Beyond: Beyond the Lights

Chapter 3

JAMES

The drive felt surreal, a mix of excitement and sadness knotting in my chest as I navigated through the streets of Philadelphia one last time. Kian's quiet presence beside me was a comfort, even if his attempt to lighten the mood with humor had fallen flat. Maria's chatter from the backseat was a constant reminder of why I was pushing forward. I could hear her giggling and occasionally poking Kian, who was doing his best to entertain her with silly faces and exaggerated voices.

We reached the small, neatly kept cemetery at the edge of town, where the grass was freshly mowed and the tombstones stood in neat, orderly rows. This was where I needed to be, where I had to say goodbye. The car came to a stop, and I took a deep breath before stepping out, holding Maria's hand as we walked together.

Kian followed, giving me a supportive nod. He knew how important this was for me, even if the words were hard to come by. I approached the grave, my heart heavy with the weight of everything unsaid. Maria clutched my hand tightly, her small face a mixture of curiosity and confusion as she looked up at me.

"Hey, love," I whispered, crouching down beside the headstone. The name etched into the marble was a constant ache in my heart. "I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to come back here. Things got so complicated, and I didn't know how to face it all."

Maria's soft voice broke the silence. "Is this where Mommy is, Daddy?" Her eyes were wide, and she looked up at me with a mixture of innocence and understanding.

I nodded, fighting back tears. "Yes, sweetie. This is where Mommy is resting." I turned my attention back to the grave, trying to gather my thoughts. "I'm taking us to California, to start a new chapter. I hope you're watching over us, cheering us on. Dad got a new job, and I got a full scholarship."

Kian stood a respectful distance away, giving me the space I needed. I could sense his presence and his understanding, and it made the moment a little easier to bear. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small, silver locket that I'd kept with me through all the changes. I placed it gently on the ground beside the headstone.

"Maria wanted to bring something for you, too," I said, taking a deep breath. "She's been saving her pennies and nickels to buy you a special gift." I held up a small bouquet of wildflowers, something Maria had picked out herself. I placed them carefully in front of the locket.

Maria looked up at me, her eyes earnest. "We're gonna be okay, right, Daddy?" Her voice was small, but it carried a sense of hope that I desperately needed.

"We're going to be okay," I assured her, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "We're going to make new memories and find happiness again."

After a few quiet moments, I stood and gave the grave one last look before turning back to the car. Maria and Kian followed, and as we got back inside, I felt a sense of bittersweet closure. It was time to move forward, to embrace the new beginning that awaited us in California.

Kian glanced at me with a sympathetic smile. "Ready to hit the road, J?"

"Yeah," I said, taking one last look at Philadelphia. "Let's go."

As we drove away from the cemetery, I felt a mix of relief and sorrow. The past was behind us, and the future awaited with open arms. With Kian by my side and Maria's hand in mine, I knew we were embarking on a new journey — one that would be filled with its own challenges and triumphs. But for now, all I could do was focus on the road ahead and the family I had left to cherish.

While our situations were vastly different, I knew that Kian was leaving behind two very impactful relationships. His first love, Rory Sinclair. The two of them had called it quits after five years together. And after he and Rory broke up, Kian had fallen in love with Atlas Wilde, our former teammate and middle linebacker at Redwood University. Unfortunately, the distance from LA to NYC steered them both away from pursuing the relationship and they also called it quits, leaving both Kian and Jamie eligible bachelors upon their move to Beverly Hills.

As we drove away from the cemetery and towards our new future, the street lights flickered on, one by one, guiding us towards a new chapter. Despite the challenges and the pain of leaving behind a place full of memories, there was also excitement and hope for what lay ahead. And with Maria and Kian by my side, I felt ready to face whatever came next.