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

okay?

miss you so 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 found this little bird today. It was all alone. I tried

"Hayden..."

everything I needed to, hoping for an answer. But no one

it felt like there was a

by his side, the wind would brush against my face. Soft, warm-just

and sunsets. On the 35th day after his death, I brought fresh flowers to

is this it? Is today the last day you're here?

I'll go back to work, back to normal life. And.... I'll face the

lifting a strand of my hair and

Only in those quiet, unbearable moments when I missed him so much it felt

strand of hair. "Hayden... is that

wind picked up again, ready and gente le

stayed longer, unwilling to leave When ally

creaked open and his voice, soft and steady called out to me

I

him,

ran a hand through my hair. "Don't stay here alone Go back be happy,

-

blurred in my memory. I just held onto him like I'd never be the