by Dawn Norwell
As Zander and I stared onto the ruins of the courtyard, a familiar face drew near. I smiled when Sienna wrapped me in her warm, welcoming embrace.
“I knew you could do it, Kai,” she whispered in my ear. “If anyone could bring down the Syndicate, it would be you.”
“Only because I had some help.” I pulled away to look at her. “Leilani was the one who set things into motion with the rebellion. Without her, none of this would have happened. This is just as much a victory for her as it is for the rest of us.”
Despite the protest in my sore body, I leaned down and reached into my bag, pulling out the small, wooden box that Lei had left for me on that day so long ago. I ran my finger along the inscription, before placing the rosewood container into Sienna’s hands.
“You should have this.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “I can’t, Kai. My daughter left this for you.”
I shook my head. “It has served its purpose in my life. It belongs with you now. Lei would want you to have it.”
Her eyes filled with tears. Instead of forcing them back like she would have done in Concord, she let them fall freely down her cheeks.
“Thank you,” she murmured, walking away and clutching the box against her heart.
As I watched her go, I thought about my parents, about how we would have never gotten to this place without their research and dedication to the revolution. It was their lifelong goal to free the suits, and give the unsuits a better chance of surviving- things they died trying to achieve. I hoped that they were proud of the progress we’d made, and could rest easy knowing that their efforts weren’t made in vain.
It made me smile to think of how everything had worked out. Just like Athena had hoped, we were finally living in a peaceful world, one of acceptance and understanding. If only she were there to see it, to witness her son shining in his role as leader of both groups.
I pulled away from Zander’s chest and smiled up at him.
“Come with me. Let’s celebrate,” I said, grabbing his hand and pulling him from the courtyard. I saw the questions in his eyes, but he didn’t ask them aloud. He simply followed me down the street, pushing the stroller holding our baby girl in front of us.
“A tattoo parlor?” he asked, his eyebrows raised in curiosity as I stopped in front of the shop.
I grinned, pulling him wordlessly inside the building. I sat in the chair and described the image I wanted to the tattooist, and he set to work.
Within minutes, a beautiful Tiger Lily was etched onto my wrist, covering up where the barcode used to be. Encompassing the flower, the phrase “only the brave are truly free” was engraved around the blossom in a delicate, curved manuscript.
I smiled at the inscription, the same words that Leilani had given me to find the strength to come to Nova, the same words that had determined my fate and led to this beautiful moment with my husband and child.
Walking out of the tattoo shop, I turned to look at Zander. “I know what I want to name our daughter,” I said. “Lily, because of the flower that has had such an impact on my life. And Athena- for your Mom.”
Zander’s face softened, and his crystal blue eyes welled with tears. He looked down at our daughter, who was snoozing peacefully in her stroller, her mouth slightly agape.
“Lily Athena Malara. Is that your name?” he cooed. As if to answer him, her mouth turned up into a small smile. Zander and I laughed. “Lily, it is.”
As we stood on the streets of Nova, I wrapped my arm inside of my husband’s. After all that we had been through, I vowed to never take his love for granted again.
“Let’s go home,” I said. Zander nodded, pushing our daughter forward in her stroller.
On the way back to the cottage, we watched the sun set on Nova, its brilliant hues flooding over the horizon in a welcoming embrace. I smiled, absorbing the warmth, both inside and out. For the first time in a very long time, I felt like I could finally breathe.
As Leilani’s jewelry box had predicted, only the brave were truly free. At that moment, walking with the people I loved the most, I realized that truer words had never been spoken. It had taken bravery for me to leave my home, bravery to fall in love, and bravery to face the demons of my past. Without that strength, I wouldn't have the life I had today. I was all the better for it.
I realized that as long as I had courage and love in my heart, and my husband and daughter by my side, I could face anything this world had to offer. The idea filled me with peace as we made our way back to the cottage, walking hand-in-hand, ready to welcome the rest of our lives- together.
-THE END-
