Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Zoey closes her eyes, absolutely exhausted, and as I listen to her shallow breaths, I tell her all about our lives together, wanting her to go with love and happiness, remembering all the incredible times we shared together.
“Do you remember when you were eight, and I forced Mom to bring you on our family trip to the beach? You made me dig a massive hole, and just when I thought we were about to throw Linc into it, you pushed me right in and tried to fill it up before I could get out.”
Zoey smiles and nods against my chest, taking soft, shallow breaths.
“I had the best day with you then. It’s one of my favorites.”
“Mmm, what else?” she whispers.
“When you were twelve and Huxley Brayford tried to kiss you—”
“You punched him so hard.”
“Yeah,” I say, remembering it all too well. “I punched him so hard I broke three of my fingers, and it hurt so bad, but I never told you that. I didn’t want you to think I was weak. I spent that whole night in the emergency room, but it was worth it.”
“You kissed me the next day,” she murmurs, her hand falling from my chest, but I quickly scoop it up and hold it there for her. “A real kiss. Not one of those small pecks you’d always given me before.”
“Apart from the kiss I gave you after we exchanged our vows, that’s still one of my favorites because it was the day I realized that no other lips were going to be enough for me, only yours, Zo.”
Over the next ten minutes, I recap every milestone of our relationship, remembering the day I realized that it was so much more than just a crush, the day I first told her I was in love with her, and the day I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with her. I recall exactly how she looked in each of those moments, the way her eyes lit up when I whispered those sweet words to her, the way she clung to me, knowing that I would always protect her, right until we were old and gray. Even then as kids, we knew that what we had was rare. It was eternal, and we held on to it with everything we had.
Then as her breathing becomes so damn shallow that I can barely hear it anymore, I simply press my lips to her temple, my fingers laced through hers. “Remember to dance among the stars, baby,” I tell her, desperately wishing that if she can’t stay here with me, that I could somehow find a way to go with her, to run headfirst into our next adventure hand in hand. “Be the sun in the sky.”
“Noah—”
“It’s okay, Zozo. I’ve got you,” I whisper over the lump in my throat, my chest constricting with the most horrendous, soul-shattering agony. “You can let go now.”
She nods ever so slightly, and as I press my lips to hers in one final, agonizing kiss, her father’s words fill the air. “Soar, my sweet angel. Be free.”
With that, Zoey Ryan, the love of my life, my bestest friend, slips away, and that invisible tether that’s existed since the moment I first met her is severed, and everything in my world just . . . stops.
60
Zoey
Noah clings on to me, his lips gently brushing over mine as the sweetest peace washes through me, the pain of the past few days fading to nothing. The brightest light shines through my childhood bedroom, consuming me with the most enchanting happiness, and suddenly, I’m no longer there on my bed, and my lips no longer linger against Noah’s.
I’m high above, looking down as my family weeps over my body, my mom dropping to her knees in agony. My gaze lingers on Noah, and despite his promise to be okay, I know this is going to destroy him.
He’s shattered inside—an empty shell, screaming out with overwhelming grief.
I watch them for a moment, desperately wishing I could stay, but a force has me turning. Realizing I’m not alone, I gaze upon a beaming white light and make out a familiar face, his eyes so dark just like his big brother’s.
Lincoln smiles at me, a fondness brimming in his gaze as he holds out his hand toward me. “I’ve been waiting a long time for you, Zoey,” he tells me in that sweet voice I’ve longed to hear for almost five years, so carefree and young.
“I know you have,” I smile as I take his welcoming hand, never having felt so at peace, so painless, and light.
Linc tugs on my hand, pulling me away, but I stop, glancing back toward Noah, desperately needing him to be okay. But Linc tugs on my hand again, a soft smile lifting the corners of his familiar face. “He’s going to be alright,” he promises me. “He’s going to hurt for a while, but he’ll be alright.”