Smoke clears the further we walk away and sirens wail in the distance.
We walk down the long paved path leading back to the house and out to the green grassy clearing where there are people waiting for us.
“Olivia,” a man shouts my name.
When I look properly I realize that’s not just a man.
It’s my brother.
It’s Eric.
We found him.
It’s over. The nightmare really is over.
* * *
The doctors just checked my blood pressure again and when the ambulance came I was given oxygen because I inhaled so much smoke.
Reuniting with Eric was a lot of tears from both of us, and suddenly things felt better.
I saw Aiden with his son before we got separated. It was a good sight but I was reminded of what he’d said.
They would go back to L.A and me and Eric to San Francisco.
As the ambulance took me away I wondered that was it. if it was goodbye.
Eric was with me and stayed until the doctors asked for some privacy to check me over.
Now I’m by myself, lying on a hospital bed, left to my thoughts on all that happened and all that I did to get to this point.
Not even a handful of weeks ago I left San Francisco and pushed aside my fears with the hope to find Eric. I said by whatever means and that’s what happened.
What I never expected was Aiden Romanov.
He was the wild card life threw at me.
The ace fate had up its sleeve.
I’m left in the vast expanse of uncertainty not knowing if I’ll get to see the man who made everything possible for me.
From defeating Jude, the devil incarnate to, to walking through fire to save me.
I don’t know what happened to Jude but I know Aiden killed him. he would have had to, to get his son back.
The door opens minutes later and I sit up when I see it’s him.
He’s cleaned up but still looks like he took a beating.
“Lie down,” he says.
“No, I’m okay. I don’t need to. I feel better.”
“Yeah?”
I nod and he comes closer.
“How are you feeling?”