Epilogue - Jake Wood

The light fades away and I expect to be standing on some other white empty place, but we’re not and I’m quite surprised because this looks so normal. All the colours, the landscape, the people walking by. This doesn’t look any different from the world I belonged to.

“Is this the Next Dimension?” I ask turning to stare at Louis, confused. “No offence, man, but I thought it would look more… you know, holy or something. I’m not complaining.”

Louis chuckles whilst still holding my shoulder with his hand.

“No, we’re not yet in the Next Dimension. I just… I just thought you’d like to see this. You know time is meaningless for carriers, so I just brought you here for you to see something.”

“Why? What?” I ask, frowning a bit. It’s weird to see Louis being just nice and smiley. Did I break him or something?

“I don’t really know but I think saying goodbye was important so I’m just thanking you, Jake Wood,” he explains with a small smile.

I part my lips forming a big O as I understand, maybe more than he does. I said goodbye for Emily and it’s likely that he never got to say goodbye before he became a carrier, same reason why Emily asked Liam to do that. That door was left open and was holding them back at different levels. Maybe that’s why he is always so grumpy. Maybe I didn’t break him but fixed him. He still doesn’t remember but he got to say goodbye and maybe for a second he did remember. I know it meant something to him saying goodbye. I understand that.

“And what am I supposed to see?” I ask next, taking my eyes off of Louis and looking around.

“Just wait,” is Louis’ answer and I roll my eyes. Maybe he’s not that grumpy and rude but he’s still cryptic. Is that a requirement to be a carrier?

I don’t mind him and I look around more carefully. I haven’t been here but it’s a nice place and it’s a lovely summer day. It’s a park, large and with grass and trees everywhere, even a little pond where some ducks are swimming happily. There are some kids playing with dogs or their parents. Some couples walking hand in hand and I don’t pay them much attention, until I see a particular couple.

They are with their backs on the grass, looking at the sky, pointing at clouds as they laugh out loud. I recognise her laughter immediately, as it’s the most lovely sound you could ever hear and I smile immediately as I approach to where they are resting.

I still remember how much Cass liked to see shapes in the clouds and come up with stories. She always saw more than just an object, she saw a life in everything. We could spend hours watching the clouds, laughing and arguing. Now she’s doing that with Liam but there’s a big difference because whereas Cass and I would only lie next to each other as friends, Cass and Liam are holding hands, closer than I ever was to her.

Both are laughing, both look so happy and although it still hurts that I’m not the one next to her, seeing her so happy is enough.

“Don’t you think it looks like a bowtie?” She asks Liam as she points to certain cloud. I look up and I only see a cloud, but once again, I don’t have Cass’ imagination.

“Although that would be cool, I think it looks like a heart. Look more carefully,” he protests and Cass rolls her eyes, snorting which makes me chuckle.

“Of course not. It would be a very twisted heart. I mean, poor heart!” She laughs and Liam pretends to be offended.

“Oi! Don’t laugh at the poor heart. Maybe it had a fight and it’s all sad now and you’re laughing at it!” He jokes along, coming up with his own story and I smile, knowing exactly how much Cass must love that. “Look, give me your other hand. I’ll show you it’s a heart,” he requests and even I frown at his words.

Cassidy however raises her other hand and Liam does the same and above them he shapes half a heart with his hand and urges her to do the same. They put their hands together, forming one heart and then raising their hands together even higher, looking at the cloud.

“See? A heart,” he points out. “And it’s looking at us, wishing us the best.”

She stops watching the cloud and turns to stare at him with a smile so beautiful it even makes my heart hurt because it’s so loving, so precious and it’s only for Liam. She is smiling like that only at him. And then he locks eyes with her, a smile on his own as he disconnects their hands just to cup her face.

“I love you,” she says ever so softly but loud enough for me to hear.

Liam leans closer to her and kisses her softly, still cupping her face. Slowly he pushes her backwards until she’s fully resting on the grass and he’s hovering over her only with his torso, careful not to suffocate her with his weight.

“I love you, too,” he tells her breaking the kiss but still staying close. “You make me so happy,” he adds next and Cass’ smile is so beautiful, more beautiful than I’ve ever seen and the way she looks at him tells me how much she loves him.

“You make me happy, as well. So happy.” And that’s when I realise why Louis brought me to this moment, to see this particular scene. He wanted me to see how happy they are.

I turn around to see Louis, whom I had forgotten for a few moments. He’s smiling as he keeps watching the young couple being all lovey-dovey.

“Not what you imagined, is it?” he asks and I nod.

When I died, that night when he came for me and told me I had to leave and I refused, I never imagined things would end up like this. I never thought I was going to push two people together, I never thought I’d help Cass to find someone else. But it happened.

“Not at all,” I reply and he chuckles.

“I told you this wasn’t going to end up like you thought,” Louis reminds me and now I chuckle.

“But it ended better than I ever imagined. She’s happy and with someone who’s not afraid of telling her how much he loves her. They have each other.”

Louis nods as we keep watching. “You always wondered why you felt dragged to Liam… The thing is that Cassidy and Liam were always meant to meet. It would’ve happened eventually, even without your intervention. Probably it would’ve been a whole different mess, but it would’ve happened anyways. You were led to him because he was meant to be with her once you were gone.”

I didn’t think I was ever going to get that answer and it sucks to think that I was never meant to be with Cass, but at the same time I’m glad she is with the person she’s supposed to be.

“Do we have a say in our fates?” I ask and this time Louis’ eyes are on me.

“Yes. All of you have a destination and you’ll get there eventually, but it depends on you how and when you get there. Those are the choices that make the difference,” he explains and I nod, surprised that he’s giving so much information. Probably because I’m really leaving this time.

“Thanks for showing me this,” I tell him and he nods.

“She kept her promise and she always thinks of you. She still misses you and she always will, but she’s living her life to the fullest. Even Liam misses you sometimes,” Louis tells me and I can’t help it and smile. I’ll miss him, too, despite everything.

“Let’s go, Louis. I don’t want it to be too late,” I tell him and he nods, grabbing my shoulder one more time.

I look at Liam and Cass for the last time, laughing and cuddling under the sun, oblivious to my presence. I leave them there with their lives and their happiness. I’m supposed to be somewhere else now. It’s time to get to my final destination.

Light surrounds us again, blinding me and when I open my eyes again I’m in a white space with three big doors and a being guarding them, dressed in white robes. Its face is in shadows and I don’t think it’s just a man.

“Jake Wood,” the creature speaks but it’s not the voice of a person, it’s every voice in one, like a choir and it even startles me a bit. “We have been waiting for you. It has taken you long to arrive.”

“I had some things to do,” I reply with Louis still standing next to me. “So, what now?” I ask and I hear Louis chuckling softly.

“Now you shall proceed for we have seen your life, we have your memories and now it is time for you to cross the door. You shall go to the Realm of the Blessed. Welcome, Jake Wood,” the choir speaks and I widen my eyes in surprise. I don’t know what I was awaiting, but it’s still nice to know I’m not doomed forever. “Please, proceed,” the creature requests motioning to the door at my right and it’s kind of scary, it’s so tall and imposing. But I know I have to go, I feel it in every part of me.

I turn to look at Louis because I know he can’t go with me. I’m on my own from now on because he’s a carrier, this is as far as he can get.

“Thank you, man. For all what you did for me. Sorry for being a pain in the arse,” I say and he laughs.

“Good luck, Jake Wood. You are a special one. Don’t worry, she’ll be fine and very happy. You’ll see her again. Souls meet all the time, in different lives,” he tells me and I nod. That’s really comforting and so nice of him. “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye,” I tell him shaking his hand before I step back and head to the big door the creature pointed to.

I’m still nervous and I don’t know what I’ll find, but it’s time. I did all I had to do, I’m sure she’s okay and happy. I told her and now I can do whatever I have to do.

The big doors open slowly, light coming from the other side so bright that it blinds me but as the light touches me I know I’m okay and safe. I feel at peace. I take the first step inside knowing this is what I have to do, this is where I’m meant to be now.

I’m home.

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Last dedication to @KatieWaldorf. Thank you for letting me know what you think and don't worry, it's totally fine if you think this is better than CME. I agree (:

Bel, xx