The Deep Dark Stone Path

Epilogue *Dalilah*

(A year later)
Today James and I graduate high school. We are adults and we will be heading off to college soon. We are surrounded by all the friends we made and our family. When I look back to who we were a year ago, we were so different. Neither one of us knew what we wanted to be. We are both going to help people. I am going to join the FBI after I graduate college and James is going to be a Paramedic. Our dad is so proud of us.

I like to think that the deep dark stone path we traveled down led us to do what we are going to do. It led us to our futures. James has been dating a girl since New Year’s. I introduced Sam to our dad and he said I got a boyfriend to replace our “dog” Sam who got “ran over” seven months ago. Our dad will never know Sam is a werewolf or that Audrey and I are Elves.

Two months ago, James went on trial against his dad. Terry is never getting out of jail. He got sentenced to five life sentences, so he will die in prison. James has never been happier. Not long after that, a bulldozer knocked down what was left of Meyer Manor. James and I spent most of spring break building a huge fort for the younger kids in its place. It is amazing, James did most of it because he took woodshop in school. The kids play there almost every day. We made something good out of the bad.

This afternoon I’ll be flying back to Colorado to visit mom and I am taking Sam and James with me. It will be our last adventure together. Dad hugs me as James, his girlfriend, Bethany, and Sam all climb in the car. My three little siblings stand on the porch waving as I drive away. The sun is going down and it will be morning before we get there.

I stop at a hotel once we get to Colorado and we get two rooms. The next day we all go to my mom’s grave. I get down and pull up all the weeds. Sam gets on his knees and helps. James puts flowers on her grave and says, “I wish I could have met her.” I just smile. “You are meeting her now.” Sam says. “It nice to meet you Mrs. Daniels.”

Bethany and James say the same thing and then we all sit there in silence for a few minutes. Then James and Bethany go to the car. Sam says, “Mrs. Daniels, I was hoping I could have your blessing to marry your daughter.” And he looks over at me. He hugs me when I start to cry. “Will you marry me?” he laughs. “Yes. Yes I will!”

“Your dad didn’t respond the same. He said only if I never hurt you because then he will have to hunt me down and make Terry look like a child compared to what he’d do.” I laugh and I look over and see James and Bethany smiling. They knew what he was going to do. Sam kisses me and the same thing that has happened for a year happens, sparks spread across my face. Like always he laughs and I know I will never get tired this.