Chapter 15 - A NEW LIFE One year passed.
The world changed.
Hale received a life sentence.
Daniel Cross disappeared before authorities could arrest him.
Victoria pleaded guilty and became a key witness.
Clara left Vance Manor behind.
She started a small bakery.
Julian visited every Sunday.
Emily returned to photography.
She photographed ordinary things.
Sunsets.
Children.
Rain.
Family dinners.
Things she had once believed she'd never see again.
Nora started school.
Lilly became inseparable from her sister.
They fought over toys.
Argued about television.
Shared secrets.
They were sisters in every way that mattered.
One evening, Julian stood on the porch.
Emily joined him.
"You seem quiet."
He smiled.
"I'm happy."
She rested her head against his shoulder.
"That's allowed."
He looked at the sunset.
"Sometimes I still expect something terrible to happen."
Emily took his hand.
"Maybe that's because you spent three years surviving."
"And now?"
"Now you get to live."
Inside the house, Lilly screamed:
"Nora stole my cookies!"
Nora shouted:
"I did not!"
Emily laughed.
Julian smiled.
For the first time, the sound of children fighting sounded better than silence.
Then the doorbell rang.
May you like
Everyone stopped.
Julian's smile vanished.
