Chapter 24
After all of Connor’s test results came back normal, he was finally discharged. He was excited beyond words.
“I felt like I was going moldy, you know? I had a dream that I turned into a mushroom in the tropical rainforest. Every day, wet moss would grow on my head. It was terrifying!” Connor chattered nonstop.
After taking a deep breath of fresh air outside the hospital, he let out a loud, satisfied laugh.
“You still need to avoid strenuous activity for a while. So, beach volleyball is a no–go for now,
Holly replied, sketching something on her tablet and cutting off his wild fantasies.
Aw…” Connor deflated like a popped balloon, sulking as he leaned over. “Then, I’ll get my tattoo first.”
A weird coincidence occurred as a result of this accident. It had left Connor with a burn scar on. his wrist, which was hard to heal and permanent. Therefore, Connor asked Holly to design a special tattoo to cover it. That way, they’d have matching couple tattoos.
Holly held up her tablet and smiled. “Do
her tablet and smiled. “Do you like this one?”
“This is so half–hearted! I stayed up all night designing yours!” Connor protested with a pout.
The design Holly created was of a glowing little sun shining on a tiny flower growing on the edge of a cliff.
She explained patiently, “In the beginning, I felt like a wildflower growing at the bottom of a cliff. My world was just loneliness and darkness. Then, you showed up! You were like a little sun that suddenly burst into my life. You stayed with me and helped me bloom.
“Through that process, I found life becoming more interesting, and I found that I wasn’t as broken as I thought. I made more friends and started living the kind of life I had always dreamed of. And only then did I realize… that my world could be full of light, too.
“Connor, thank you for coming into my life.”
Connor’s eyes reddened. A breeze carrying the scent of fruit lifted Holly’s long hair and brushed it across his cheek. The two of them laughed like fools..
Neither of them knew who leaned in first, but they wrapped each other in a tight embrace. He kissed her brow, her cheeks, and finally her lips They got lost in the moment–in the deep, passionate love they shared. No one could ever separate them again.
As night fell and the holidays approached, the beach came alive. Bonfires burned brightly as people sang and danced. Everyone raised their beers, toasting and sharing stories with laughter and cheer.
Change 24
The café reopened.
Many regulars stopped by with gifts to see Connor. They joked cheerfully, “Isn’t there an old saying that after great hardship, great fortune follows? Looks like your days ahead are going to be nothing but bliss.”
Ella’s family came, too. After a month apart, Princess had grown chubby, and her coat shone with a healthy gleam. When it saw Holly, it meowed excitedly and leapt into her arms.
Looking at everything around her, Holly felt her heart overflow with happiness.
She finally had a dependable partner, a circle of warm, outgoing friends, a rekindled love for playing the violin, a fluffy little cat, and a home by the sea.
She would cherish all the countless pieces of love she had received. And with Connor’s hand held tightly in hers, they would walk forward slowly, steadily–being together forever.
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