The Joy Of Life Novels & Stories

Letting myself enjoy the moment until I, too, drifted off into slumber. I don’t know what happened during the night if I had a dream that I couldn’t recall, but I opened my eyes on a new day feeling alive and happy, like genuinely bone-deep happy. There was nothing else on my mind but her, and even though I knew that her being the first thing I thought about when I opened my eyes was heading into dangerous territory, I couldn’t fight the pure joy; I had no defense.

They don't know I have plans, lots and lots of plans. It's a different feeling when you have a new lease on life. It's as if the whole world has been opened up to you, or as they say, it's your oyster. Things I didn't pay much attention to before now have new meaning, and I've found a new joy in even the simplest of things, while some things have been harder to traverse.

Or perhaps we’ll create new worlds, new stories, and you’ll join me there, the same way you joined me here. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for every moment, for every memory, for every laugh, for every tear. Thank you for being here until the end. And most importantly, thank you for believing in love, in family, in forgiveness, in joy… and in messy, beautiful life. With all my love, ...Joycepen P.S. If you ever feel lost, just remember...happiness doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be real, messy, lo ud, and yours.

"But you're going to lose this time. Nancy's already eight. She has a say about who she wants to live with." Nancy hid behind Vivian, and the way she looked at me was distant and cold. She didn't even hesitate when she said, "I want to live with Mom and Jason." I suddenly thought of the video Jason Reed had sent me the night before. Apparently, they celebrated New Year's Day early and already had dinner together. With how happy they looked, they were like a real family of three. At the table, Nancy had frowned and said, "This is all Dad's fault! He makes us celebrate New Year's Day early every year."

She was not a burden but his happiness. "Y o u... a l s o... m a d e... m y... l i f e... c o l o u r f u l. G i a, ... d o ... n o t... w o r r y. T h i s .. t i m e ... w i l l... p a s s... t o o. T h e n... w e... w i l l... l i v e... a... h a p p y... l i f e...a n d... I... w i l l... l o v e... y o u... e v e r y d a y."

And for the first time in her entire life— She was happy. Not performatively. Not temporarily. Not in spite of her past. But because she had made it through. Because she had claimed her own joy. Because the hummingbird had landed. And so had she.

"Riley, you've been asked to join the filming for 'You're My Joy'!" my manager, Monica Jones, cried. Her words pulled me out of my confusion and sorrow. I hurriedly checked the trending topics to see that everything was peaceful on the Internet. There weren't any hurtful words. It looked like… I'd been reborn. I'd traveled three years back in time, and Peyton Grant was still alive.

"Both the one we're born into and the one we choose." "To not dying," Jacob finished helpfully, ever the comedian. "Which honestly deserves its own celebration after everything we've all been through." Everyone laughed and we all clinked our glasses together. I smiled, warmth spreading through my entire body, emotion bubbling just beneath the surface threatening to spill over. This. This exact moment. This was what I had fought so hard for. What I had survived and rebuilt my entire life for. A life where joy didn't feel borrowed or temporary. Where happiness felt solid and real and earned.

she said at last "I mean, why not just live the moment? Why not just be happy?" Maureen was nodding in agreement and Joy continued her homily. "If I have, say, four days to live, you know what I'd choose to do?" The question was rhetorical so she continued right away "I'd choose to be happy. I'd cast away unhappy thoughts and bring whoever or whatever that makes me happy, closer" she said then leaned closer to Maureen as though she was about to share a top secret "PS: Even after crying at your funeral, food would be served and hey, people will eat" she went back to her original position and smiled "Big lesson: life goes on".

He hit me with that counterattack. Of course, right? What fool would say that she is satisfied with her life when she is so wrapped up in sadness? "Whether or not you are satisfied with your life, you can dream because that is one thing that will give you the motivation to live... and the joy when it comes true."