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

okay? Say the stuff

sometimes, I wonder if I should follow you, just to make it stop." "Hayden, I found this little bird today. It was all

"Hayden..."

needed to, hoping for an answer. But no

felt like there

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

blurred together, marked only by the quiet rhythm of sunrises and sunsets. On the 35th day after his death, I brought fresh flowers to his

today the last day you're here? Will you be gone

but I 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

a soft breeze passed by, lifting a strand of my hair and brushing it across

barely cried. Only in those quiet, unbearable moments when I missed him so much it felt like my chest might cave

strand of hair. "Hayden... is that

again, ready and gente le an

to leave When

and his voice, soft and steady called out to me

save him, I wrapped thy arms around fine

him,

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

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