At Last A Life Novels & Stories

The partner for the Northreach project was a Korean company, and she went as the interpreter. "The aurora was on the last day, after the project ended. The whole team went together--" "You don't have to explain." I pried his fingers off my wrist. "I sent you the agreement. Read it and reply." I turned to leave. "Mara." I stopped, but did not look back. "You said you'd only love me in this lifetime." I closed my eyes. "Preston, you said that too." I pushed the door open and walked out.

*** Late that night, Mom went home. She sat alone in the living room for a long time. Then she went to Sadie's room and quietly opened the door. Sadie was asleep. Mom stood by the bed, staring at her. She pulled up Sadie's blanket and smoothed her hair. Then she crossed to the desk and started going through Sadie's backpack. That's when she found it. A pink behind-the-ear hearing aid, with a tiny 'VV' engraved on the side. Vienna's hearing aid.

All the blood-stained memories of Manhattan drifted away with the cool evening breeze, left forever in the ruins of a life I would never return to. THE END

The corners of my lips slowly curled upward. 'June, for the rest of our lives, let's never see each other again.'

Inside, four souls who had crossed hell, blood, pain, escapes, and redemption finally found peace. It wasn’t the end of the story. It was the first page of a new chapter—written not with blood, but with free, deep, and entirely chosen love. The Last First Time. And it would be the best of all the times to come after.

Then a last sentence: “Nora lives.”

*FROM HERE ON THERE WILL BE NO CHAPTERS NAME (𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞)

What he didn't know at the time was that would be our very last kiss. I, Gabriella Martini, am dead now. I lived. I sure as heck loved and last but not least, I laughed. Enjoy and live your life each day as if it's your last. Goodbye ~ Gabriella Martini.

with my life Christian Hastington Taylor Hastington

Alive. *