It's been two months since the awful incident happened. A lot of things had changed, but for the better. Now that I look back, it was crazy how my life drastically changed. If I had any idea that a storm would barge in and my world would have spiraled and turned upside down, well, I can't say I would have tried to stop it. In fact, I wouldn't change a thing.

A lot of things changed, and in the process, I changed. I began to look at life in a new perception. If one might be thinking about what I was aspiring and planned to do next, to be very honest, I didn't have a clue. Not even in the slightest. And for the first time, I didn't mind having a plan, and I was finally able to let myself go with the flow.

Though I did decide on a few things that I wanted for myself. I decided to pursue psychology and psychotherapy. In the process of helping Zoey, it dawned on me that I wanted to help others, to help more Mayas and Zoeys. I wasn't sure if it was a childish and hasty decision to make, but it felt so right. I wished to lend a helping hand to the child hiding under their bed, holding onto the darkness and pulling them out into the light; be the ray of light seeping its way and cloaking over the darkness.

Things weren't easy for Zoey the first few weeks. She was quite hesitant to hug anybody or let anyone in close proximity. She wouldn't admit but she instinctively always wore full-sleeved and full pants, something that she seldom did before. She would often wake up, sweating most nights. But she was a tough kid, she was handling it better than I could have guessed.

We decided to take Zoey back with us in Manhattan, leaving her there alone with her mother just didn't feel right. I was reluctant if Zoey's mother would allow her to go anywhere, but I later learned that she was a freshly brewed drug addict; she was, most days, too high to care about her daughter. So it wasn't much of a problem.

My folks welcomed her with open arms, my Mom treated her like her own real daughter. Zoey seemed happy around her. Zoey was obsessed with football, just like my father; he was ecstatic to have someone on his team in a house full of people who weren't that great of a fan of football. Hold on, it was three versus two. Shawn was on his team too. The house would turn into a live stadium; they would cheer and yell on their favorite team on the TV screen as if something would magically teleport their voices to them. Regardless, it was wholesome to watch them all together; them sitting on the couch, holding their breaths, and mom working in the kitchen, preparing snacks and cold drinks for them.

Oh wait, did I address the best part? My folks decided to officially adopt Zoey. It was rather sudden, but it was the best decision regardless. We were going through the paperwork currently; with Zoey's stepdad under custody and her mother being declared mentally unfit to raise a child, the case seemed to be in our favor. There wasn't much work left to do. Soon, Zoey would be officially my sister, and I couldn't be happier. She was finally getting the family she deserved.

And as for Chloe, she was improving every day, her vitals drastically improved and soon she was discharged a few days ago. Chloe and Zoey instantly became inseparable; they wouldn't leave the house without the other. Despite the five years gap, they became the bestest of friends and it was adorable.

Chloe would eventually pull Shawn's leg every once in a while by mentioning her mystery 'boyfriend' as she liked to address him and Shawn would go nuts.

"Damn unpacking is tiring!" Niall growled as he walked towards me, stretching his neck.

"Tell me about it." I let out a sly smile, shaking my head.

"So are you settled in?" I inquired while sipping my straw settled in a glass of orange juice.

"Pretty much." He said while taking the glass of juice that I offered.

Niall and I just transferred back to Manhattan. I had my own selfish reasons. I didn't want to leave my family and friends behind again; it just didn't feel right. And most of all, I didn't want to leave him again. Not. Ever. Again. And as for Niall,

"Hey babe, are you done?" Maddie walked in on us, swinging her car keys in her finger.

"Hey, baby. Yes, I am almost done." Niall pulled her strongly in his arms.

Yeah, that happened. They had been going out for quite some time now. I never imagined that this could happen, but it did and they couldn't be more perfect for each other. They complement one another; like they belonged with each other.

"Ugh you guys are too cute, I might puke." I feigned nausea and they both looked at each other and smirked down on me.

"Look who's speaking. Don't pretend like you and Shawn don't always rub your 'love' on our faces every chance you get." She air quoted on the 'love' word dramatically.

"No, we certainly don't." I rose to defend.

"Sure, those PDAs are strictly platonic." Maddie pursed her lips devilishly. This is two verses one! Not a fair match!

"I am just going to pretend that this conversation never happened." I blocked my ears with my hand and walked out of Niall's apartment. His apartment was just three blocks away from my place.

"Send regards to your loverboy," Maddie yelled as I walked further, and Niall chuckled beside her.

Those two are an evil team.

I chuckled and left for Shawn's place. He moved out soon after Chloe was discharged. I would be lying if I didn't get used to him being around me all the time and it felt very strange to let him go, but it wasn't my decision to make.

I rang the doorbell and tapped my boots furiously, waiting for him to open the darned door. After not being received for over a minute, I fiercely rang the doorbell again, probably a hundred rings.

"Geez, you're crazy!" Shawn squeaked as soon as he opened the door after an eternity, wearing an apron and a little flour smeared across his cheek.

"Geez, you have the speed of a sloth. And what... are you doing?" I took a step back to get a better look.

"I am making you strawberry pancakes." His cheeks turned into a crimson hue for a few seconds before he turned away and walked towards the kitchenette.

"Really? What's the occasion?" I grinned and sat on the chair and rested my elbows on the island.

"Erm... it's our third month anniversary!" He made a silly face and turned back to his task.

"Really?" I tapped on my screen to check the date, "It really is. This is so cute. So we're one of those couples huh?" I grinned maniacally.

"It was just a cover-up. I just wanted to make something for you."

"Aren't you the sweetest? Ugh, you're being too sweet, I could eat you right now."

"Why you can. You know I don't have a problem with that." He snickered mischievously and it took me a few seconds to understand the ulterior meaning.

"Oh my God! Shut up, you're such a jerk." I gasped.

"I didn't start it." He chuckled as he poured a few portions of the batter into the pan.

"Have you heard from Lexi yet?" I asked in an attempt to change the topic.

"Yes, she texted she landed safely and will spend some time with her aunt and mother."

"How does she feel about the situation with her mom though?"

"She is adjusting. It's not like she has a choice."

I sighed and at the same time, the doorbell rang.

"Are you expecting someone?" I asked as I got off the seat and walked towards the door to receive whoever was standing on the other side.

"Erm..." He trailed off as I opened the door.

"Bruh what takes you so long to open?" David barged in without sparing a glance at who opened the door for him and landed on the couch facing the kitchen. As soon as his eyes landed on the guy resting both his hands on the island and smirking down on him, he finally wandered his sight towards me.

"Crap. I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." He looked down and scratched his head.

"It's no problem." I sat on the couch next to him.

"I am going to bring your stuff now. Give me a moment." Shawn informed David as he turned off the stove and deliberately walked up the stairs.

An apprehensive silence prevailed and for a few moments, neither of us spoke or glanced in each other's direction.

"So... How is life?" He finally broke the silence and a low chuckle escaped my mouth before I could catch it.

"Life has been pretty good, thank you. How about yours?"

"Same old same old." He finally gathered the courage to look me in the eye and resumed, "I am sorry Maya for everything I did."

It felt strange conversing with him again. We hadn't talked to each other properly in the last two years except for a few exchanges of awkward glances. But I wouldn't lie, it finally felt good that we were doing it now.

"It's all in the past, David. I've put that aside a long time ago. And now I'm finally happy." I meant every word I said.

"I am happy you two found each other." He smiled at me most genuinely.

"I am happy too, David. I am happy too. He makes me so happy."

"Yeah, we all could figure that. You two have the cutest and adorable shit among any of us."

"Gee thanks." I thanked him sarcastically.

"Where is Andy? I don't see him around nowadays. It's like he disappeared on us."

"Ah don't ask." He groaned, "We were buying a few snacks at Walmart, where this cute girl asked him for help and smiled at him and since then, he went gaga over her."

"For real?" I gasped and he nodded.

Damn. It was difficult to imagine Andy without his food and goofiness but I never imagined him liking anybody else other than his food. She must be something.

"I want to know her!"

"Don't ask about her to Andy. He would chew your ears off but wouldn't stop talking about her."He waved his hand in the air dismissively.

"I think it's cute." I defended Andy.

"Yeah, very cute and shit."

"What are you guys talking about?" Shawn asked as he climbed down the stairs, carrying a box in his arms.

"About Andy turning into a simp," David announced in disdain.

"Oh, haha, yeah he is whipped." He chuckled and shook his head.

"And you are not?" David smirked and Shawn's expression immediately faltered.

"Fuck off. Take this." He handed him the box that apparently had stuff that belonged to David.

"And with this, I'm outta here." He saluted with his two fingers and soon he disappeared, shutting the door behind him.

"You knew about Andy?" I inched closer towards him as soon as David left. It turned out, I was one clingy girlfriend. But I didn't care.

"Yeah, Andy narrated the whole incident thrice over the phone last night." He lingered his arms around my waist and enclosed them.

"Now I feel left out." I pouted.

"Don't worry, I'm here to give you all the gossip." He smiled wickedly and that made me chuckle a bit harder than I intended to.

"Come on now, give me my pancakes." I was about to pull out and walk away when he pulled me back. I eyed him in confusion as his grip tightened around me.

"Not before this." He slowly guided his head and landed his lips upon mine, flooding all my senses. His tongue tenderly explored my mouth and I instantly melted. In that kiss was the sweetness of passion, a million loving emotions condensed into that moment. I tangled my fingers in his hair, caressed his neck; I felt as though I needed something to hold on to, I wanted more of him but our lips couldn't get much more physically closer than that. In his kiss, I was home.

"I love you," I whispered as we pulled out, trying to catch our breaths.

"I love you." He smiled, my action mirroring his.

"God, you're perfect Maya." He whispered against my cheek, sending a tingling sensation down my nerves.

Perfect. To be honest, I wasn't sure what it meant anymore, and honestly, it didn't matter. What was perfection anyway? What are we trying to achieve perfection on? In our workspace and career? Or amongst our family and friends or a perfect love?

Perfection was just a milestone we set and worked on endlessly till it drained us to a point where we found ourselves lost, losing everything that mattered along the way; just to feel the empty void we thought would fill chasing them.

Perfection was overrated. Perfection was subjective - always measured against both personal and culturally changing criteria. We were all born to be who we were now, 'perfect' for our own lives and purposes. We set out to be the best version of ourselves possible; we love, we forgive, we nurture.

Perfection was just a conventional word penned in a corner into the English dictionary, a mere adjective that was hyped up more than it should have. Life shouldn't be spent chasing behind a single word, why not multiples?

Regardless of what life planned to throw in our path, I wasn't afraid anymore. I didn't plan to run away anymore. I had my family, my friends, and my soulmate, right here next to me. I was indeed living the perfect life that I always imagined.

"You're perfect for me." I smiled back at the grey-eyed guy, completely forgetting there were pancakes waiting for us to devour them and get it done with.

And we reached the end!

I can't believe we made it this far! I feel this was the perfect way to end this story.

I'll see you guys in a bit. Let me take this moment.

I hope you liked this chapter.

Feel free to vote and comment.

I'll see you guys soon.
Stay tuned♡.

~Loveya~( ˘ ³˘)