Broken {Completed}

Epilogue (Gunnar)

"As days go by, we'll be faced with a world of challenges choices. We may not be the astronaut, doctors, or princesses that we wanted to be when we were children, but that's okay. Everyday we take steps into a new journey, and everyday we become the people we were meant to be. So what we if we don't end up with the fancy cars, mansions on hills, or private jets? Those aren't the things that define who we are. It's how we act when we're faced with adversity, our integrity, our friends, our lovers. It's in the little things that mold us into a masterpiece, but let us not forget that it is here that some of our worst and best choices have been made. Congratulations class of 2016! We made it!"

A roar erupted throughout the stadium as we threw our hats in the air.

"Can you believe it's over? We're free!" Mike Riburn exclaim wrapping an arm around my head and pulling me down.

"Yeah it's great right?" I pulled away from him and looked up toward the stage. Feo was shaking the school board president's hand and talking with the counselor from Harvard.

I began to weave through the crowd of students to get to the stage when I heard someone calling my name. I looked around the crowd and saw Moxxi coming my way.

"Congratulations!" She said hugging me.

"Thanks! You too."

"I never got the chance to thank you-"

"Moxxi, we just graduated. I don't think it's right time or place for that," I cut her off knowing exactly what she was referring to. I didn't want to think about that. Not now.

I turned as I felt someone grab my hand. I met Feo's smiling face, and quickly pulled her in for a kiss. "That speech was so good!"

"I don't know. I think it was missing a lot of sarcasm."

"Of course you do," I laughed and kissed her again. "But seriously that was perfect."

"Thank you, and there's someone that wants to meet you," she said pulling my hand and led me onto the stage.

The counselor from Harvard smiled as he saw us approach. "You must be Gunnar! I'm Xavier Martin. It's nice to meet you."

"The honor is mine," I responded shaking his hand.

"Feo, has said some wonderful things about you, and at her request she asked that I hand deliver this to you." He reached into his suit and removed a Harvard envelope.

My heart started pounding as I opened the letter and skimmed through the words. "I've been accepted. I've been accepted!" I picked up Feo and spun her around in my excitement.

"You've got a good woman on your hands, Gunnar."

"Trust me sir, I have no plans of letting her go."

He patted me on the back. "Congratulations, I'll see you in a few weeks," he said before walking off.

Feo smiled and turned me around. Before I even understood what was happening I was being hugged tightly.

"I'm so proud of you! My baby is going to Harvard!" I hugged my mother back tightly as I heard her sobbing. "My baby is going to Harvard," she repeated more sorrowfully.

"Mom please don't cry. I don't think I can take that right now." Tears began to form in my own eyes, and I fought my hardest not to let them fall, but the moment my eyes met hers it was in vain. I was leaving the one person that has always been a constant in my life, the one person that I knew would never abandon me.

"You'll be home in time for me to have the baby right?"

"Of course! And it worked out that you should have the baby during thanksgiving. That's if you can hold out that long, you have to! Promise me!"

She smiled kissing my cheek. "I promise."

"Gunnar," Shannon said stepping up to hug me. "Take care of yourself, and if you need anything, let me know. Also here's you're graduation present." He extended his hand to me in a fist. I was skeptical at first, but as he opened his hand a key fell into my own.

"No way. You're giving me the Range Rover! Thank you!" I hugged Shannon again and placed the key in my pocket.

"And don't forget about your Uncle J." I turned around to hug Jared, and he produced an envelope. I took it from him taking a peek inside to see two tickets to Venice for next spring. I opened my mouth, but he quickly shushed me by putting a finger over his lips.

"What did you get him Jared?" My mother questioned threateningly.

"Just an outrageous amount of cash." It wasn't a complete lie. Tickets to Venice during the spring were extremely expensive.

"And here is my gift," Antonio said handing me a red bo staff with a card tied to it.

I opened the card and was surprised to find what looked like a house key. "What's this?"

"That would be the key to my condo."

"You're funny. Now where's the real present?"

"That is the real present Gunnar. I'm moving." Everyone stared aghast.

"I just thought that it wouldn't be a bad idea if Gunnar and Feo had a place of their own when they were here. Let's be honest he's going to marry her. We just don't know when."

"But how are we going to afford that condo?" Feo chimed in.

"You don't have to pay for anything but the power, water, utility bill, and things like cable. Everything else is taken care of."

"You are not going to keep paying for a condo your not living it," I argued.

"Technically, I own those condos. My father founded them, and up until a year ago they were locked in a contract, but now they're mine. So if I say you can stay there you can stay there."

"Wow. Thank you, but why are you moving?"

Antonio looked saddened as he debated if he wanted to tell me. "Nat and I want a change in scenery."

I knew there was something more that he wasn't letting on, but I didn't press him. "Thanks, Toni."

"No problem," he said with a saddened smile.

"Hey, we better get going if we want to do some sight seeing," Feo said quietly.

"Sight seeing?" Shannon raised an eyebrow as he looked between the two of us.

"Yeah, Feo and I are driving to Harvard. If we both got in, that was the plan."

"What about money?"

"It's fine. My dad won the power bowl and he's putting the majority of it in an account for us," Feo said smiling and taking my hand.

"Oh, yeah. I did hear something about that." Shannon scratched his bearded chin reflectively. "Speaking of which where is your dad?"

"He had a flight to catch this morning. He had a very important interview."

"I can't believe you're leaving."

I looked at my mother who had broken down and began to cry. I could see how hard this was for her, and it began to eat at my heart. I loved her so much, and been through it all with her. "I'll be back soon. I promise." I hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead.

"Stay safe."

"I will."

"Keep him out of trouble," she said turning to hug Feo.

"You bet. If he doesn't behave, I'll be sure to keep you on speed dial."

"Good." My mom held Feo's hands for a while and cried before letting go.

"You ready?" I took Feo's hand and squeezed it gently.

She nodded.

I hugged everyone saving Shannon for last. "Don't worry I'll take good care of her," he said patting me on the back.

"I know you will. I love you Dad."

He hugged me tighter at the words. I never told him I loved him before, but I do.

"I love you too." His voice wavered as he responded.

I pulled away and took Feo's hand guiding into the future.