{Featured in Wattpad Indian Central under Mystery/Thriller}
It's amazing how love makes people connect. They meet, talk, mingle, fall in love. Their souls connect in a way they can never connect with anybody else. But every love story has a trag...
I see Cara dab her eyes with her kerchief as I wrap up the story.
"Thank you for sharing this with me," she says in a low voice, and I just smile at her as I look back at Stephanie's grave.
"Are those two guys - " she begins but I cut in. " - in jail? Yes. Successfully convicted for all their crimes. Stephanie got a deserving answer for her end."
She smiles. And suddenly, I get a flash of Stephanie smiling at me.
Memories. They will be my only companion for continuing the love story of Phillip and Stephanie. And I've learned as time passed that they're not so bad to have as a companion. They're better than forgetting. A bittersweet euphoria hits me as I lay there, next to the grave of the love of my life.
Cara stands up, waves a hand at me. I wave her back once and she walks away silently. I look at the sky as I lie down next to Steph.
She's gone, but that doesn't mean I have to. Memories of her and a beating flesh inside me are enough to fuel a hundred more years. She deserves a hundred years of us. And so do I.
In the distant, I hear a car honking and imagine an impatient Trisha waiting for me to come out of the graveyard, cursing her 'Bhai' on his lateness. It has been two months since Denver and Penny were put behind bars and these two months have been exactly like the calm after the storm. Everything is set in our lives. Well, except this feeling in the bottom of my heart.
The feeling of you, Stephanie. The feeling of holding your soul. I don't know if I can live without holding your soul in mine, but I do know what I need to do.
I slowly get up and dust my pants. Leaning down, I kiss Stephanie one last time and run my hands through the engraved words.
Stephanie Scott.
An amazing daughter, a caring sister, a loving girlfriend, a beautiful soul.
A smile kisses my lips as I walk away from the grave.
I'm letting go, Stephanie.
***
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hello there, everybody. It is your lovely little author Abinaya, here to address you amazing readers one last time.
First of all, I have nothing but gratitude towards every single one who has picked up my book for even one single second. You, dear angel, whoever you are, have made my life as it is.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I started writing Deserving on 2nd April 2016. And 570 days later, here I am. Here we are.
This is my first ever completed novel. And it will always be so special for me, despite all its flaws and weaknesses. Thank you guys for making this experience a much cherishable one for me. I'll never forget this in my entire life. Your support will always be staying in my heart, with no amount of gratitude being able to repay it.
Out of everybody across the globe who helped me reach this stage, I'm tagging a few Wattpaders who showed me special support and care.
First and foremost - Weird_princess_ Sakshi. My soulmate who I met through fate. She is the hardest shipper of Philanie and my strongest supporter in life. Thank you so much for being my everything, wifey!
Next, _qTRIpie_Triparna. My soul sister who is a great mystery thriller buff and helped me every step of the way in building this story. Thank you for every little thing you've done for me and Deserving, cupcake!
fadedcastleAsh. Another soul sister of mine who supported me at all steps. Thank you for so much love and support sweetie!
thestarsofmidnight Anvii. My little sister. My emotional support and constant motivator who has led me till this very step. Thank you for being my pillar of support and sunshine of optimism!
Ima_3112_AIma. My best reader and cutest munchkin. Thank you for making me feel like an accomplished author already!
Miu_ChamaMiu. I love it when she comes and binges my book. Thanks for the support!
JettaFrame A consistent critic of my book and has always guided me during the initial stages of the book. Thank you for helping me groom the book!
A special mention to btsxkings for loving my book right from the day she started reading it and making me smile with her goofy comments and DiyaMahe for showering me with full support and pushing me on and on to complete the book so that she could binge it. Your support has been marvelous, darlings!
I love all of you guys with the deepest part of my heart and wish you all nothing but happiness all through your life.
Thank you all once again.
Do drop your feedback on me, my book and anything else you want to say. I need anything you can give me to improve myself for giving you guys the best I can. Please comment!
If you guys liked the book, do vote! It's a simple and easy way to express your liking to me! And it makes my day.
If you enjoyed my writing even a little, share the pleasure with your friends! And do check out my other works. I hope I don't disappoint you :)
So, once AGAIN, thank you all for being here with this silly writer, now an author of a completed novel *satisfied sigh*
