Ezra Lucas

Epilogue

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Five Years Later

"I need you to do a job in Florida." My boss states and shuffles through some papers.

"Florida? Don't they have people to work on aircrafts down there?" I question.

He nods his head. "News has spread like wild fire about you. They want you."

I lean back in the cushioned, metal fold-up chair and nod my head. "Okay, when do I need to be down there?"

"As soon as possible, you officially start next week."

"Yes, sir."

E+L

I step out of the airport and find my luggage. I get in the truck I rented and drive to the cheap hotel I booked. The hotel room was decent, but not the greatest in the world. You get what you pay for. The people in the room next to me blasted music all night long, so I got maybe five hours of sleep. By seven in the morning, I was leaving the hotel building and heading to the aircraft shop. I step inside the large building and head to the front desk.

"May I help you?" A man questions me.

"Yeah, I was sent here to work on an aircraft," I answer.

"Name?"

"Ezra Adams."

"You don't start until next week." He states and looks up at me. I nod my head. "Go enjoy the beach, get some sleep, go do something. Come back when you are supposed to, okay?"

I nod again. "Yes, sir."

E+L

I run by Wal-Mart and buy a couple of shorts. I go back to my hotel and sleep for ten hours. I wake up in the middle of the night and grab my keys. I walk to my truck to go get something to eat since I hadn't eaten in over twenty-four hours.

All of a sudden, I am knocked to the ground. I groan and hold my head. "Give me your keys!" Someone shouts above me and kicks me in the ribs. I shake my head and try to get up, but they kick me in the side of the head.

E+L

I wake up and see that I'm moving really fast. The walls and ceiling start moving and spinning and I close my eyes. I groan and mumble, "slow down."

"Ezra, you aren't moving anymore. Open your eyes." I obey the familiar voice.

"Did I die, Madeline?" I ask her and hold my hand out to her.

She shakes her head. "No, you are too stubborn to die." She pauses. "What happened?"

I close my eyes and lean my head back. "I woke up and was hungry, so I went outside and someone pushed me down and kicked me in the head and ribs. Whoever it was probably took the truck I was renting."

"You will never change," she mutters. "You don't have a concussion. You just have a few bruises and a couple scratches, but you will be fine." I nod in understanding. "I'll be your drivers since you did get your truck stolen." I open my eyes and raise my eyebrow. She isn't looking at me. "It'd be nice to catch up," she says quietly. She looks at me with wide eyes. "Unless you don't want to," she adds quickly.

"As long as you don't break my heart a second time," I say.

She shakes her head. "It was hard enough the first time. I can't do it a second time." I sit up and she grabs my arm to walk me to her car. We get in and she starts driving. "Is it okay if we go to my apartment?"

"Yeah," I answer. I glance over at her black scrubs. "How do you like being a nurse?"

She glances at me and smiles. "It's what I was meant to do. I get to help people." She pauses. "It's a good place to tell people about Jesus too."

My head snaps to her. "You want to explain?" I question and laugh a little.

She smiles. "Don't be surprised. It's your fault. You told me about Him and lived like Him."

"Jesus didn't do illegal things, Madeline."

She shakes her head and stares at the road. "I'm serious, Ezra. I am a Christian because of you. I was stupid, yet smart to break up with you when I did. I was stupid because I was in love with you, and I was smart because it wasn't the right time for us to be together forever."

"What are you saying?"

She pulls into the parking lot of her apartment building and turns to me. "I want to try us together again, but do it the right way. I want to have Jesus in both of us and between us and see what happens."

"I'll be here for a couple weeks. I don't know what will happen."

"Let's just enjoy the time we have and not worry about the future, okay?"

I nod in agreement. "Would you like to spend the day with me?"

"Absolutely," her blue eyes brighten and sparkle in the sunlight.

E+L

I gaze at Madeline in the water as she waves at me. I feel as if we are seventeen again. I am in love with her more now than I ever was before. She isn't getting away this time. I run into the water and wrap my arms around her. She squeals and kicks her feet in the water. I let go of her and she grabs my hand. We walk along the beach and talk about anything and everything. She tells me about her time in college and stories about being a nurse. I sadly tell her about Gram and everything that had went on in the five years of breaking up.

"She's really gone?" She asks and I nod. "I'm so sorry, Ezra. I had no idea. I should have been there for you. I should have attended the funeral."

I shake my head and hug her. "Please, don't feel bad. It's okay. You can go see her anytime."

"Will you go with me?"

"If you want me to."

"Please." I kiss the top of her black hair and rub her back comfortingly.