Protected

            I grab my gray church coat and white scarf, black gloves.
      Carson leads the way and we walk slowly out into the twilight, once again headed to the park a few blocks down.
     I glance around me at the growing dusk, the streetlights are turning on. We pass many pleasant looking houses, and I can see through the windows, families watching TV, eating, and playing games. Each is a joyful scene, so different yet so alike in each house.
         We reach the park and walk slowly down the paths, the lights and dimness casting shadows. The black, wrought-iron benches are shiny under the streetlights glow.
    We reach the lake, not yet frozen, rippling in the moonlight, reflecting the stars. Steam is rising from the water, as the warmth hits the cold air. It creates a chilling illusion, and I can imagine ghosts of the past appearing. I lean over the side of the bridge, looking out.
    In my minds eye I see children and teenagers, skating around in brightly colored coats and hats. Maybe a couple of lovers, skating romantically.
    I watch as a little girl with flaming red hair forms through the mist. She's wearing all black, with a blue beanie. She has a white aura glowing around her. She has on hockey skates and looks about 10 years old.
    There's a little ghost boy with her, he has blond hair peeking out from under a red hat, which matches his red coat. He also has the haunting white glow.
    I watch as the little girl speeds around on the ice, and the boy follows her. She hits the puck with her stick, and he hits it back at her.
     Then she slips and falls on her back, laying there for a moment. The boy skates over and helps her up. When she's standing, he reaches over and tucks her hair behind her ear. The ghost girl jerks away. Her mouth moves, they're talking but I cannot hear them. Then, the redhead laughs and starts chasing the boy, whacking him with her stick.
         I turn away from the younger me, the me before my body was broken and my emotions wrecked. The old memories, ghosts of how things used to be. I turn to Carson and he is watching me, not saying a word.
   I think about the boy he was, and how much he has grown and matured. We used to be close in height, but now he towers over me, at least 6 inches taller than my 5ft 5in height.
       He was so protective of me this summer, whenever I was in danger.
       He was so forgiving, even when I wasn't kind.
      He was so caring at our sleepover, tucking me in after my nightmare.
      He never makes me feel guilty for what I've done, because I know that I am to blame.
   He looks past my thoughts, he looks beneath the skin, at my heart. He looks with those deep blues eyes of his, blue eyes that I could get lost in, the shade so different from my vivid green ones.
He's always been there with me.
    He makes me feel... Protected.
     Carson Trayco, you will always be the boy for me.
     We're still looking at each other and I twist away, gazing out at the lake. It's chilly and I involuntarily shiver.
     I feel something cold and wet on my cheek and glance up.
      Big fluffy snowflakes are drifting down from the sky, falling more heavily each minute.
       "The first snowfall of the year," I whisper, and tears spring to my eyes. "It's so beautiful."
     Carson nods, and looks up at the sky with me. Snowflakes are sitting on my hair, stark white against the fiery red.
    I pull out my phone, wanting to capture the moment. I hold it out and smile, taking a picture of me and Carson, saving the moment forever.
        I look up at the dark sky, the millions of stars, and feel small and insignificant.
       I lean into Carson. "Look at all the stars, there's billions and billions. They make me feel so small, like if I was gone, the world wouldn't miss me."
      Carson looks at me, gently cups my face in his hand and kisses me. Softly sweetly, his lips aren't demanding or possessive. They're almost questioning, like this kiss isn't supposed to happen.
    And it's not, but I don't mind.
       "I would miss you." He murmurs against my mouth, "I would miss you, because you might not know it, but you are my world." He pulls away. "I don't want to live life without you, and I don't plan to. I want you to be by my side for my whole life."
     The collective world wouldn't miss me, but my world would.
    Carson would miss me, and he is my world.
      He reaches out and gently brushes my cheek with his finger.
       Carson kisses me again and I force myself to move away, "Carson."
    "I'm sorry," he says with a small, impish smile, "I can't resist when you're so pretty, with the snow on your hair and your cheeks all aglow."
     I smile a little and  look out at the water, the little girl and boy are there again.
    They take off their skates and walk into the woods, hand in hand, and gradually fade away, disappearing completely. I can't see them, but I know who they are. And I know they are ready to face the world.

Together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's the end of Lexi's story, BUT (there's always a but) an epilogue is coming to tie up any loose ends. I ask that you comment any questions about any of the characters so I can answer them and you don't live in curiosity for the rest of your days ;)

Thank you so much for all of your support.

Thank you to whoever continued to read this book all the way to the end.

Thank you to those who continually voted and commented.

I love you all, until next time!

-M.R.