"You can never start a new chapter in life if you keep re-reading you last one."-Unknown

=>Epilogue<=

Few Years Later...

Third Person POV:

The girl sat on her bed, humming a soft tune. Her emerald eyes sparkled under the sun rays coming through her window.

She furrowed her eyebrows, erasing the picture she drew and started to draw once again. Her bedroom was a complete mess that was scattered with different shades of pencils and paints.

"Lisa!"

She glanced at her door, hearing her mother call from downstairs. A wide grin grew on her face hoping they are here.

The girl quickly got up, running downstairs in excitement.

The woman stood in the kitchen and heard soft footsteps descending downstairs but she didn't turn towards the source of that sound.

She placed the tray safely inside the oven and closed its lid. Her fingers brushed over the grey knobs of the oven, setting the timer for the cake to be baked.

"They still haven't arrived." She sighed turning around to see her daughter pouting with her arms crossed.

A smile covered her face seeing the little girl. She walks towards her child, stroking her lavish raven hair that fell till her shoulders.

"The guest will be here anytime soon, why don't you go sit with the boys."

The girl rolls her eyes, growing impatient by each second. She knows exactly what her dad was up to.

She left the kitchen not before placing a soft peck on her mom's cheek, who beamed before returning back to her chores.

Lisa walked towards the living room, sending a longing look at the main door.

A tiny smile tugs her lips as she peeked over the sofa, watching both the boys staring at the screen playing their favorite game.

"No no no..." The adult groans, pressing the buttons on the joystick furiously.

"Goal!" The screen flashes with the victory of the opponent. Lisa's dad slumps into the couch with a loud huff making her giggle.

"Haha, yes!" The young boy throws a fist into the air, standing up from his seat in excitement. His grey orbs twinkled and a huge grin makes its way on his face.

"Cheater.." The other guy muttered under his breath but clear enough for everyone to hear and chuckle at his childish demeanor. The girl blinks at the screen and walks towards the winner.

"Lisa, did you see that? I won again!" The girl nods, smiling at her brother as she walked up to him. She takes a seat beside him on the couch.

He smirks, looking at the annoyed adult and continues, "7th time in a row."

The man glares back, his black eyes set at the teen, "Eric, you just cheated all the way through!" His throws his hands in the air in frustration.

The smirk on Eric's face widens as he and Lisa makes a knowing eye contact. Their dad can never win nor accept a defeat.

Both the kids erupt into laughter seeing the man getting more frustrated.

"No Mr. Aiden, this is FIFA, you need skills here."

Aiden cocks an eyebrow at Eric who gave a quick high-five to his six year old sister beside him.

"At least I'm better at driving, both in real life and games." He emphasized the word games making Eric and Lisa stifle laughter but they silently agreed on their dad's mad driving skills.

'Ding'

"They're here! They're here!" The girl jolts towards the main door behind Aiden's couch in the living room.

She doesn't wait for any further notice from her parents and quickly twists the knob, opening the door widely.

The two boys gather behind her to welcome their guest for today.

"Lisa, how are you!? A woman enters the house, holding out her arms for the little girl. Lisa clashes into her aunt's arm, snuggling into her waist. A wide smile spreads on her soft milk face.

Both of them break from the hug and Lisa squeals seeing her best friend standing beside his dad.

"Aaron!" The boy grins sheepishly, his blue eyes sparkled seeing her little friend. Both of them had two years age gap but they were still close to each other.

Before Lisa could hug Aaron, two large arms wrap around her waist, lifting her up. A startled yelp escaped her lips but it turned into a fit of giggles as she felt tickles around her waist.

A sloppy kiss was placed on Lisa's face making her squirm and groan "Uncle Xav-" She giggled feeling more tickles.

Aaron rushes inside to meet Aiden and Eric, fist bumping each of them.

"Didn't miss me?" The adult held Lisa, who rubbed her wet cheek, shaking her head and laughing at him.

"That's because Lisa is my fan." The woman beside flips her hazel hair confidentially making Lisa grin at her Aunt Chloe.

The male pouts at the little girl, "But I'm sweeter than her." He gently places Lisa back on her feet who once again hugged the lady beside her.

"Your kisses are too wet." She hugged back Lisa before the girl dashed off to Aaron and the other males.

"I know you tricked her with a doll house during the last visit. I'll get her something better this time." Xavier smirked at his wife's petite form that turns to look at him, shocked as if caught red handed.

They stare at each other for two more seconds before they burst out laughing and entering the house to unite with the rest.

---

The three males left the house a while ago except for the youngest man who sat between his mom and Lisa.

The dinner made by Emma was obviously appreciated by all since it left everyone licking their fingers.

"I'm so full." Chloe rubs her hand over her belly making Emma chuckle, who was seated across her. The kids beside Chloe were busy as their eyes were glued at the television.

"You ate like you were starving for days."

"Well it's your fault for making the food that good and also adding cake for dessert. I mean who would leave chocolate cake?"

Emma nods, massaging her own stomach as she leaned into the couch.

A thought struck the little girl making her eyes widen. She quickly got off the sofa making others frown in confusion. Lisa disappeared into one of the rooms and reappeared with a bulky book tucked between her arms.

"Aunt Chloe, can you read this again?" She walks around the sofa, jumping in excitement. Chloe's eyebrows shoot up in surprise as Lisa hands her the story book.

Aaron grins, "Can you read our favorite p-" The boy was cut off when the main door opens and the males walk inside the house.

"Man, you should have seen his face-" Eric laughs, clutching his stomach, bending down.

"I hate BUGS!" Aiden runs a hand over his wild hair, shuddering visibly. Xavier chuckles, patting Aiden's back.

"Shhh, its story time." Emma whined like a kid, getting disturbed from all the noises.

Eric's eye widens and he smiles. He walks around the sofa set, taking a seat on the carpet. Both the kids snuggle beside him. Lisa leans on his shoulder while Aaron sat close to him on his knees.

The men chuckled at their family, taking their seats. Aiden sits beside Emma who leans towards him, placing her head on his shoulder.

Xavier smirks taking a seat beside his lady, who sat smiling, holding her book looking down at the kids. A deafening silence falls on them as they wait for Chloe to continue.

She opens the bulky book, turning the pages.

"Read the escape part!" Aaron points with his large puppy eyes. The mother laughs at her son and continues reading the story, gaining everyone's attention.

"And just like that, they escape the asylum and leave to catch a train during the midnight." Chloe looks up, waiting for more requests that she was sure to receive from the kids.

She shook her head mentally realizing this is the third time she is reading out the story to the kids.

Lisa leans away from Eric, grinning at her aunt. "Tell us about the hero, that girl."

Chloe smiles softly, her eyes glimmered as she recalled her roommate, her friend and a part of her family.

"Melissa was the most brave and blunt girl in that entire asylum."- Chloe chuckles remembering her words-" She was the first one who broke every rule in that asylum."

The adults in the room reminisce as they remembered the black haired girl that stood her ground and fought till her last breath.

Chloe kept reading few interesting parts of the story that kids pleaded for.

"Alright now, that's enough kids. Let her rest." Emma laughs as the children quarreled between themselves for hearing the next part.

Chloe closes the book, her fingers brushing over the thick black cover. Except for Eric, the other two believe it's a fictional book but the others in the room are well aware about it.

Chloe felt a hand wrap around her shoulders and she leans against Xavier's chest, smiling down at her very own book that got published. It was meant for a purpose that told about the sacrifices about the people, the drug and much more.

Her slim fingers brush over the cover and its title, 'The Night of February'.

---

The official ending of the book :)

Thanks to all those who took their time reading this book, it means a lot to me <3

I was pretty happy writing this last chapter. Yes, I decided that Eric lives with Aiden and Emma. Lisa is their 6yr old daughter, while Aaron is 8yr son of Chloe and Xavier.

#Xach #Aimma xD

Q:Will this book have a sequel?

Honestly I haven't yet thought about it, but if there is, the update will be announced in this book. Moreover, it may be based on Eric, Aaron and Lisa or maybe new characters. For the time being, there isn't any sequel :P

The story was actually planned by me during April, 2021 and I literally started writing it in Jan, 2022. This book finally came to an end on 7 Mar, 2022.

Once again thanks for all those who read it <3

Love,

Cadance.