Scar (15 page)

Caelyn stepped back. “Wait a minute. What kind of plans? Please tell me they include me, whatever they are.”

He took a deep breath. “Whether or not I do that movie deal or not, I’ve been thinking a lot about my next move. Now that I have options…”

“You always had options, Elijah.”

“Yeah, but now I really have options,” he said. “And ever since that night with the fire, I keep thinking about it and realizing that that’s what I want to do.”

Caelyn squinted uncertainly. “You want to do…what?”

“I want to become a fireman. Is that totally lame or what?” he said, his cheeks reddening.

“It’s not lame at all,” Caelyn said. In fact, it’s amazing. I’m proud of you for whatever you do, though, and I support whatever you do.”

“Thanks, kid. I knew I could count on you.” He took her hand.

“Always,” she said, and they started to walk.

“Of course, those aren’t my only plans,” Elijah said, glancing over at her.

“You’re making me nervous.”

They’d just reached the edge of the campus, and Elijah suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground. Caelyn cried out, thinking he might have been hurt. “Elijah, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he groaned, as people around them turned to stare at the spectacle he was making.

“Let me help you up,” she said, moving forward quickly.

“No, no,” he said, waving her off. He looked down. “The problem is, I dropped my damn box.”

“Elijah, you’re talking really loud,” she said, growing anxious. She looked around and saw that a dozen students had already stopped to watch them.

Elijah raised his voice. “This box is really important, Caelyn! Like, really important!”

“I don’t even see it. What box?” she asked.

“Oh, wait. I didn’t drop it,” he said, still kneeling on the ground. He felt his pockets. “Here it is.” He smiled as he slowly pulled a dark, rectangular velvet box from his pocket and presented it to her.

Caelyn gasped. “Elijah, are you…what are you…what’s going on?”

People around them had their phones out and were filming now.

“Caelyn Murphy,” Elijah said, showing her the gleaming ring in the center of the box, “you are the most magnificent, amazing, beautiful, intelligent, courageous and inspiring person I’ve ever met. You make me laugh, and you smack me upside the head when I act dumb. And most importantly, I’m completely head-over-heels in love with you and I want the world to know it. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Yes,” she said, not hesitating for even a millisecond.

Elijah slipped the ring on her finger as the small crowd of students surrounding them began whooping and hollering and clapping.

And then Elijah stood up, pulled her to him and kissed her.

It was their first engaged kiss, and it was better than the first kiss they’d ever shared.

It was, Caelyn thought, better than any kiss in the history of kissing. At least, it was the best kiss she’d ever had.

As Elijah held her in his arms and she allowed herself to stay there, melting into the completeness of their love, Caelyn wondered how something that had started off in the worst circumstances could have transformed into the greatest gift she’d ever received.

She didn’t know the answer.

She didn’t know how and why everything had worked out the way it had.

All the horrible things that had happened, all the tests, all the close calls and painful moments, all of the self-doubts and the destruction and horror of those early days, where her life had seemed to spiral down into the depths of despair.

Somehow, she and Elijah had risen together from the ashes and created the most wonderful life together.

How had it all worked out? Why had it all worked out?

When she thought about it, it made her nervous wondering if their luck would continue.
Maybe,
she thought,
we’ve used it all up.

But then she opened her eyes and looked at Elijah and knew that good times were
only
just beginning.

THE END

If you’ve enjoyed reading about Caelyn and Elijah, please let me know by leaving a review! I’ve so enjoyed writing their love story. Don’t feel too sad that it’s over, though, because Caelyn and Elijah will likely return at some point, in a new story. There may be another romance blossoming, too…
.Well
of course there will be! There’s always romance if you look hard enough for it. Until next time, may all your endings be happy ones.
XOXO-Kelly