SPINE [Completed]

CHAPTER 12

"Ladies and gentlemen. Put your hands together for your UConn Huskies! Introducing first standing at 6'3" from Montvale, Connecticut, the redshirt freshman sensation, number 13...James Turner!"

He ran towards courtside. He spotted his mother. They hugged. Shared a prayer. Pointed up to the sky for his dad. For Taylor. He ran over to her father. Hugged. Shared a prayer. Another salute. To her mother. A year and a half had passed since Taylor Ann Brookes passed away. It took every fiber in James's body to find the strength and courage to keep on moving forward and eventually, he found the court again. It felt amazing to feel the roar of the crowd and the sheer intensity of the game. He felt his hands pulse every time he touched the ball. Luminous. Nothing has changed within his mind. She was still the focus every single day. But now, instead of haunting him, she propelled him forward. She was the reason for his energy. And as a tribute, even though James's mother hated the idea of tattoos, she could not say no to what James had in mind. Straight down his spine, it read in beautiful cursive letters, "You are literally in my bones. Forever and without a doubt, you will be with me."

It was never a question of whether or not James would continue to become great in basketball. Or learn to understand his thoughts and dreams better. It was a matter of whether or not he could accept what his life was now. He knew for a fact that Taylor was his soulmate. And she always would be. Even if...if it was even possible for him to find love again, that girl would be his shadow and Taylor his spine. It was undeniable. The connection they had. No one expected to ever find out the reason why her heart gave out. Why a perfectly healthy girl would suddenly die right before their eyes. But instead of dwelling on what had happened and what transpired over the course of the most hectic times in their lifetimes, they counted their blessings and trudged forward. They licked their wounds quickly before they became chasms. Before a fissure erupted in their hearts again.

The beauty of moving forward after a loss is found within the brokenness. Where there is a crack, light finds a new home. And where there is a broken heart, the fragmented shards reflect a new beginning. James will never reach a final closure with her. It's just not possible. But he will grow and grow. When he takes his last breath, he just hopes he'll smile like she did. Be so carefree. Yet hold the weight of worlds and galaxies.

There were never any mistakes.