ready?" He asks me gently, and I quickly grab my file in one hand, taking his hand in the other.

He pulls me to my feet easily, and when he goes to let go of my hand, I only hold his tighter. He gets the message.

Standing side by side, we stare into the flames.

"This is it... we're done," I mumble. "Our names won't be connected with theirs anymore."

AJ takes a deep breath. "One..".

"Two," I mumble.

AJ squeezes my hand tighter as he sighs. "Three."

We toss the files into the flame.

We watch in silence as the flames spread immediately.

We watch them burn.

I let out a breath, my eyes filling with water despite the fact I swore to myself I wasn't going to cry.

They're not sad tears..not really. I'm just so relieved.

I didn't think this would ever happen.

We talked about it as if it would. The day we'd burn our files and officially start a new life. We knew it was just bullshit. A stupid wish to help us sleep better at night.

In reality, we were both just hoping that we'd somehow die peacefully. That was our actual wish.

But now... now we have that new life.

I hear AJ sniffle.

I glance at him, and much to my surprise, I see a single tear rolling down his cheek as he stares at the flames.

I haven't seen him cry since the day we escaped.

Well, I heard him cry over the phone only three months ago, but I don't like to think of that phone call.

Without a word, AJ lets go of my hand, only to throw his arm over my shoulders and pull me close to his side.

I lean into his side, and we watch the fire together. We watch as the files turn to nothing more than dark ashes.