Running From Your Shadows

The End

We've been here so long...

Still I remember the rainy September,

Contact.

Samuel looked at himself in the mirror, anxiously adjusting his tie, straightening his collar, and tugging at his cuffs for the nth time, thinking it will calm his excited heart. The sound of an amused chuckle filled the room as Sam looked behind him to see his brother leaning against the door frame, arms folded over his chest, smirking.

"Relax, little bro. You look great. If Marina hasn't swooned over you then, nothing will stop her now." Sam scoffed, playfully shaking his head and he turned back to the mirror, his scars on his face staring back, but this time not with shame.

"I don't doubt she loves me, Rowan, nor do I doubt my love for her. I do everything for her. I just wish we could've had a civil ceremony and be done with it, but you, Alissia, dad, and the town insisted." Rowan barked a sharp laugh.

"It'll be memorable, Sam. You know mom is here with you, and she'd probably say 'Dios mío, my son is getting married! He looks so handsome!' "Sam couldn't stop himself from laughing before going into a coughing fit while clutching his bad side. It had been a few months since Lozano, but he still wasn't fully healed yet from the gunshot.

---

Sam stood at the hill he knew all too well, waiting. He looked out to the town that's grown since the incident, and he could see all the festivities being set up in Central Square. The whole town rejoiced in the knowledge of them being bound as one, but he thought it was overkill.

"Marina... I long to see you, Marina, my angel from heaven." He was soon startled by the contact of a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm here for you, my dear Samuel." Upon turning around, Sam collapsed to his knees with his tears of joy and awe being released like a flood. There she was, there was Marina in a bright white wedding gown. Laced sleeves, a purple rose corsage on her waist, her hair pulled back in soft curls with a tiara and her veil, and she was wearing his mother's necklace. Marina smiled as she knelt in front of him, and cradled his head with her hands, her thumbs wiping away his tears.

"Dios mío, Marina... You're absolutely breathtaking... I don't deserve you." Marina shushed him with her thumb over his lips.

"You look so handsome, Samuel, and so strong. It is you who is breathtaking today, my love." Samuel lightly laughed as he cupped her cheek and pulled her in to kiss her.

---

Samuel carried Marina through the threshold of their new home on Challenger. He used his hips to close the door, the door locking itself per protocol. He watched as Marina took in the site of their new home, admiring their work they did together. What caught Marina's attention was the large plot of land next to their home. Marina felt Sam's hands wrap around her from behind.

"This is my wedding gift to you, my beautiful wife. That plot of land right there will be our new school. The school of your dreams to give opportunity for all children. There will be dorms there for kids who wanted the opportunity but needed help getting there. The UNSC granted me a task force to operate on the outside to rescue children and bring them to the school for a safe haven." Marina gasped as she turned to face her husband, tears streaming down her face.

"Samuel..." She wasn't sure what else to say as she jumped into his arms and smashed her lips against his, the two now swaying with their beating hearts as their rhythm.

Two, four, one, ten.

Two four, one, ten.