Always One More.... [Finished]

Epilogue

He sat at the edge of the lake, listening to the birds chirp, the frogs croak. A light breeze blew across the back of his neck, moving the hem of his shirt. Fish came up, curious about the unmoving objects in the water that were his feet and toes. He didn't move as they approached, some gently nibbling on his toes.

A little deeper into the lake, he saw a colorful fish swimming through the water. Across the lake, in the White Oak, he watched the birds bring food to their young. A few of the babies were learning to fly, and the parents kept eyes on them as they jumped from branch to branch, some gliding a few branches before landing.

Taking the small branch he'd broken off a tree limb, Louis drew another line in the dirt. Thirteen days, two hours, 59 minutes, and he didn't bother with the seconds. It changed too much to mark down, but he counted it out anyway in his head.

Thirteen days since Karyl left.

He looked out over the lake.

Hours later, he hadn't moved. The sky had darkened to a deep orange and pink and purple, the sun setting somewhere behind the trees.

He ignored it all. Scratched another mark into the dirt. He'd heard legends among the other students about wild animals living in these woods. Maybe he'd find out for sure and let them know.

Or they'd find his remains, and get a good idea from that how true the legends were.

Staring at the marks, he heard Aeron's voice in his head.

Come on, Lou. I know it hurts, but do you really think Karyl would want you acting like this? Sheesh, bro. You're half starving yourself, your grades have slipped, and if you don't do something fast about that, you'll be kicked from the football team. Worse, Terry's worried over you, and she's not supposed to be. She's got the baby too look over. So straighten up or I'll force you to.

Louis felt thankful Aeron refrained from using his daughter's name, but his words and threats did nothing to make Louis change. He'd stopped all together a few days ago, figuring Louis would either wake up, or something.

Instead, Louis drove himself out to his special place, hoping it would help. Instead, he kept remembering when he and Karyl sat out there.

He wished he could go back. Undo that day. Start all over. But he couldn't.

He made another mark in the dirt.

The sky blackened over an hour ago. Louis felt chills creep down his spine. He knew he should get back to the car and, henceforth, the dorm, but he couldn't bring himself to leave.

It hurt too much.

He kept staring at the White Oak, like it would do something for him. It just stood there, though.

"You're useless, you know that?" Louis told it.

"Well, I hope it can't hear you. Because those birds would definitely disagree."

His breath hitched in his throat, eyes closing. For days he'd been having stupid hallucinations about hearing Karyl's voice, her laughter. Seeing phantoms of her walking over the grounds.

"I'm going crazy," he murmured.

"No, but you don't look healthy. And from what Aeron's said, you're not taking very good care of yourself."

His eyes shot open, head spinning around at the feel of breath on his cheek.

Blue eyes full of concern, blond curls in disarray. A black sweater, blue jeans, and hiking boots.

"Karyl?" he breathed. He shook his head. "I'm hallucinating. Again."

"No. You're not. Aeron mentioned that, too." She reached out and his breath stopped in his lungs as her hand cupped his cheek. "I'm real, Louis. As real as I've ever been or am going to be."

"Impossible. You left for Brazil... Your comatose sister, the wedding, your family..." He faltered.

She smiled at him and sat down at his side. Her hand traced down his arm to his hand. "Yes, I did leave. But something happened, Louis... Astella, my sister... she woke up! The marriage happened, but Astella married him instead of me."

"So you're..."

"I'm back, Louis. And I'm here to stay. If you'll have me, that is." She looked at him, unsure.

He let out a breath as he finally realized this wasn't another hallucination. The real Karyl sat beside him, holding his hand. Asking if he'd take her back.

"I'll always take you back, Karyl. Always. Know why?" he asked, dragging her into a hug.

"Why?" He felt her tears falling against his neck.

"Because I've always got another chance for you, baby. Always. There's always going to be one more chance with your name on it."

Karyl hugged him close. "I love you, Louis."

"I love you, too, Karyl. I do have one question, though."

She pulled back, wiping at her tears. "Yeah?"

"Marry me? I never want to loose you again, and never for good. So will you be mine?"

She smiled. "Absolutely."