At Journeys End Novels & Stories

It just did. THE END

But the world they had changed continued to turn, guided by a ghost in the machine and fueled by the love of the parents who had dared to burn everything down to save one small, flickering light. The story of the heirs had ended. The history of the future had begun. The Journey's End Julian, Clara, and Hope reached the water’s edge just as the first stars began to pierce the twilight. The stars were no longer cold, distant points of light or the domain of orbital weapons. To Julian, they were a reminder that the highest heights are only worth reaching if you have a home to return to. He picked up a smooth stone and skipped it across the surface of the ocean. One, two, three—it vanished into

I stumbled home at 4 a.m., soaked and dizzy from a fever, barely keeping myself upright against the bathroom door. At the staircase, I noticed a pair of women's heels. 'Terence brought someone home?' My heart skipped, then settled. It didn't matter. I was leaving him. My feet were blistered, my legs heavy as lead. Steam filled the bathroom, my vision blurring as a tear hit my hand. I remembered meeting Terence in a cold rain years ago.

Naomi and Wayne stood at the center, each holding a child, looking every bit the picture of a perfect family of four. I stood silently in the crowd, watching that scene. Taking a bite of matcha cake, the sweetness on my tongue turned bitter. Without sparing them another glance, I walked out of the hotel. Sliding into the car Wayne had once given me with matching license plates, the cold voice of the system filled my head, and dizziness overtook me. "Host, your departure time has arrived. Countdown: three, two, one…" I closed my eyes. From that moment on, Arden Sharpe no longer existed in this world.

Frames shattered and glass fragments sprayed everywhere, just like how my heart shattered along with them. I did not know how long it took, but I only stopped when there was not a single intact smile left on the wall. Then, I collapsed on the floor with no more strength left in me. After a long time, I called my best friend Brenda Harris. "Brenda, I'm getting a divorce. You said you needed a partner in Floraland, right? I'm coming to see you." Brenda froze for a second, then she supported me without hesitation. "I'll go ahead and get your ticket. You can leave in three days."

Mom looked at me and said. Kyle acted quickly. He completed my hospital transfer procedures on the same day, and we took a private jet back to the prairie. Meanwhile, Ian had just accompanied Ruby through an operation abroad. While he was feeding her chicken soup, his heart suddenly felt a suffocating ache. With a tremble of his hand, the chicken soup spilled all over his body. He clenched his chest, feeling uneasy. "Ian, what's wrong? Are you too exhausted? Why don't you come here and rest for a bit?" Ruby asked as she shifted her body slightly and patted the bed.

"Drew, the dial sparkles so beautifully. The moment I saw it, I knew it would suit you. "Even though you're almost thirty, you'll always be the same in my eyes." My fingers trembled. The watch slipped from my hand, and the crystal shattered into pieces. The hands stopped moving. Just like our relationship, it was broken... At eight the next morning, Olivia sent me a location pin. [Bring the signed divorce agreement here at ten.] Looking at myself in the mirror, I seemed to have aged three years overnight. I grabbed a razor and men's skincare products and began frantically tidying myself up.

A life they would be spending together. THE END

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆ :~THE END~:

“Mom and Dad are just behind us. Let’s go meet them together.” I nodded, gripping the stone ring in my hand. Thank goodness I still had them behind me. The End.