Hope in Our Hearts by Lydia Proffitt

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

You are my hope

You are my strength

You're everything

-Skillet

It has been twenty-four years since that dreadful day left a mark on my family that will last all our lifetimes. Till this day, we still feel the effects it made on us and we carry it with us to make us stronger.

I have grown up and as I look in the mirror, my wedding dress takes up most of the view. I have my mother's Caribbean blue eyes and my father's darker hair. I smile at my reflection because I see my older brother walk through the door behind me. He pauses when I turn around.

"Dang Avery. You look stunning."

Caleb has always been the nicer of the two. Kale is kind, but also a little arrogant. I hugged Caleb carefully, so I wouldn't get my makeup on his suit and to keep from brushing his hearing aid off his ear.

"Thank you, Caleb," I say, backing up and dabbing at the corner of my eyes so tears wouldn't smear my mascara.

Meg spent hours doing my hair and makeup. She would kill me if I messed it up.

"You're welcome," Caleb said, taking a seat on the couch of the dressing room.

The dressing room was in the back of a huge church that I have attended my whole life. I use to play in here when I was little. It was the perfect hiding spot since the curtains went all the way to the floor. It was a bit surreal thinking I am getting ready to walk down the aisle in the same room.

"Where are Meg and Kale?" I asked, wondering where my other siblings were. I figured they wanted to see me in my dress before I walked down the aisle. I also wanted to see Meg in her maid of honor dress.

"Still taking pictures if I had to guess."

I nodded my head. If a camera was out, they were bound to be there. They both loved attention.

"Aves, you really do look beautiful," Caleb said, being extra sweet to make me feel special.

I felt beautiful too. I have dreamed of this day my whole life. I was wearing the same dress my mother wore when she married my father. However, I don't think I look near as glorious as she did.

"Kale! STOP! I want to see her first," Meg yelled in the hall.

I rolled my eyes. They always act like they are still in their teens, but honestly, it was one of my favorite things about them. Kale was done in his thirties, while Meg was still in her twenties. They always bickered about the simplest things, but it was usually quite entertaining. Meg and Kale are best friends a lot like my aunt Lexie and dad.

"No way. I'm going to see her first cause I'm the oldest," Kale said, opening the door to the room.

I could see him push Meg out of the way, and her hitting him in the back playfully. We all laughed because Meg is a little clumsy and she almost fell and had to grab Kale to steady herself.

Kale whistled. "Man June Avery. You look almost as good as me."

I smiled. From Kale, that was the best compliment you could receive. I also smiled because I love when people use my first name June. My father decided to name me June since my mother always called my sister and me her little Junebugs. I love it, but Avery was what I always went by––that was Caleb's idea. He wanted my name to start with an A since I was Baby A.

"I'm gonna cry," Meg said, fanning her eyes. "I did so good on your make-up."

I rolled my eyes again. Meg was always a little overdramatic. Meg was always more into dresses and fashion than I was. Though we are very different, Meg is my best friend. She has always tended to be motherly when we were in school. We would fight one minute and the next we would be playing like nothing ever happened. There was nothing better than a close sister bond to drive you crazy but also keep you grounded.