Epilogue

Two years have past since I moved in with Kayla.  I’ve graduated from high school now, and Mike and I are still dating.  In fact, I’m in the car with him right now.

“What are you thinking about?” he’s asking.

“Just how much has changed in two years,” I reply.

He’s laughing.  “That’s true.  A lot has changed.  We’re here!”

I look out the car window.  We’re at the college right now.  Brad is standing in the front, waiting for us.  We’re getting out of the car, and he jogs our way.  Lifting me up in a hug, he’s smiling.  “It’s good to see you again, little sis.”

“Good to see you, too,” I reply, holding on tight so he doesn’t drop me.

Mike’s laughing and hugging my mom, who is smiling wider than I had ever seen.  “How are you two?”

“We got into UMD,” I tell her.

“Really?  I’m so proud of you!  You’ll have to come visit.”

“Every weekend,” I promise.  “It’s only two hours away.  An easy drive.”

It’s almost time to go to the ceremony now.  I finally realized why Brad was always so busy.  He was taking extra courses so he could graduate early.  And he still managed to get a 3.85 for a GPA.

We go to our seats, catching up with Mom.  She lives in an apartment with Brad still, but she’s working on getting her own.  Brad is trying to convince her to stay with him for a while, but she wants to live on her own now.  She’s fully adjusted to her medications, and she even is able to go without them and not much happens.

“What’s Brad going to do now that he’s done with college?” Mike is asking her.

“He wants to go to law school now.  He even has a school picked out.  Silly Brad.  He’s using the fact that he has to pay for tuition to try to get me to stay living with him, so he doesn’t have to pay for rent as much,” she’s laughing.

I’m laughing along with her.  “If he’s stooping down that low then maybe you should stay with him so he doesn’t get lonely.”

“Katie!  We’re here now!”  Kayla is walking towards us.  We saved her and her boyfriend a seat.  You’ll never guess who.  Jake!  Yes, soon after I moved in with her he got up the nerve to ask her out.  And she had said yes.  And they were still dating.  Which surprised everyone.

“Hey.  How are you?” I ask, scooting over to make room for them.

“We’ve been good.  Jake got into the college he wanted to,” she’s giggling.  “Which is right next door to mine.”

“Well, I would have gone there anyway.  It’s a good school,” he’s pouting.  We’re laughing at them.

Mike turns around and yells, “Grandpa!  Over here!”  I turn around with him and I see Henry wheeling himself over to us.  I never did have any more lessons on the Earth from him, but I didn’t think I really needed any.  I know what I need to know.

“Hello, Kathryn.  It’s good to see you again,” he’s saying.

“You too.  How have you been?”

“I have been good.  And I have a question for you.”

Laughing, I ask, “What is it?”

“What does the Earth mean to you?”  There’s a twinkle in his eyes as he stops by us.

I laugh and reply, “The Earth is our home, and like every home you have to care for it or else it gets messy and it isn’t a very good home anymore.  We have to clean it and protect it and redecorate only every once in a while.”

“Good girl.”

Mom is turning to me and asking, “Have you heard from your father at all?”

Shaking my head I’m replying, “Not since the divorce.  I don’t think he even knows that Brad is graduating from college.  Not unless they’re talking without either of us knowing it.”

“No, I asked him last night and he hadn’t heard from him either.”  She’s chewing on her lip.  “I really worry about him sometimes, you know?”

“He’s probably fine.  He’s not stupid enough to drink too much and kill himself, is he?”

“He was on the way when we last saw him.  But it’s fine.  I only loved him for five years anyway.”

Mike is saying to her, “But five years is a long time.”

“True.  But come on, let’s watch the ceremony.”

I smile and sit back as the music starts and the people in robes walk to their chairs.  Life is good.  I’m finally happy.

Author's Note

It was a challenge to write in present tense. I hope I did it right! And I hope you liked the story!! I'm kinda sad it's finished, though. . . .

Reviews

[Looouise]

I agree it's difficult to write in the present tense; but it look right enough :]
And think of it as a feat that you've finished it :]