You, Me, And The Jungle

Epilogue

Ethan's P.O.V.

12 years later...

I can't believe my father was going to send me to boot camp, but it only took only four days to change me completely.

Keesha and Abby. They stuck around in my life for bit, but then they had to move. I often hear about how Keesha has found a boyfriend, but Abby's not in the whole relationship game. She's been trying to become a professional artist, while being educator about the wilderness on the side.

My father and mother made up. They're not married, but they're cool now.

I've noticed a couple of changes in my behavior ever since those four days. I've been living every single day to the fullest, and I've even stopped smoking. It was hard, but the urge to puff every now and then is nearly gone.

I have a scar now. Not on my body, but on my soul. It hurts now and then every single time I think about how Liam told me about his family. His sister had recently woken up from the coma. His mother died, and his father, well, let's just say he'll be happy to see his wife.

For nearly twelve years, I've held onto this locket, the same locket that belonged to Liam. I looked up where his sister was staying. After finding out which hospital she was in, I went by her at least twice a week, bringing flowers and hoping that she would wake up. One day, I was sitting down when she did.

"Dad, stop!" She screamed. She breathed heavily as she shot up and looked over at me. Her eyebrows shot up. "Where is my father!?" She was crying. Her eyes darted around the room, and then back to me. "Where is he!?" I shake my head and stand up from the chair I had been sitting in.

"He's in a better place now... So is the rest of your family." I reply. I tell her what she had been missing. I tell her everything, from her father death, Liam's death, to her mother's recent passing. She breaks down crying. I walk over and hug her.

"I can't imagine what you're feeling," I say. "Of course you can't imagine what I'm feelin. Waking up 16 years later to find out everyone you love is dead and gone..." She looks at me. "My whole life feels like a lie."

I shake my head and pull out the locket that I had been holding for so long. She instantly looks at it. She breathes in, taking the locket from me. "What is this for?" She tells me, and opens the locket. She sees the picture of her family.

"Well... A wise friend of mine, your brother, he told me it's for holding the people you care about the most, close to your heart."