A Journey Through Love and Loss

Special Chapter

Tyler's POV

Seventeen Years Later...

Seventeen years had passed, yet each step towards Avery's grave felt as heavy as the first time I walked this path.

At my forty year old, the weight of her absence had not lessened. I had simply grown stronger in carrying it.

Today, as always, I carried a bouquet of her favorite flowers which is the white lilies and a single candle to light in her memory.

The cemetery was quiet, the serene silence broken only by the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze and the occasional chirping of birds. I had grown accustomed to this tranquility, finding a strange comfort in the solitude of these visits.

Reaching Avery's resting place, I took a deep breath and knelt beside the headstone, reading the engraved words for what felt like the thousandth time:

**Avery Sandoval**
**Beloved Wife and Mother**
**Spending My Life With You Is A Miracle**

I began to clean the headstone, wiping away the dirt and debris that had gathered over time. My movements were deliberate, each stroke of the cloth a silent conversation with her. "Hi, Avery," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's me again."

I placed the lilies carefully at the base of the headstone, arranging them just the way she liked. The candle came next, its flame flickering to life in the gentle breeze.

As I watched the flame dance, memories of our time together flooded my mind, our wedding day, Tyrone's adoption, our adventures in New York, and those quiet moments of pure love and contentment.

Tyrone was twenty-one now, a young man making his way in the world. He's a great swimmer and studying pilot. When Avery passed away, he became serious and always quiet. He became grumpy with our household helpers, but when I am the one who gave orders, he immediately followed. Despite that, he inherited Avery's kind heart.

He often accompanied me on these visits, but today, He is currently at the university, pursuing his dreams with the same determination that Avery had always encouraged in him.

"I miss you," I said softly, my voice trembling. "Every day, I miss you." The wind seemed to carry my words away, a silent acknowledgment of the grief that had become a part of my existence.

I sat down on the grass, leaning back against the headstone. The cemetery was peaceful, a stark contrast to the turmoil that had once consumed me.

Over the years, I had found ways to move forward, to live a life that honored Avery's memory. It hadn't been easy, but with the support of our family and friends, I had managed.

Nung una mahirap, feeling ko hindi na ako makakabangon noon.

Mark, Caleb, Lucas, and Ruth were still a big part of my life, each of us bound together by the love we had for Avery and the shared experience of loss. They had become my pillars, always there to lift me up when the weight of grief threatened to pull me under.

"I think you'd be proud of us," I continued, my eyes fixed on the flame. "Tyrone's doing great, following his passion for planes. He is about to become a pilot soon. And I've... well, I've tried to be the father you would have wanted for him."

A gentle breeze brushed against my face, and for a moment, I closed my eyes, imagining it was Avery's touch. The years had taught me that she was never truly gone, her presence lingered in the spaces we had shared, in the love that continued to grow within our family.

"I've kept my promise to you," I said, my voice stronger now. "I've lived for us. And I'll keep doing that, every day."

"I will continue to live as long as I can. Let's meet again when I can no longer handle it and when I know Tyrone is in a good condition." I just touched the headstone gently.