Taken • cth

epilogue

With time, things get better.

Physical wounds mostly disappear within two weeks, where as emotional ones will take much, much longer, but they're managing.

Since the police dropped Lea's case like it was nothing and everybody in the area kept suspiciously quiet, there was no body to bury. Lea's mother would not answer her phone, no matter how many times the group called. Still, Calum, Arrow, Ashton and Luke set up a memorial for her at the local cemetery. Instead of burying Lea herself, they bury a lot of her favorite things, such as her skateboard and laptop. Like they could somehow send them to her through the earth. The four young adults each place a small handful of flowers on top of the makeshift grave, say a few words, a small prayer, and then depart.

On the walk home, Calum takes Arrow's hand and asks, "Do you think she made it to heaven?"

Arrow looks up to the bright blue sky above them, and then smiles a little. In her belief, life is what you make of it, and your actions and priorities determine your fate. Lea was one of the kindest people she knew. Beneath the fierce attitude and all of those tattoos and piercings, she was a huge softy with an amazing heart.

"Yeah." Arrow says, laying her head on his shoulder. "I do."

***

The two don't think about the missing pieces of their souls, or the amount of time they have left in this world. They choose to focus on the present, on healing, and on love. It is better to live than just wait to die.

***

Calum and Arrow celebrate their five year anniversary with a picnic in the woods behind their apartment building. Its peaceful and glowing outside, a further reminder that they have nothing to be scared of anymore.

Calum bought some apple toddy from the bakery in town, and Arrow baked a cherry pie from the scratch they had in the kitchen. Together they sit, side by side, cris-cross on a fluffy blanket with steaming mugs in their hands and messy plates in their laps. The pie is delicious, warm and soft, just like Calum when he nuzzles his head in the nape of Arrow's neck and breathes her in.

"Five years, huh?" He whispers, his breath causing goosebumps to rise on her skin. He smells like hazelnut and axe. "It's really been that long. You've become really good at tolerating me."

Arrow scoffs, and grins. "As if. You're the one that has to tolerate me, with my OCD over worrying ass."

"Your intelligent, creative, strong and brave ass, actually." He slides the plate off of his lap and sets the mug down. His eyes are bright in the moonlight. "I love you a lot, you know that, right?"

Arrow reaches up and caresses the side of his face, her pointer finger nearly touching his scar. "I do." She puts her stuff off to the side as well, and scoots around to face him directly. She leans forward and kisses him on the nose. "And I love you a lot."

Calum takes both of her hands, looking down between them as he plays with her fingers. "I don't know where I would be if I hadn't met you." He whispers, meeting her eyes once again. "You saved my life."

"We saved each other's lives." Arrow points out softly.

"No, I mean before the proxies. Out on the streets. That night we met under the bridge, I was thinking about killing myself to put me out of my misery. I was so hungry, and exhausted, and hurt, but then you showed up." The corner of his mouth quirks up a little. "You were so beautiful. You still are. It threw me off. I had never looked at girls in school and felt anything, but when I looked at you, I couldn't see anything else."