Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 618

1 brought Hayden back to Kahmark

One evening as the sun melted into the horizon,

of growing old together

I

But I couldn't leave not yet I stayed, keeping him company, pretending he was still there

When I was a kid, I overheard my mom talking about how a person's sou dont just vanish after they

I die. She said it lingers for a while, staying close to the people it loved-especially for the first the something days

I didn't know if it was true, but I clung to the thought. I didn't want Hayden's soul to feel alone so stayed Watched over him until I felt like he was truly gone. Only then did I let myself think about leaving During those days, I cut myself off from the world. My phone stayed off I lived like Yuna used to-reading books, picking wildflowers, brewing tea from petals, and painting

I painted Hayden, again and again. Every stroke reminded me of the portraits Wayne had made of me hidden in that house.

Moming and night, I talked to Hayden like he could still hear me

my dreams tonight, okay? Say

much. I keep wanting to hold you, but you're just gone. It hurts so bad sometimes, I wonder if I should follow you, just to make it stop." "Hayden, I

"Hayden..."

for an answer. But no one

felt like there

would brush against my

the quiet rhythm of sunrises and sunsets. On the 35th day after

it? Is today the last day you're here? Will

kept going. "I'll be leaving soon, too. I'll go back to work, back to normal life. And.... I'll face the people I need to face." I hesitated, then added. "And I'll come after the ones

by, lifting a strand of my hair and brushing it across my face. It even grazed my

cried. Only in those quiet, unbearable moments

strand of hair.

wind picked up again, ready and

to leave When

his voice, soft and steady called out to me

I

him,

hand through my hair. "Don't stay here alone

-

him like I'd never be the