Axel's Daisy

Epilogue

Let it end.

Let it hurt.

Let it heal.

Let it go.

I repeated that in my head throughout the morning when students gushed about how it was the end and then the beginning of a new adventure after our senior year was finally over. It was our final exam today, and I called Lena to tell her that I wouldn't be able to make it to work.

She told me I should have fun with pre-graduation celebrations. I didn't feel any of the party vibes without my parents beside me. The fact that I would walk without my dad shattered me; it made me cry all night in Jade's arms. Hence, our eyes were terribly puffy, and we had nothing on our faces.

But one thing really controlled my attention: Axel's red knuckles and the dried blood on his lower lip. He wanted to hide them away, but I saw right through it.

"It's fine, Daisy. I just had a fight with one of the bartenders."

"Why did you go to a bar?"

He was a terrible liar because he got caught as soon as he played with the back of his hair. My eyes swiveled to a beaten-up Cole, and I gaped at Axel, who had a nervous smile.

"We just had to talk to our friends there," he fumbled.

"Yeah, you should believe us." Brady winked at me and got slapped on the arm by Jade as we cornered them.

"What really happened?" Jade gave them a detective's stare, and Brady shrunk under her scrutiny.

"Please don't kill me, sorry brother," he looked at Axel, who was shaking his head at Brady. "Axel beat Cole up because he said something about Violet and looked at you." He told me.

I crossed my arms, and Axel gave me an innocent shrug before his muscles held me in a hug. I was a sucker for his body and his lips; that mischievous Golden knew how to take advantage of that when his mouth was on the side of my neck. It was our lucky day that the whole crowd was busy partying through the hallway. I giggled when he pecked the sensitive spot under my ear, his arm lazily around my hip.

"Wanna visit your dad?" He suggested. He memorized every single thing on my mind. Our graduation was tomorrow afternoon, and somewhere deep inside of me, I would miss school and the crazy moments.

Who knew I would land the most impeccable boyfriend and a much better job with Lena when I rejected West Samuels, plus, the most caring friend and my soul sister? I was exhilarated every time I thought about it.

As I warmly watched Jade smile at Brady and how he slipped a tendril of hair behind her ear, I knew my best friend was in good hands. We settled on Wisconsin University as our future plan, and Axel was going with Brady to NYU after many debates on what offer he should take and a few rejections aimed at the scouts. It was four hours away from home, but it was better for him, and I wasn't going to be selfish when it came to his major.

They were going on a scholarship while I submitted an application to WU with Jade from my work money. This year was hectic for us, especially with the surprise of a transfer student who became my everything. We lost and won; we still made it, and I knew our fathers would be proud.

My hand automatically went to my necklace as I remembered how Mom used to dance happily when I graduated from kindergarten. It was also the time when Dad sprung up with a chocolate cake and a candle. I always missed them at all times.

Axel and I were in his car, his hand in mine on top of the gear shift. Low music played on his radio, and I was buried deep in my thoughts that I wasn't aware we arrived at the cemetery where my parents were. Golden stopped the car and killed the engine after he parked.

He opened the door for me, and I stood on my tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek. He was still insistent when it came to his mom. Axel told me about what happened and how he kicked his mother out.

Although I didn't know a lot about his mom, it still made me resentful towards her when he opened up about her and how she hid the fact that she dated another man from Axel. In some odd way, I wished his mom had been honest about it from the beginning; it would have made things easier between them.

I didn't care for her, but I wanted closure for Axel.

That was why I sneakily copied her number from his phone when he was in the shower and texted her to meet us at the cemetery.

His mom was in a red blouse and a black skirt. She looked like a wreck with tears streaming down her face; I could see the regret clearly. He stiffened, and I squeezed his hand before he looked at me. He understood just by gazing into my eyes.

"Golden, I wanted to close this page together so we can start our own journey." I softened my eyes at his troubled ones. "I can tell that this affects you, and the pain won't end when you ignore it." I grazed my fingers on his cheek. He knew I was right as he released the tension between his eyebrows.

Then, he sighed and turned to face his mom. I gave them time together after I informed Axel that I was going to see dad.

•••

"Hey dad, it's your favorite florist," I spoke. My voice was a bare whisper, but I knew dad could hear me when I touched the new tombstone.

The flowers were bloomed and vivacious—dad had always liked my coordination, and he was my biggest fan as well as my first supporter.

"I graduated, dad. I wanted you to be the one to see me tomorrow. I wanted a hug and an all-nighter with you... remember when we did that before and ate your favorite cheese chips?" I laughed tenderly, with tears blurring my eyes. "Damn, dad. This really sucks. I miss you too much. I think about you all the time. How can I move on when you were the only steady mountain in my life?" My throat hitched, and I wiped away the escaped tears.

I was pulled back into a broad chest, my arms safely tucked into him. Axel's cologne pacified my raging heartbeat as he buried his head in my hair.

"It's my time to thank you—so, thank you, my Daisy. The light in my world, my new beginning, and my end."

"I love you, Golden."

"I love you, Daisy." He reciprocated.

We hugged each other in front of my parents, he twirled me around, and we healed together.