EPILOGUE

The summer sun shone, Savannah sat on her porch swing clutching her book of poems.

It was the third book she'd written and published since graduating from Swanstone University and becoming a high-school literature teacher six years ago. She'd read the entire book back to front for a week.

There was something about reading something that comes straight from the heart, especially when that heart is your own.

It was like looking into a magical mirror where you see yourself for not your flaws, or for the features you're proudest of, but you see yourself exactly as you are, exactly as how you've become.

A smile grows on her face, her heart filled with pride as she stares at her work.

She raised her head and stared at her five-year old son, no matter how proud she could ever be of her work, nothing fills her heart with more pride, joy and love than Leon Jr.

She watched as he sat in the grass beside the palm tree Savannah and Mitchell planted there when they first moved in; and blew on a dandelion.

Savannah's son had what she'd like to call an 'old soul,' a gentle spirit who was wise beyond his years; he taught her things she'd never known and reminded her of things she'd forgotten.

Leon Jr. inherited Savannah's brown skin and her out-of-control curly hair and he had his father's cobalt blue eyes, but somehow, somehow, whenever she looked into his eyes and he stared back at his mother; they reminded her of an old friend, a friend that came to say hello every now and again in the most unexpected moments.

Through the whispers of the wind, the kisses from the sun and the sound of the rain, even when she didn't need him, he was there.

She still felt the hurt of losing him, but he reminded her every day that they'd see each other again. In losing him, she found herself. Leon didn't take a piece of her when he died, but he left a piece of him with Savannah, a piece that she treasured in her heart.

Leon Jr. caught his mother's stare and glanced back giggling as he shook the dandelion frantically and the seed heads drifted with the breeze.

She laughed and shook her head, his love of plants and the environment definitely comes from his father.

She stared at her wedding ring, it was a beautiful gold band with humble diamonds. She'd been married to the love of her life, Mitchell for five and a half years and she fell deeper and deeper in love with him every day.

He needed and loved her as much as she needed and loved him. Together they turned love into a family, a house into a home and life into a dream where every obstacle they faced was tackled together and every opportunity ceased.

Savannah laughed to herself, it must be the spirit of Christmas that is making her feel so tremendously sentimental.

Excitement sparked at the pit of her stomach as she heard her son shout "daddy!"

She watched as Mitchell bent down and swooped his son under his arms as he kissed every inch of Leon's face.

He approached her, she grabbed Mitchell's face and kissed him hard, he pulled her closer to him by her waist.

They were only pulled apart when their son scoffed, "Daaaaaad!"

Mitchell was an environmental scientist for a research centre a little under an hour away, though Mitch never travelled nearly as much as he did before Leon was born, Savannah missed him every second they were apart.

"Judging by how quiet it is, I take that your family haven't arrived yet?" asked Mitchell as they made their way inside.

Savannah shook her head, "my parents live down the road, yet arriving on time is never really an option to them," chuckled Savannah.

That night, the family was going to get together for a Christmas dinner, Savannah's parents, Mitchell's parents and sister, Ben, Mike and his fiancé Camila.

Mike was particularly hard to get a hold of, of course being a national basketball player, however Savannah would often see Ben in academic arts conventions.

To everybody's surprise, Ben graduated and became the respected university lecturer in performing arts that he is today.

Savannah and Mitchell set the table when Mitchell's parents arrived, Leon Jr. entertained his grandparents in the living room as Mitchell's sister Sarah expressed her love for travelling to them while sipping from a glass of red wine.

You wouldn't think that a woman of her demeanour, her fawn blonde hair and big blue eyes that craved adventure, would be a financial advisor, that finance, was her passion.

Though by this stage, Savannah knew better that to expect the expected from people.

She heard a car pull up then the doorbell ring, she opened the door and greeted her parents who looked as good as ever, retirement suited her father, though he would still get a little too passionate during the Olympics.

Her mother on the other hand was still 'til this day, a workaholic.

They entered and embraced their daughter, her mother a little longer. Her father walked inside and picked up his grandson and tossed him in the air as Leon giggled manically.

Her mother followed then she greeted Ben who seemed to pop out of nowhere. Ben grew to be a handsome man, his curly long hair was in what he called a 'man-bun,' he wore a black button-down shirt with a dark green blazer and black pants.

He reached down and gave Savannah a rib-crushing hug.

"How's it hanging lil' sis?" he asked jokingly.

Savannah couldn't be half as offended as she used to be ten years ago, she was quiet flattered, being considered younger than a twenty-five-year-old seemed to boost her confidence.

"Is that my nephew I see?! Leon?! King of the jungle?!" exclaimed Ben as Leon ran towards his uncle and threw his tiny body onto his large frame.

To nobody's surprise, Mike and Camila were the last ones to arrive, Savannah missed him dearly, they hadn't seen Mike since he announced his engagement to Camila seven months ago.

Savannah appreciated that he called as much as he could, but nothing really could compare to being able to physically touch and feel the presence of a loved one.

Just when they were beginning to sit around the table, the doorbell rang,

"I'll get it!" smiled Mitchell as he ran out the dining room and towards the front door.

She heard Mike's unmistakable voice as he and Mitch greeted each other.

A few seconds passed and in entered Mike who was beaming at everyone in the room as if he was on a press tour and Camila who seemed to be particularly round in the stomach-region.

No. Way.

Savannah couldn't help but squeal as she noticed the round bump, she ran towards Camila and wrapped her arms around her shoulders, careful not to hold too tight.

"No love for me then?" complained Mike, "I haven't seen you all year Sav," he laughed as Camila giggled holding Savannah's arms in hers.

Savannah approached her brother and gave him a hug, "congratulations!"

"I wanted it to be a surprise, so, surprise!" beamed Mike.

The night was filled with joy, laughter and mostly love, unconditional love that everybody had for each other.

Savannah was silently staring at the dinner table filled with the people she loved more than anything, taking in every second of this moment.

Her loving husband sitting beside her as he and Ben played with her beautiful son, her mother exchanging knowledge with her parents in law as they laughed heartedly; her father congratulating her brother and no doubt giving him fatherly advice on raising a child and her two sister in laws, Camila guiding Sarah's hand on the bump and anticipating a kick.

She knew that whatever life hurled at her, she was going to be okay as long as she had people to call a family and a house to call a home.

In life you lose people, but they are never really gone, but you create bonds that last over a million lifetimes. A 'goodbye', isn't as permanent as a 'hello,' so do your best to cease tomorrow.