This Hard Life

Epilogue: Two Years Later

Epilogue

Two Years Later

“Grace! Would you please hurry up? We have to be at Lorna’s in a half an hour and I still have to pick up Scott from work!”

“Hang on Charlotte! It is my birthday dinner after all,” she remarked.

“Just because you’re seven now doesn’t mean that you can start developing an attitude!”

Ever since I turned eighteen, I was Grace’s guardian and we moved back into our old apartment. I began college and working part-time at a store in town. Grace and I were together, which was all that mattered.

I walked back in the kitchen of the apartment to look at the mail that was delivered earlier this afternoon. Some were bills, there was once magazine for Grace, and there was an envelope with no return address. I opened it. Inside there were two small pieces of paper. One, I noticed was a letter. It read:

Charlotte,

I’m sorry that I haven’t been a part of your life. I truly loved your mother with all of my heart. Seeing you girls at the cemetery two years ago made me realize that life didn’t just pause during my absence. You have grown into a beautiful young woman. Please accept this gift.

Dad

I looked at the other piece of paper. I turned out to be a check. I looked at the amount of money that was written in the box and suddenly my jaw dropped.

“Okay, Charlotte I’m ready,” Grace said as she came out of her room. (She had her own room since I now slept in my mother’s old room). I snapped out of my shock and put the check back in the envelope before Grace and I left our home.

I drove to pick up Scott at a local café which was where he worked. After two years, we were still madly in love. Actually, I started thinking that he was going to purpose soon, but I wasn’t sure. Within five more minutes, Scott, Grace, and I knocked on Lorna’s door.

“Come on in everyone,” Lorna said after she opened the door, and we all did as we were told.

As we sat down, conversations picked up immediately. Lorna’s husband started asking Scott about his mother. Lorna was listening to Grace tell her about her friends in the second grade. I, myself was basking in the presence shown before me.

For the past two years I have lived in a world with little pain. I became stronger. Thank you Mom. I was beginning to think that my life was pretty great.