Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

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

tonight, okay? Say the stuff you

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 to feed it. Maybe

"Hayden..."

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

felt like there was a

his side, the wind would brush

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

today the last day you're here? Will you

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 who did this to

a strand of my hair and brushing it across my face. It

since Hayden's death, I'd barely cried. Only in those quiet,

of hair.

wind picked up again, ready and gente

to leave When ally Self added dreamed of

and his voice, soft and steady called out to me

eyes flew open. The moment save him, I

him,

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

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