EPILOGUE
A beautiful mess.
I wish I could say everything from that point forward was perfect. I wish I could say we lived happily ever after. But the truth is, nothing in life is perfect. And Cam and I are no exception to that. Camden’s little brother did something horrible. And I was a survivor. And the two of us, we are messy. But I’m happy to think that we are a beautiful mess. And together, we make the world a better place.
Cam and I remained friends for about two years. And then he finally said he wanted to be more. I mean… it took him long enough, right? And of course, I told him that I had been waiting. But even though I wanted us to be an us long before then, I knew that it wasn’t the right time. And then suddenly, it was. And it was… beautiful. Amazing. Perfect.
And tonight, we are graduating college. Somehow, we both managed to make it this far, and I’m honestly surprised. When I started, I wasn’t even sure I would survive the first semester, let alone the whole four years. I get to stand beside Scott in the line-up.
Oh, I forgot to mention… I’m Isla Jacobson now. Stanley ‘adopted’ me. I mean, I was nineteen at the time, so technically I was already grown. But I was happy to change my name and happy to call him Dad. So Scott really is my brother now, and I love it.
I also got a new car.
Finally.
It’s not pink. And it’s also not a car. It’s an SUV and it’s perfect. Nobody is embarrassed to ride with me anymore, which is obviously a bonus.
When I walk across the stage and get handed my diploma, I feel a sense of relief. I didn’t go to my high school graduation, but I can’t imagine graduating high school feels this good. I mean, I’m glad high school is over, but I feel like I’ve really accomplished something good today. I wasn’t forced to go to college by anybody. I mean, maybe a little in the beginning. But finishing college was a choice. Finishing high school was… mandatory.
When the ceremony is over, I find Camden in the crowd. He’s standing by Giggi and he’s smiling at me. I’m sure he’s thinking about how sexy I look in this flattering graduation robe. We walk towards each other and he wraps his arms around me and spins me around.
“We did it,” he says.
I laugh. “Yeah, we did.”
Camden and I have been together just over two years now. It’s safe to say that we are completely in love with each other. He tells me every single day, and I tell him back. Our love story isn’t pretty, but it was worth every ounce of pain to get to where we are today.
After graduation, we all go out with our families to celebratory dinners. There are so many of us that we actually got a while room to ourselves.
Micah and Marisa are here with their families. They’re actually married now. They got married the summer before our senior year of college. Their families weren’t happy that they didn’t wait for graduation before tying the knot, but I knew they would finish college. I am happy for them and I even got to give the ‘best-man’ speech at their wedding, where I basically let everybody know that they’re together because of me.
Yeah, I was the best man. Or… best woman, I guess? It was cool. I mean, Micah and Marisa fought over me, because Marisa wanted me as a bridesmaid, but Micah won in the end.
Marisa also told me something last night. Something exciting. Her and Micah are expecting their first child. She hasn’t told him yet. She says she’s going to tonight. And I’m excited for them, but at the same time, I’m scared. They’re my age. Twenty-two. And to even think about having a kid right now scares the crap out of me. I’m so not ready for that stage in my life. But if anybody is ready, it’s them. Marisa and Micah are going to be great parents.
Cam and Giggi’s grandparents are here too. I have grown to love the two of them as if they were my own grandparents. And they love me too. I mean, I think they have loved me from the moment they met me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people so excited as when they found out Cam and I are dating. Well, besides maybe Giggi.
Ah, Giggi. Her and I are so different, yet we are truly best friends. I’m so glad to have her in my life. She’s like a sister to me. And she tells everybody that I am her ‘sister-in-law’. What a change from the girl who got so mad over me accidentally spilling soda on her.
No, Cam and I are not engaged. And considering it took him two years to ask me to be his girlfriend, I’m not sure it’ll be happening any time soon. I mean, we’re twenty-two and just graduated college. There is no rush. But on the same note, I wouldn’t say no if he asked. I’m just saying.
After dinner, Cam and I go for a drive. I still like driving. Why is it so fun to just get in your car and drive in a random direction? I like just going when I have nowhere to really go.
“Are you happy to be back in Atlanta?” Cam asks.
I shrug my shoulders. “I guess. I mean… I’m kind of sad because you still live in Savannah, so I suppose that means we’re going to have to do a whole long distance thing.”
“I was thinking about getting a place in Atlanta,” Cam says.
“Or maybe I can get a place in Savannah,” I say, because I know Atlanta brings back a lot of bad memories for Cam.
“Or… we could get married,” Cam says. “Then we could live together somewhere. Anywhere.”
“Get married?” I ask.
“I really suck at this,” he says, pulling the car over to the side of the road.
What the heck is he doing?
He puts the car in park and pulls something out of his pocket.
“You see, I was trying to think of something super romantic. I even thought… maybe at dinner with all our family there,” he says. “But I know your favorite place to be is the car. And it’s not at all romantic, but then again, you’re not the kind of girl who enjoys big, romantic gestures. So, marry me, Isla.”
He opens the box that he pulled out of his pocket and there is a ring inside. I look from him to the ring because I’m still trying to process what he just said.
I mean, he’s not wrong about me not liking big, romantic gestures. And, to be honest, the car is the perfect place to ask.
The ring makes me smile. Because there isn’t a diamond in the center. He knows that diamonds just aren’t my thing. Instead, there is an amethyst. And it’s really, really beautiful. And perfect. So. Perfect.
“Okay,” I say. “I’ll marry you. And I don’t care where we live. Just as long as I get to be with you forever.”
Cam smiles at me.
And I can’t help but think that our forever is going to be fun.
I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anybody else.
Camden and I… we’re gonna make it.
The end.