𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 | Hosie ✔️

Epilogue

Josie sat on her bed, her arms wrapped around her body as if trying to hug herself. Her chin had been resting on one of her knees, looking into the room. She was in her pajamas and had opened her dark hair from her hairstyle. Dim light filled the room that had become more and more familiar to her lately. Indeed, Hope's room had begun to have a calming effect on her. Not least because of the person who lived in them. Hope's scent was everywhere, which made her feel comfortable in the pit of her stomach.

No sooner had she finished her thought than she opened the bathroom door with a soft squeak and said girl entered the room. Hope had put on her pajamas as well, but she didn't look tired any more than Josie herself. Quite the opposite. She felt wide awake, although her body was beginning to feel tired.
"Have you finished yet?", she joked, while a little smile appeared on her lips.
"It didn't take me half as long as you did", Hope replied just as amused and settled down on the mattress next to the witch.
"How does it feel?", she changed the subject and moved a little closer to Josie.
"What do you mean?", she raised one eyebrow when she asked the question.
"Now that you know who's behind it and we've told Doctor Saltzman, it's over", she continued, "Your sleep should now be completely free of nightmares."

At that thought, a little smile appeared on her lips and when Hope said it, it was as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Should she finally be able to get on with her life without worrying about looking for someone else? But there was something that held her back. After all, Claire Rodriguez had said that she had been hired by someone to do this to Josie, and even though it felt that way, she was afraid that this feeling might be deceptive. The person who had hired her was named Kai Parker, and although she couldn't explain it, that name seemed strangely familiar to her. However, she couldn't assign a face or a picture to the name.

"Yes, I guess it doesn't feel bad at all", she then replied: "But do you think it's over?"
"I don't know. Maybe", Hope said with a shrug: "But even if it isn't, I promise I'll help you with that, too. Whoever this Kai is, you don't have to face him alone. "Thanks for helping me," she cautiously sat down and chewed slightly on her lower lip: "Without you, I might not have gotten this far at all. But why are you helping me? I mean, I'm grateful for your help, but this goes way beyond trying to prove that you're not to blame, doesn't it? After all, we weren't even friends, to begin with."

Suddenly, Hope felt a hot sensation in her cheeks, and she thought she could imagine redness rising into them. Josie was right. She hadn't just helped her anymore because she wanted to prove she wasn't the one behind it. That was the moment for her to tell the truth.

"Yes, it's true. At first, it was still like that, but with time it became important to me to help you and to make sure that you are well again", she started to explain and carefully reached for her hand: "I have begun to like you. I like you."
The emphasis in her words betrayed the fact that it was not just friendly.

Slowly, Hope leaned forward as her heart began to beat firmly and stubbornly against her chest, and she was glad when Josie did the same. For a moment, they both looked into each other's eyes, their faces only inches apart. Gently, Hope placed the fingers of her free hand under Josie's chin before her lips touched. No sooner did she feel the witch's soft lips on hers than she closed her eyes. It was a great feeling to kiss Josie, and a pleasant tingling sensation spread over her whole body. It was electrifying, and she couldn't help but pull her closer.

So that's it. We are finished. What do you think about the story?