CONCLUSION

EXCERPT FROM CASSIE’S JOURNAL:

Jay and I are leaving. We asked a few of our friends to come with us, but Doc and Rochelle want to return to the hotel and open a clinic for the general public. Julilla thinks we’re crazy and said she was too much a city girl to consider “living in the forest like an animal.” I think her real issue, though, is that winning the battle has given her clout with the alliance and she sees an opportunity to take a leadership role in the city. I hope it works out for her and that she doesn’t let it go to her head.

Elissa is grieving Mundo’s death on the battlefield and making such a show of going around in a black dress and veil that I’m glad Kayleen stayed at the hotel. Jason is effectively in charge of the Thespians now and Elissa doesn’t seem to care. To their credit, none of the Thespians have come up with a skit to commemorate Mundo’s heroic death in battle. Or maybe one already did and I just haven’t heard about it.

As I was helping in the field hospital, I mentioned my concern for who would care for the baby now that Mundo is gone. Rochelle took a piece of paper from her pocket. It was a will, in which Mundo named Rochelle his child’s guardian should anything happen to him. “Congratulations. But it’s going to be hard to be a single mom.”

Rochelle’s cheeks turned pink but before she could explain, Doc came over and told me the news himself. “Did she tell you we’re getting married? One of the Thespians offered to perform a ceremony for us.”

I looked from one to the other of them. “That was fast.”

“Actually, it was slow.” Doc looked fondly at Rochelle. “I’m glad May told me. I can be pretty dense.”

“So will you come to our wedding?” Rochelle asked. “You can be my maid of honor.”

“Matron of honor,” I said, showing her my ring. “And I’d love to, but Jay and I are leaving in the morning.”

“The Thespians said they could do it anytime,” Doc offered.

And so Rochelle and Doc were married last night by a boy in chaplain’s garb. It’s no more legal than my marriage to Jay, but since there are no more lawmakers, I guess there are no more laws, either. There’s only what’s in our hearts, and maybe that’s all there really was to begin with.

It’s nearly dawn now. I didn’t get much sleep, but I’m too excited to care. We’ll have eternity in which to rest, but our time to love each other will likely be measured in months.

Jay is awake now. He wants to know if I’m writing about him.

“Of course.”

“What else are you writing?”

“Our plans.”

He sits and stretches and looks at me with so much love in his eyes I think I’ll burn up in a great blue flame of emotion. The world is a beautiful place when he looks at me like that, and anything is possible. It might even be possible to survive.

“What are you thinking?” he asks.

“I’m thinking to hell with tomorrow. Today is going to be a wonderful day.”


FIN

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