AGTML

Epilogue

Setting It Free

Three years later in a mountainous province in New Zealand.

“Julie! Moe!” Mavy waved.

“Mavy! Oh my God! It’s been a while, good to see you again!” Julie exclaimed.

Exodus, Mavy and their daughter Cassy decided to visit Julie and Elmo’s new place.

“Okay, be a good girl. Go play with your cousin.” Exodus told his child “You surely picked a good spot here Moe.” Exodus turned to Elmo.

“Yeah, it is peaceful here, Julie and I love this place.”

“So does it mean you really have no plans of returning back to AU? We could give both of you a good spot in the partnership.” Exodus inquired.

“Thanks Exodus, but Moe and I have already decided not to engage into that field again. It caused us a lot of problems. Besides, Elmo still have a lot of savings left in his account and his earnings as a professor are decent.”

“ I see.”

The two families continued their hang out. Elmo grilled some steak while Exodus helped in fetching some firewood. The four talked about what they missed for the past three years.

“Mommy, can I have marshy please.” Noah asked.

“Of course sweetie, just don’t eat too much marshmallows okay?” Julie kissed her child.

Elmo and Julie decided to live in New Zealand to pursue a peaceful life. Julie thought that it is better to live simple and worry free. Their love gave birth to Noah whom they both love. Exodus and Mavy, on the other hand, remained in Australia to manage Waldrich-PSJ Australia partnership. They were also blessed with Cassy’s arrival.

Louise decided to enter the convent and become a nun. She thought that in that way she could make use of her talents. She built an orphanage for children who have lost their parents.

It was also that year where Bianca peacefully bid farewell to Exodus and Julie. But the two knows that Bianca was happy for she will now be able to join Anna Marie and Cherry again.

***

The next day, before midnight…

Julie and Elmo were stargazing by the cliff near their house.

“The Moon is so beautiful isn’t it Moe?” Julie asked.

“I don’t see any moon but I do look at someone beautiful right now.” Elmo poked Julie by the side.

“Oh come on, you and your charms again.” Julie giggled.

Then Julie noticed some jars beside Elmo’s feet.

“Ahmm… honey what are those?” Julie asked.

“Oh! These? These are the funeral jars of my family. They just arrived this morning after I asked Exodus to cremate them.”

“What for?”

“Watch.” Elmo smiled.

Elmo put the ashes to his hand and little by little allowed the winds drift them away from him.

Julie helped Elmo and took the remaining ashes and imitated what her husband was doing.

“Now, we are all free!” Elmo exhaled.

“Moe…” Julie stared.

He noticed Julie’s puzzled face. “I just thought that maybe it is time to do this since I have already moved on. I know that my parents wanted me to be free that is why I decided to do this as a form of thanks to them.”

Julie smiled.

“At first I really thought it was I who was trying to help you with my skills but in the end it was I who needed help. I am just thankful that you fought for me and released me from the cages of my past. Despite of my lies, you held on the truth and showed it to me until the very end.” Elmo said lovingly.

Julie pinched Elmo’s nose. “Honey, a person once told me that lies have different kinds and purposes. It all depends on the intent of the doer. I know that what you uttered were modest lies because I vividly felt the truth behind your words; the truth that you love me.” Julie answered.

“Modest lies?”

Yeah! A lie that shows the truth.” Julie answered.

Elmo smiled and gently embraced Julie

“Thank you Julie. I love you”

“I love you too Honey.”

Elmo coughed a little and commented “Ahmm… Julie, Noah asked me when would he have a brother or sister…”

Julie laughed, “Did Noah really told you that or were you just spell bound by my beauty again?”

Elmo laughed softly “You caught me! Okay I admit it was the latter.”

“Oh honey, you and your modest lies.” Julie romantically kissed Elmo.

The elegance of the night became the witness of the couples promise to each other.

__

            Words may often hide what is real while actions may give weight to some lies. Yet what is essential is the purpose of our actions. Lies basically pervert us to know the reality. But if lies are humble enough to give way to the genuinity of the truth, these lies may give a stronger foundation to anything that we are all fighting for.

            It is not the means that one should look into but to the truth that one feels and knows.

FIN.