*LONG CHAPTER ALERT AGAIN!*

Angela and Jake were in Jake's apartment eating quietly. There was not much talk. Angela hogged as much food into her mouth as it was possible to do so. It was the first tasty food she was having in about seven years so it was not much of a surprise for Jake.

It was a pretty simple dish that Jake cooked......is what he thought. The dish consisted of white sauce spaghetti with a creamy mushroom soup adjoined with a chicken salad. For Angela, who ate nothing more than rice and saltless chicken gravy for seven straight years, this was a delicacy.

After she was finished with her lunch, she cuddled next to Jake's side on the sofa like a small child. It was hard for him to not do anything. He kept his arm warily around her small shoulders. How did such a fragile and small woman even manage to be so dangerous? Then again sickness does anything to the smallest of humans. 

Jake looked at her at the same time that she did. The love and adoration that his eyes held were reflected in hers as well. Only it was actually love to him and to her it was just admiration. Not love. Jake smiled sadly and rested his head back on the sofa. He could still feel Angela's stare on his face.

"I love you", she whispered softly.

Jake's head jerked up so fast that he got a head rush. Every vein in his body ached to grab her and kiss her but he did not want to freak her out. Not after what she had been through.

"What?", he squeaked because he couldn't speak properly.

"I love you", she reiterated simply.

Jake scrutinized her face carefully. The clouds of confusion behind her eyes were now clear. She was finally alive!

He smiled happily and kissed her forehead lightly. Then he pulled her closer to him and they silently absorbed and relished each other's body heat.

"Jake?",

"Hmm?", he replied, his deep voice resonating in the entire house.

"You know what I would name if a movie was made after my life?",she said.
"I would name it 'LOST' ", she said answering her own question.

"Lost? Why", he asked, perplexed.

"Because we were all lost once. I was lost because of my parents and because I knew no love before you. Poor Stephanie was lost because she could not differentiate between love and cruelty and because her life went haywire due to my actions. She pushed everyone away and a smoke full of sadness and grief covered her eyes."

"Chris was probably lost because he thought people liked him not for him but for his money. We all were....lost. Now we can feel better, can see better and most importantly-"

Angela stared into Jake's eyes innocently.

"-we can love better."

Saying this, she went silent.

The momentary stillness in the atmosphere was wonderfully resilient. It felt like their souls were connecting with each other's. The soft, cold breeze coming from the window teased their warmth but soon disappeared as it was unable to break their heat.

Jake thought for some time before asking her the question on his mind.

"Stephanie came to meet you a year back......er..... How'd it go?", he asked.

Angela looked deep in thought. After a few seconds a smile formed on her lips as she answered.

"It was good! "

*

"You have a visitor", Angela was informed.

Her heart beat hastened its pace and her body stiffened at the announcement.

 Who could it be?

Jake had already completed his weekly visit yesterday.
Then......

A voice inside her head told her it was Brandon.

Angela refused to believe that as her insides screamed in hesitation. She wouldn't be able to face him. Her mouth trembled and she gripped the hem of her prison shirt tightly to stop her hands from shaking so bad.

However, as she entered the visiting room her eyes met with a woman.
A beautiful one.

The woman was simply dressed. Her cheeks showed a pinkish-red tinge of healthiness. Something she didn't ever see on her face. There was the hint of a small smile in those brown twinkling eyes even if her face was blank.

"Stephanie?", Angela said, unsure of herself.

Stephanie nodded curtly and smiled slightly in her direction. It was not cold but not friendly either.

"Why......why di-"

"- Chris told me you saved my life during my pregnancy. Why? I want to know why?", Stephanie interrupted as she directly got to the point.

Angela looked down as she fidgeted with her fingers.

"I....I felt responsible. That was my first responsible and good act as an aunt; as a person your mother expected me to be. Perhaps my last too", Angela explained shortly with a nervous chuckle.

"Thank you"

"Huh?"

Angela looked at Stephanie in surprise. It was not what she had expected to hear. What she had thought was Stephanie blaming her for everything all over again. Something she bloody well deserved.

"Thank you", Stephanie kindly repeated. "I am healthy and alive because of you. I met up with Jake when I arrived here. He told me all about your past. What you did to me is unacceptable but it gave me a clear reason to understand why you did what you did."

Angela's face was wet with tears. A heavy pang was present in her chest and a painful lump was accumulated  in her throat. There was nothing that she could do to stop herself from weeping her heart out. 

Stephanie perhaps had accepted her apology from all those years ago when Brandon had been punished for his crimes. She hadn't said anything about it but perhaps........

Perhaps.........

"I want to ask a last favor of you", Stephanie requested.

Angela nodded quickly.

"Never look for me. I don't want us to meet again which will remind us of our past. Let's move on in life and be better than we are now.I hope you oblige by that."

Angela hurriedly searched Stephanie's face of any bitterness. There was none. It was calm and.....happy!

Then this will be my last act as an aunt your mother wanted me to be.......

Stephanie got up from her seat and headed towards the door. Before she went out she called again.

"And Aunt?"

A voice inside Angela grappled at her head and senses.
MRS. BATS! , it screamed.

However Angela forced it down and crumpled it beneath her foot. She felt an emotion run through her body. It was......relief! She had fought off her monsters on her own. Maybe she could be better like Stephanie suggested.

"Y-yes?", she answered slowly.

Stephanie gifted her with a wide smile. The room seemed to lighten up at her simple action. However her next words brightened up her heart that had yearned for them since seven years and had become a dark domain within the prison bars that people called the ribcage.

"I forgive you."

*****

Officially complete.

I am so happy for those who supported it till here and read it. It was a wonderful experience with you and I would definitely want to walk with you again!

Love you always and in case you want to talk about anything my PM is always open. ANYTHING! 
THANKS A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!

Also I explained why I named the book LOST!
Initially I had planned to make Stephanie the killer of her parents but it did not really match up with the plot line. I know the characters I introduced were some kind of sudden and TV series-ish but I really hope you enjoyed it!

If you think there are places where I need to improve, don't hesitate to tell me!