"Hmm," I put an arm around mom, resting my head on her shoulder while taking clumsy steps. "I'm so glad you're here. I thought I'd never see you again." In that instant, I screamed as a cold hand touched my feet. "Aurelia?"
"..."
I froze. It felt like the world had stopped, along with my heart. Mom turned to look at me, muddled. "Go upstairs mom, let me check the other cells," I said, my voice shaking. Mom reluctantly followed my request. Once she was gone, there was silence again. I waited for that voice to call me again but there was not a single sound. I slowly looked around, my mouth unable to produce any sound. "Leo?"
My body shook like a leaf as I walked towards the second row of cells. There was no reply. I didn't want my expectations to shatter again. With a ray of hope, I opened the door to the cell where the voice came from before. There was no one inside. "Here," he said again. It was coming from an adjacent cell. I knew this was all in my mind, but I followed it nevertheless. Standing in front of the cell, I could sense a presence behind those thick bars. As I tried to unlock it, the key just wouldn't go in due to my sweaty hands. I shook my head, trying to regain my energy and with great concentration, I was able to unlock the door. "You've come," Said a infirm voice, something I was yearning to hear.
"LEO! OH MY GOD! LEO, YOU ARE ALIVE. TELL ME I'M NOT DREAMING," I screamed, pulling him in my arms. His frame was frail. "You look so pale," I cried. I didn't let go of him until he was out of breath. I called Jacob and Jake to help bring Leo upstairs. He had gotten weak, with rough bushy hair and a beard.
We rushed him to Jacob's place where he was being treated by the doctors. I was crying out of delight and feeling sorry for whatever Leo went through when Jake approached me, "You must be happy Leo is back."
"Can't you tell? I am so thankful to you, Jake. I owe you big time. Great friends are hard to find, but I have you."
He wiped away my tears, looking sad. "I am so happy for you but whenever you need me, I'll be waiting in the wings."
"I am not leaving you! Stop thinking like that. Leo will want to thank you too."
He smiled, and then I pulled him in a hug. "Jake, come on we have things to take care of." Jacob called out.
"Wait, I'll come with you," I said standing up.
"You don't have to. Stay here. Let us know if you need something," Jacob refused.
I nodded sitting back, enjoying the moment and waiting for more to happen.
EPILOUGUE:
It's been four years since I moved back to Hawaii, but this time with Leo. We can never be happier. Jake stayed here too, but keeps moving due to his business trips but whenever he comes back we three sit together, and replay all those memories in our heads. We're like family. Mom stayed with my aunt, back in LA. We still don't talk much but catch up once every month. Life is beyond perfect.
"I bought you a Jasmine bouquet," Leo says his usual line returning back home.
I run into his arms, taking the bunch of flowers from his hands and sniffing them. "Thank you."
Then we enjoy a mouth watering dinner watching our favourite shows. '
"I'm so glad," I said causing Leo to look at me, intrigued. "That I didn't give up and lived, for you. This is exactly the life I dreamt off. But that dream always felt incomplete without you. And see, here we are living the best version of it."
Leo doesn't say anything but looks at me in the most loving way which causes my stomach to feel weightless and giggly. So I throw myself into his arms and we laugh, filling the atmosphere with carelessness, love and joy.