"How is she doing?"

"Not good."

"I figured," he huffs from the other side of the door. "When it happened to me I was the same way."

"Do you know how to help her?"

I swing open my office door, revealing the shocked faces of my Dad and Ryan. "You know I can hear everything you two are saying right?"

My Dad straightens his tie, rearranging his face as well to appear as a caring father. "May I come in Princess?"

"Depends," I shift all my weight onto one hip, "are we going to discuss work or him?"

"I think we discuss enough work as it is," he says, pushing past me into my office.

With a soft derisive breath and a roll of my eyes I close the door, leaving Ryan to stand guard outside my door.

"Because we're at work," I say, turning to him, "that's a normal thing to do."

My Dad leans against my desk, his arms crossed over his chest. I can't believe he's going to be a father again. I mean he's not very old but still, I'm twenty one.

It's funny that when I heard the news I was so sure that my little sister was sending me another miracle, actually, no, I know she did. But as soon as I heard those three words leave Ryan's lips, all happy thoughts about miracles and angels were gone.

"I wanted to give you some advice," he says softly.

"About work," I question hopeful.

"Alexandria, I'm being serious."

"And I am too, at work where you're only supposed to discuss work, not personal relationships."

"Then how are we supposed to talk about this when you never leave work!"

"I do," I say quietly, "just this morning I went out to get a bagel from the down the street."

"Princess," he sighs, running a hand down his tired face. "I know you're hurting right now and I want to help."

"You're my dad. How in the world are you supposed to help me?"

He takes a deep breath before continuing. "I was in your position too at one point Alexandria. Your mother left me after realizing she didn't want to live my kind of life."

I stand frozen in my spot, trying not to let my thoughts show on my face but who am I kidding? My dad could be able to tell what Kristin Stewart was thinking if he had the chance.

I knew that my mom never liked his money because she came from none and the difference was too much for her but I never knew that she actually left him! I always thought of my parents as this happy in love couple, never have I imagined that they would be separated for even a day.

"I know we never told you," he sighs, clearly tired. "But it's true. It wasn't for long but it still broke me down. I dealt with it the same way you're dealing with Michael leaving." I divert my eyes down to the ground, not wanting him to see the pain written in them when he says his name. "I surrounded myself with any work I could find just to distract myself from her. But it didn't work Princess, not for long because I knew deep down that I couldn't live without her."

"So what did you do," I cautiously ask.

He gives me a small smile, his eyes lighting up. "I got off my ass and ran after her."

I groan, pulling my hair all to one side. "It's been a month Dad. It's too late by now."

He pushes off from the desk to come towards me. When he's right in front of me he lifts my chin so I'm looking into his eyes. "It's never too late for love. Don't ever forget that." He reaches into his coat pocket, pulling out an envelope. The same envelope that's been burning a hole in my vanity table, the same place Michael left it.

For the past month I haven't even been able to touch it and on the rare occasions that I do go back to my apartment, which is almost never, I make sure to sleep in the guest room to avoid all memories of him in that room and the last words he left me.

"No," I say, looking at the piece of paper in fear as I back away from it.

"You need to read it," he demands, sticking it in my hand. "You have no idea what it might contain."

My heart.

"What's the point in reading it dad? It will just hurt me more." Tears begin to blur my vision, a normal occurrence now a days, well more like every night.

"Or it won't," he says with a secret smile. He kisses me on the forehead before going out the door and leaving me alone with the blasted thing.

As much as I don't want to I stare at the envelope on my desk for twenty minutes, weighing all the pros and cons of opening it.

Finally I let myself be courageous for five seconds as I rip open the seal and let my eyes focus on each work individually.

My Alex,

I don't know how to start this letter or whatever you want to call it because I guess no matter what I write you'll still be mad at me which I understand.

I could go on about how I don't want your money or it makes me uncomfortable but that's a load of bull. I don't give a shit about what you have or don't have, I only want you.

The reason why I'm leaving is because I realized something tonight as I was walking through the city, I fucking hate this place. I hate the bright lights, I hate the noise, I hate the smells, I hate all the people, and I know you hate it too. When we were on my island I would notice the way your eyes would light up when you stepped outside or wrapped yourself in my shirts or when I cooked you meat.

What I hate about this city the most is though is that you're stuck in it with no way out and it breaks my fucking heart to see that light in your eyes die a little when you look out the window and expect to see woods but see buildings instead or when you take a whiff of air and your nose scrunches up from the smell of trash, sweat, and smoke.

You aren't made for this world Alex, you're made for the wild, for over grown trees, for fresh air, for dirty cabins, for building sheds, and shooting guns. And I could stay here if I wanted even if it's not where I'm meant to be either just so I could be next to you. But I won't do that.

Why?

Because why should we be in a place that makes us sad when we could be in our own paradise together?

So I'm leaving back to Alaska, your favorite place in the world even if you don't want to admit it, so you will be forced to follow me and realize that all the money in the world isn't worth your happiness.

I'm doing what's best for you, not for us, for you because I promised you that I would always save you and this is me saving you from that concrete jungle.

Find me soon in our happily ever after,

Your lumberjack/giant.

p.s. When you find me I swear I will make this up to you baby.

p.p.s I love you.

A tear falls onto the paper the same time a sob escapes my throat. I curl up on my chair with the note pressed to my chest as I let myself cry, nothing bothering to try to be quiet.

He kept his promise. He never let go of my hand, he was just trying to pull me out of the dark pit forever and I was too blind to see.

Even when I thought he hated me or didn't love me at all, he was still saving me.

Damn I don't deserve him.

He noticed all the little things about me for three months that he was here. The things that I tried so hard to hide because I didn't want him to think I regretted coming back here, but I do. I wish I could stay on that island forever with him and never be found. I wish we could have finished building that shed together. I wish he could have taught me how to fish. I wish we could have swum under that waterfall one last time.

But he was right. I thought that our happily ever after was in New York surrounded by my family. But our real happily ever after, where we'll truly be happy, is in the wilderness of Alaska, hidden amongst the trees.

I feel a hand on my back, rubbing circles in a comforting way. "It's okay Al," Ryan whispers.

I turn to Ryan, clutching the note tighter against my chest. "I-I have to go after him," I sob, tears and mascara running down my face.

Ryan smiles, his pearly white teeth on show. "You dad says the jet leaves in two hours."

...

I walk down the familiar white halls of the hospital, every turn in my head branded into my mind.

Finally I reach the room, spotting the recognizable nurses' station in front of it as well.

I figured that Michael would be near his brother since it's summer and this is the time when he stays in town while he goes out and mines. But if he isn't mining than I can still come and say hello and promise Martin that I will take good care of him and his brother.

I won't stop until Martin is awake again, sitting up and talking to Michael. Even if that means paying for his over the top hospital bills in one of the best hospitals in the world and not this old crummy worn down place.

I have it all planned out in my mind. They'll transfer Martin to a better hospital, Michael will hear the news, come running and find me next to his older brother, then we'll go with Martin until he wakes up than we'll all go back to Alaska, buy a nice house in the forests and live our lives the way they were meant to.

I take a deep breath and open the door instantly getting the wind knocked out of me.

The bed is empty, the window sill is cleansed of any wooden sculptures, and any trace of Martin or Michael being here has disappeared.

Frantic I run back into the hall, straight to the nurses' station where an older woman is standing behind.

"Where the hell is Martin Warner?"

The ladies eyes snap up to mine in surprise before narrowing into slits. "And who might you be?"

"You don't want to fucking know," I seethe, growing angrier with each precious second that passes. I'm already imagining different ways to cut up her face.

The woman gasps in surprise before stuttering out a response. "H-he passed a-away two weeks ago."

Even though I only met him once and he was in a coma than I still feel the lost and pain of it hit me right in the heart.

I grip onto the counter with dear life, willing myself to speak again. "Where is his brother? Michael Warner?"

"I think he's out working at the mining field out east," she mumbles, her eyes widened in scared confusion as she looks at me.

That's all I need to hear before I'm sprinting out of the hospital, dodging doctors and nurses as every bad possible thought runs through my head, including an immense amount of guilt.

...

An hour and a half later, thanks to a friendly man who let me hitch a ride with him, I'm running through the rocky land of a mining field.

With all the men around wearing the same bright orange vests and sporting the long beards, it's hard for me to find him.

The men look at me confused and curious, probably as to why a girl in a dress with heels that cost more than their cars is in their work area, filled with dirt and bombs and cuss words.

Some send me cat calls but none offer me assistance, and most of all none of them are Michael.

"Michael," I call out, spinning a three sixty to try to find him. "Michael Warner?"

Finally an old man steps up to help. "You looking for Warner?"

"Yes," I cry, running towards the man who is covered from head to toe in dirt.

"Thank god," he mutters, "kids about to get himself killed."

"Wait what?"

I force myself to stay calm and not go into an instant panic attack. Michael isn't hurt, he can't be.

"Follow me," he growls before spinning on his heel and heading towards a small building.

I run after him, my heels catching in the dirt but I don't care if I get a twisted ankle. I just want to see Michael, he needs me.

"What happened," I ask the stranger as we get closer to the building. The distinct sound of men yelling becomes louder and louder as we approach it.

"Damn kid hasn't shown up to work for two weeks," he mutters, "then he shows up today wasted out of his mind and swinging a fist at anyone who comes near him. He's gone crazy."

"His brother just died," I whisper sadly, loud enough for the man to hear.

He stops in his tracks, turning around to face me. We're only a few yards from the door to the building now and the voices are so loud now that I can tell which one is Michaels.

"Martin," he asks with sad eyes. I nod my head, itching to go inside and comfort the man who really needs somebody right now. "He was a good guy, never deserved what happened to him either."

"I'm sorry," I whisper lamely but from the looks of it this man was close to Martin. He was probably his co-worker as well. I wonder if he saw the accident or if he was with Michael when it happened.

Suddenly the door to the building bursts open and a body comes barreling out, landing on his back groaning.

"Michael!" I run to him, sliding in right next to him and not realizing that my dress has ripped, not that I care anyways.

His bloodshot eyes open slowly, taking a few seconds to rest on me. The scent of alcohol on his breath is far too strong. He smells as if he's been bathing in it for weeks.

"Alex," he whispers gruffly.

I nod my head, tears running down my face freely as I look at the man I love who looks like he's been through hell and back. "It's me," I sob, "It's me, your Alex."

He struggles to sit up and when he does, his lips crash to mine in a heated kiss. I feel our tears mix together on our cheeks and his hands grip onto my face like I'm about to fly away in the wind any second.

"I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner," I apologize once we pull away from each other. His head rests against my own and that's when I realize how much I've missed staring into his eyes.

I don't ever want to look at anything else ever again. They're the last things I want to see before I die.

"Don't leave me," he says, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me onto his lap.

"I won't ever leave you," I promise, kissing his lips sweetly, "I'm here to save you."

...
Well this is it!!! Only the epilogue is left!:)

I'm sorry if this didn't meet your expectations or thoughts on how this book would end but this is the only way I could see it ending. Real life isn't always rainbows and butterflies and sometimes happily ever afters aren't always that happy.

But the epilogue will make you happy:)

Now I hope you can take the time to go back and VOTE on all the previous chapters (come on, don't be lazy(; ) and after the epilogue I might "give" awards to devoted readers as a little silly thing haha