SOUL

epilogue

Mary stood at a stall, carefully examining the bright, fresh produce laid out in neat rows at the farmers market. She picked up a tomato, feeling its smooth skin under her fingers, when Leo appeared beside her. His face lit up as he showed her a small bag filled with treats for their dog, Max.

"Look what I found for our boy," he said, grinning.

She laughed, a warm, soft sound. "He's going to love those."

Leo slid his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer as they began to walk through the bustling market together. The air was filled with the mingling scents of baked goods, flowers, and freshly cut herbs, and they both soaked it in, savoring the comforting normalcy of it all. It had taken time to reach this point, time and effort. They had both faced their traumas head-on, worked through them, and learned to live with the scars. The wounds weren't fully healed—some never would be—but they had accepted that. It was part of their story, and they had learned to move past it together.

Leo continued his work as a detective, and occasionally, when a case hit a dead end, Mary would lend a hand. They both found a deep, intense satisfaction in their work, a sense of purpose that made the long hours and difficult cases worthwhile. Helping others, in a way, was part of their own healing process. It reminded them that there was always a way forward, always a chance to make things right.

"Hey, let me see your hand," Leo said suddenly, his tone playful.

Mary extended her left hand, and his eyes lingered on the ring. He smiled, tilting his head slightly. "Where'd you get this?" he teased, the same joke he'd made a dozen times since he proposed weeks ago.

Mary rolled her eyes, laughing. "Oh, my side piece gave it to me."

Leo chuckled, shaking his head before leaning down to kiss her. It was a brief, sweet kiss, but it was enough to make her heart swell. As they walked, they stumbled upon a stall filled with vibrant bouquets, and Mary's gaze softened as she admired the flowers. Without a word, Leo stepped forward and bought them for her.

"They're pretty, just like you," he said, handing the bouquet over with a gentle smile.

She accepted them, her cheeks flushing slightly, and they continued to meander through the stalls. Here, they were just a couple in love, enjoying a Saturday at the market. It was everything they had worked for, and everything they deserved.

As they walked, Mary suddenly felt a familiar, warm presence. She glanced over her shoulder and saw a figure in the distance—Adamma. Her smile was serene, her gaze filled with love and pride. Mary's breath caught for a moment, but before she could dwell on it, Leo gently tugged her arm.

"Hey, check this out. Fresh honey," he said, leading her towards another stall.

She let herself be pulled away, but not before she looked back one last time. Adamma was still there, still smiling, watching over them. Mary felt a deep sense of peace, knowing they weren't alone. She turned back to Leo, and leaned her head on his shoulder. Admiring his beautiful face, he notices her gaze and looks down at her, a smile growing on his lips.

"what?" he asks

"I love you" she says

"I love you too" he smiles

The end.