46 Epilogue

Rose

My lips curve up into a smile as a little girl waves back at me; holding onto her flower until she steps out of my flower shop with her mother. I look around—seeing that my workers are busy attending to the customers in here, bringing them the fresh new flowers that just arrived today.

I turn to look left on the counter at a picture of Elis and I; the same picture that we took four years ago. It has been long since what happened yet I still miss him every single day, no matter how.

Months after his death, his lawyer called; made an appointment with me, told me that there was something important. I thought it had something to do with his sudden death so I had no other choice but to meet him—which shocked me most when I found out about it.

Elis had placed half of his company under my name while the other half belongs to Fiore; his mother. All of his fortunes will be inherited by the two of us—instantly making us the owner of his company. Everything was legally signed months before he passed away.

That's one of the reasons why I opened up a flower shop where I can display my paintings and at the same time, sell flowers. Obviously. The thing is that, it wasn't just the contracts or the agreements but it was the ring—found hidden in his office, in one of his drawers.

Knowing that he admitted his love for me; the ring could have belonged to me. Then again, I could highly be mistaken but the chances are high—if it weren't for me, accepting Elia's proposal, I might've lived a happy life with Elis. I wouldn't have to risk his life just because of my stupid decision.

I look up at the doors.

As I make my way towards the customer, I immediately stop as soon as I see him turning to look at me; my eyes widen in surprise—not expecting to see him, after all these years. We are staring at each other, somehow, both of us are not expecting to meet here.

''Mummy!'' My four-year-old son runs towards my direction, holding onto my hand as he gives me a sunflower—he loves it very much and he say that I resemble the sunflower due to the happiness and shine that I give him. I instantly look up at the door, knowing that he went out with Fiore.

She stands near the door, her eyes wide; looking at her son. The son that she wasn't able to meet for such a long time for always disappearing and trying to keep others safe. The one and only son that reminds him so much of Elis instead of Elliot who seems more of like himself.

Elia continues to look at me; his dark brown eyes are showing the amount of sadness that I once saw four years ago—showing how it's too much to process. Our eyes are piercing into one another, going straight into our souls, probably trying to find at least something to say but we're left speechless.

I look down at Jodi—my son, ''Can you please get something to eat for mummy with nonna Fiore?'' I ask, smiling at him and he nods his head; hugging me around the legs before running towards Fiore, heading out as soon as they can, wanting to leave Elia and I all by ourselves.

When I found out about my pregnancy with Jodi, I didn't know what to say or how to react. Knowing that the father is Elis—made it a whole lot harder to accept; he didn't get to chance to meet his son at all and we didn't get the chance to actually share this happiness together.

Yet, I don't blame anyone.

''How are you?'' I ask, slightly smiling up at him; wanting to make things less awkward between us. My eyes wander to his every features—wanting to get a better look of him because it has been years. He looks a little bit older with the light stubble across his jaw but that what makes him much more attractive than the last time I saw him.

Truth be told, he has been in my mind just as much as Elis has been in my mind. It would be a lie if I say that I've never loved or has stopped loving him. We've shared something that we've never shared with anyone and it's something very important for us.

''I'm good, how are you?'' He smiles back at me.

''Good, thank you.'' I reply.

My eyes wouldn't be able to look away from his; at least, we're not bringing up the past that maybe we have forgotten little by little. We don't want to be haunted of our pains, that would be blocking us from passing through or moving on—for sure.

''I'm actually looking for roses,'' He starts to speak, making me turn around; gesturing for him to follow me towards the other section where I put roses—from different colours.

''They just arrived today. Are they for your special someone?'' I ask, even though it would pain me a little if the roses are for his special someone. I don't know; he might have moved on.

To my surprise, I find him chuckling which send shivers down my spine—making me remember how I used to be very affected by his laugh and his smile. I continue to look up at him, waiting for him to answer.

''My special someone is standing right in front of me. It wouldn't be a surprise if I give it to her,'' He replies, making my heartbeat raising every second due to his gaze and his answer. Our eyes meet once more, this time it's as if we're trying to say something has been kept for so long.

''I want to place them in my home. If you have orange roses, that would be nice.'' He continues, looking at the roses; looking for the orange roses but they're still at the back—haven't gotten the time to actually bring them out because people rarely ask for orange roses.

''I can get them for you,'' I say.

''A bouquet of them,'' He replies.

With a nod, I make my way towards the back; slowly and mentally hitting myself as I try to control my breathing—trying my best to not explode or overreact because we manage to act like total strangers earlier so I don't want to ruin it at the moment. Memories of us start to replay in my mind, leaving me weak even though it has been a long time ago. We haven't even been in touch.

I take a bouquet of orange roses before making my way towards the front, seeing that he's standing near the counter—eyeing the pictures of Elis and I, with a picture of Jodi on the side. He seems to be staring for quite some time until he realises that I'm currently standing in front of him.

He continues to look at me as I wrap the roses nicely and waiting for him to pay; as soon as I take the money from him—I feel the tip of my fingers touch his, which causes volt of electricity to run through my veins, making my other hand to grip tightly onto the counter, where he won't see it.

''Thank you,'' I mutter.

''I'll see you, Rose.'' He replies, turning around to leave the shop but as soon as he steps out—I turn to see my worker; close friend gesturing me to go after him. I've been telling her my problems but I left out the part where my past was filled with killers and deaths. She would freak out if she knows.

''Fuck it,'' I run towards the doors.

''Elia!'' I call out for him as soon as I push the door open, seeing him stopping and turning to look at me immediately—his eyes are staring directly into my blue ones.

Without further ado, I quickly make my way towards him before wrapping my arms around his neck; instantly meeting his lips, making sparks overflowing our bodies. One of his hand holds onto my waist, kissing me back with the same rhythm—making my legs go weak.

Our kiss turns out passionately slow; expressing how we've missed each other and how our choices have made us who we are now but it doesn't matter because I hardly regret my past. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be able to find true love or experience the love like ours.

I break the kiss to slowly let go of his arms, taking a few steps back and immediately hold onto my lips; quite surprised at my sudden action but by the look on his face, it shows how he's surprised too—not expecting me to react this way for our first encounter after years of not seeing each other.

''Would you like to go and grab coffee?'' I ask.

''Only if you marry me,'' He replies.

''Oh, you know, we just met but why not?'' Then, we end up smiling at each other before he starts to lean in again—cupping onto my face before letting me hold onto the flower, this time, our kiss seems a little bit more sincere and based on our past love.

Elia and I, we've faced quite a lot in the past but what matters most is that we faced them together. Our adventures are something that no one can replace because we had each other in every one of them—no matter how frightening, thrilling or horrifying they might be.

My love with Elis; it will always be real and will always be a part of my life. He will always own my heart no matter what—but he said so himself, move on. Loving someone else does not mean forgetting the other and that's far from what I have in mind; he will never be forgotten.

Jodi, a part of Elis and I.

This is real life. We overcome the obstacles and the fears that we once had with strength, no matter how hard or impossible it might be—we have overcame it. Life is never easy but it's never too hard. There will always be an end to everything; whether it's happy or not, it's our choice.

We just have to forgive.