Chapter 7 - The Journey to Remembrance
Three months later.
The summer sun shone warmly over the rugged coastline of Maine, casting bright reflections across the deep blue Atlantic waters.
A sleek black limousine pulled up to a quiet, weathered wooden cottage sitting on a grassy cliff overlooking the ocean—the cottage where Rosalie had lived with her father before she met Alexander ten years ago.
The car door opened, and Alexander stepped out, turning to hold his hand out for Hannah and Noah.
Hannah looked at the small wooden cottage, the stone fireplace chimney, and the blooming red rose bushes lining the gravel path. She took a deep breath, her eyes widening as a sudden, intense wave of warmth washed through her mind.
"The roses..." Hannah whispered, taking three slow steps toward the garden. "My father... he planted those red roses for my mother..."
Alexander’s heart hammered against his ribs as he walked beside her. "Do you remember this place?"
Hannah placed her hand on the worn wooden gate. Images began to flash through her mind like a floodgate opening—sound of laughter, the smell of salt sea breeze, the memory of Alexander sitting on the porch swing holding a guitar, singing to her while the sun went down.
She turned to look at Alexander, tears welling in her eyes—not tears of sadness, but tears of pure, overwhelming recognition.
"Alexander..." she breathed, her voice filled with a profound, beautiful clarity. "You... you asked me to marry you right on that porch. It was raining... and you dropped the ring in the grass..."
Alexander choked back a sob, pulling her tightly against his chest. "You remember..."
"I remember everything," Rosalie whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder. "I remember the wedding... I remember the crash... and I remember how much I loved you."
May you like
Noah ran up, wrapping his small arms around both of their legs, giggling happily under the bright summer sky. "Does this mean we're staying together forever, Mommy?"
Rosalie dropped to her knees, scooping Noah into her lap, kissing his cheeks again and again until he squealed with laughter. "Forever and ever, my sweet boy. Nothing will ever separate us again."
