Page 99 of The Edge of Goodbye
Lukas
I sat beside Emily,Ben’s wife, and watched Natalie say “I do” to her prince charming. Honestly, that was how she’d introduced him to us. It wasn’t until three hours into talking with him that I’d found out his name was David.
Sam and Ben stood up with her. It had only been a decade, and no one had looked as if they’d aged much, but I knew they would start to soon, and Sam and I would need to move away. But I would keep my word to him; I wouldn’t keep them from each other.
Emily was made aware of who Sam and I were and had taken it better than most would. Especially once she’d seen that Sam was cured. Maggie knew something was up but just winked and responded, “Of course you are,” when Sam had told her he was cancer-free. No one else in town was suspicious, just grateful Sam would live. We were riding that storyline for now.
As soon as David kissed Natalie, Sam met my gaze. We’d done the whole wedding thing five years ago. It was something I’d never experienced and knew I’d never again. Sam was it for me. Every second with him was like little lifetimes exploding with joy, relief, happiness, and perfection.
In the last ten years, Vincent had actually visited Lancaster Island many times. He liked Sam, and I saw how much he was realizing finding your eternal was as powerful and amazing as everyone swore it was. So, his call last night, telling me he’d found his, made me thrilled for my friend. He was about to have the greatest eternity.
Sam and I spun on the dance floor and drank champagne, which tasted pretty good. We couldn’t eat the food but the moment the sundae station was revealed, Sam and I were the first in line. Through the years, he’d tried all sorts of foods. Discovered the cramps that came with something that wasn’t working and the joys of things that did.
We watched Natalie and David get into the limo and drive away after the reception. Ben and Emily had to leave to put their girls to bed. I took Sam’s hand and guided him down the walkway toward the beach.
It was quiet, the crashing waves the perfect background music. “She’s happy.”
Sam hummed. “He’s a good guy.”
I turned from the moon and looked into my eternal’s eyes. “She will have an amazing life.”
His smile was small, a little sad. “She will. So will Ben, and I’ll get to see it all.”
I cupped his cheek. “Yes, you will.”
He pushed up and kissed me, and like every time, it lit me up inside. “Lukas Farren, you are my hero, the demolisher of bucket lists, the man I will love forever. You are my world. Don’tthink for a second I will resent my choice. I see it sometimes as milestones happen. I don’t regret you, us, eternity.”
“I love you, Samuel Farren.”
Like every time I said it, he giggled. “I love you too.”
There were things I knew our future would hold, and much more I didn’t. Where I’d once stopped caring, now it was as if I couldn’t care enough. Sam had saved me just as much as I’d saved him. He’d shown me what I’d been too blind to see: life was worth living, and while many didn’t get to decide when their time was up, Sam never had to…and I never had to.
I remembered one night a few years ago Sam had wished he could save all the sick children, the moms who would die too soon and never see their kids grow up, the men who dedicated their lives to their family and friends but now had to say goodbye. He’d wished he could save those killed by hateful hands and hollow hearts. I’d held him that night while he’d cried.
Forever wasn’t going to always be easy. It would challenge us both but as long as we had each other, we’d get through it. Maybe a little battered, but we would.
I thanked the council for refusing my request to terminate me. I’d stood before them with Sam, and they’d all beamed. I didn’t envy their job, the choices they had to make. But I respected them; it couldn’t have been easy to see me in pain and know I had to walk through the fire and endure so that I could find Sam.
Once we got home, Sam chuckled, turned on some music, and held out his hand. “Dance with me.”
“More dancing.” I took his hand and gave him what he wanted.
“I feel like we’re always dancing.”
“And you love dancing.”
He grinned. “I never used to, but I love everything with you.”
I spun him until he was laughing. “Still love it?”
We stopped, the moon glowing over his skin through the window.
“Forever.”
I pulled him close, pressed my face into his neck, and whispered, “Forever.”
THE END
