Lessons Learned

Epilogue.

When I fell asleep I was an old woman with a long and pretty successful life behind me. My attempted suicide had straightened my path and after a switch of schools and long talks with my parents, my life had turned around. I had gone on to have a great job and many lovely friends, but I had never married. I had just never found the right person.

When I woke up, I was seventeen and bundled in the covers of a bed that seemed vaguely familiar. I was alone and dressed in a small lace nightgown that rustled against my thighs when I flipped my legs off the bed. The quality of light streaming in through the window was poor, but I recognized the room as the one in which I had lost my virginity, something I had never remembered in my actual life.

With a suddenness that surprised me, everything came rushing back.

"Niall!"

My bare feet hit the carpeted floor and I took off, throwing open the closed door as I tore down the hallway. The familiar house rang with my screams as I searched for the boy who I now knew was my one true love. "Niall!"

I took the ride down the banister, giggling a little with the absolute ecstasy of being back here. I couldn't wait to see Niall again. I headed for the kitchen, figuring that was where he would most likely be. When it came up empty I paused for a minute to think. If he was in the house he would have heard my screams; that meant he must be outside.

I hurried towards the back door and paused with my hand on the knob, a deep breath filling my lungs as I prepared for this moment. I was shaking with excitement, my heart pounding in my ears and my body tingling with delight. I could see Niall; he was sitting with his head bent over what looked to be a soccer ball, the soft curve of his spine visible underneath his gray tee-shirt. I needed to see his face, to hear his voice, to feel the lazy thump of his heart next to mine as our skin pressed together and our breath mixed. I needed more than anything to be in his arms.

I opened the door slowly, cautiously, unsure of how he would react to seeing me. Surely thousands of girls had passed through in my absence, perhaps he had forgotten me. I slipped silently into the yard, my bare feet muffled by the grass that grew in a thick blanket over the backyard. Niall hadn't turned and I knew it was because he hadn't heard me, but I still felt a little worried. I tried to reassure myself that he had to love me or I wouldn't be there, but after so many years it was hard to still believe it.

I crossed the yard at a leisurely pace, waiting for any sign of recognition from the bent head of the boy I loved. He was still oblivious to my presence.

As I moved closer, I noticed it wasn't a soccer ball he had in front of him, but a notebook resting on a soccer ball. He was so engrossed in whatever he was writing that he didn't even look up as I moved to stand directly behind him. I tried to sneak a peek at what he was writing, but everything was covered by his arm except for the top line which read 'Dear Belly.' It seems he hadn't forgotten me after all.

I didn't want to startle him too badly, so I gave a gentle cough and waited for him to acknowledge me. His head whipped around at the small noise and his blue eyes widened when they landed on me. By the time he had thrown aside his letter and jumped up to embrace me, he was openly crying.

I hugged him back tightly, my own tears beginning to flow as he repeated my name over and over again. I never wanted to let him go and he seemed to be having the same thoughts, because it felt like hours had passed before we finally drew apart.

As soon as we separated Niall looked at me with those flawless eyes, the love shining through in his gaze enough to leave me breathless. Two seconds later I was in his arms again.

I pushed into his warm body as I tried to snuggle closer to the beat of his heart and he fell backwards on to the grass, letting out a pretty giggle as I fell with him. He bundled me to his chest as our lips found each other's and our bare legs tangled.

This time when he pulled away he kept his hands grazing my waist. I had never seen a brighter smile in my life.

Niall's perfectly pink lips parted and the musical sound of his Irish lilt filled the silence that had settled over the backyard, "I knew you'd come back. I just knew it." Then he pressed his mouth to mine again and I remembered what it was like to be loved.

"You were there," I whispered against his lips, "my whole life, watching over me. Just like you promised."

He nodded, his hand reaching up to push a stray strand of hair away from my face. "And you lived a wonderful life, just like you promised."

"I love you," I murmured, pressing my cheek to his dewy skin.

"And I love you," his lips trailed across mine. "Welcome to the rest of forever."