LOVING FIERCELY

Epilogue

Jon's POV

It takes two to tangle but it takes one to untangle.

Love, that word should feel authentic when pronounced. It should roll out of your lips and float into the air effortlessly like a feather. At first, it was sentence given for our separation, now, it is a hide and seek of sense. I waited and is still waiting, now the number increased, we are waiting.

I reminisced the hectic investigation. The lawyers, false conclusions and heart wrenching realizations. When the cops told me that Felicia reported the stalking and death threats incidents countless of times, I was in a mind frame of violence. Now I understood the feeling of helplessness she felt.

I understood how she must have felt when Anna Reid was killed because of their interactions. I now sincerely understood why she held he gun and held it tightly. The recordings the police found and played was still on repeat in my head. She was not only sexually harassed, she was beaten to the point of death.

I stood before Anna Reid's grave. The spring breeze was fresh. The clear blue sky had zero clouds as the sun glared down at the green grasses and flowers around. The pictures of Anna I saw killed me over and over again. It was weird to see something you only read about in book and movies become part of your world - the world you live and breathe in. I have began to wonder the amount of women who go through the same yet worst. Now when I see a woman, I wonder how happy she truly was. Is she crying for help?? Those women are part of our society but everyone is so busy with their lives and nitpicking on trivial matters. Our women try to fit in and hide, the smear the shame the feel with concealers and foundations. The cover the wounds and aches with designer clothings yet we never seek to ask them how they are doing...they seem fine, they should be, shouldn't they??"

Our law and order have become so inferior that it can no longer protect its citizens. What good are the cops if they can not look upon such happenings ?? Someone once told me "If you protect the women, you protect all. If you appreciate a woman, you appreciate generations to come. When you give a woman love, you feed your household with love."

Women aren't weakling as I, the world, perceive them to be. If need be, they have the power to decide how far our existence as humans can go. Everyone has a lesson to learn, These two women gave me a sneak peek of taking control from another perspective.

I smiled down at Anna, sending her a silent thank you. All thanks to one man, lots of bitterness was sold. Ashton Cooper, had nice name, had nice job, took lives but was gone in such a blissful manner. Anna was murder coldly, Felicia drove her car into the creek, feeling each pain as the car tumbled but Ashton didn't pay for what he did, he was done a favor of instant death. In all, the whole case got buried just like that.

I wanted Felicia to know that myself and Tanney have not given up. We would find her no matter what it took. I folded my hands observing all the burial stones. All I could think of was one word - Life.

Tanney's POV

Four years Later

My brown eyes focus on the camera, a warm smile on my lips. I pretended that mom was beside with her hands around me.

"You can do better gummy bear...smile". Aunt Giana said.

I broadened my smile. The camera flash snapped capturing a very delightful moment. Today, I got my Masters Degree in Finance. Graduating with my undergraduate degree in two and half years, I pursued the every same degree Mother got. I have tried to recreate every moment with her in my imagination. There were nights I was very fatigued, days when i forgot to eat and night i cried myself to sleep. I made sure to live my life in a fulfilled manner knowing that that was mom would want from me. I fought depression, anxiety, I resisted the temptation to turn to addiction of any kind. I am constantly working on myself, rewriting what I thought was bad fate. In four years, there were days i felt like I wasn't good enough for the world.

What made me so determined ??

Two years ago, mother's body was found during one of the routine searches. She managed to survive the car crash and make her through the woods. She bled to death due to the gun shot. I did not cry, i wept painfully. But I made her a promise. I was going to make her dreams come true. The life she wants to see me live, i was going to recreate it with her even though she was gone. I smiled so hard, i broke into tears again. Nah...i was not crying because I was sad, i was crying because I felt a warm satisfying feeling inside. I felt like my mother was there watching me....No she was there watching me I knew it. She was happy, she was so happy. I cried and laughed at the same time.

"Son".

Father smiled at me.

"She is happy dad....she is happy".

My father pulled me into courageous hug.

"Welcome to the family business".

I decided to open a real estate investment company in my mother's name. I was going to give her the honor and respect she deserved for being so strong.

___________________

To my only child.

Tan, I would be gone for a while. I might not be there to watch you grow into a the man you told me about. I would not be able to cook you breakfast, dinner or even lunch. I would no longer be able to attend the parent meetings. I won't be there for you to tease me. But I want you to know that I love you, I loved you and I would always love you. I could not forgive myself when i saw you laying on that hospital bed unconscious. My heart is being punished..... I am so selfish for thing of myself. Son, please forgive your mother for being childish. Please, forgive me for putting you in danger. Forgive me for not attending your school games. Forgive me for not playing my role properly.

There is something I never thought I could tell you. Although I am still a coward for not being able to face you. I didn't want you at first. I had a rough childhood. I watched my mother cry, get drunk, fight, cuss and get humiliated. I still didn't forbid the thought of love. Jon was special in very angle and Iam glad that he is the man who fathered my child. I made a mistake of even having the slightest thought of aborting you. I am so so sorry for my ignorance and my selfishness. If i could do it all over again, I would do it with a smile on my face. I would be a proud mother. I didn't write this for you to feel bad or hate your self. Please do not cry because i won't be there to ask you what's wrong. Don't skip your meals, don't work out too hard and don't be hard on yourself. In our next life please be my child.....so I can love you, cherish you and appreciate you, just you.

I love you so much....I love you and Thank you for being my son.

THE END.

Thank you to all my wonderful readers.