Epilogue- The Lateness of the Hour
Dad said that Mom was one of the greatest people who ever did live. I never knew her. She never said a word to me. She died when I was 3 months old.
Every week of my life, Dad'd put fresh pink roses on her grave, right next to where it said Maximum Ride, loved by all. 1997- 2017. He said that the reason for the roses was that they showed her that she could be free. That he was giving her spirit permission to live wherever she wanted to live, and that he still loved her.
The roses were also in his favorite picture of her. It was one from when my parents were 12, and she smiled into the camera with a big childish grin, a pink rose blossoming from behind her left ear. Daddy'd look at it all the time, even when he was supposed to be talking to one of his advisors.
When I was 5, I wanted to know about her, what kind of person she was, how she died. I asked Daddy, and he said, "Look at the picture and ask her yourself. Or if you can't raise her, call Aunt Nudge. But don't ask me." He said it coldly, like he hated her, but more like he never forgave her for dying and leaving him. But then I called Auntie Nudge.
" Hello? Auntie Nudge? It's me Kaylee."
"Kaylee! Oh my gosh, it's good to talk to you! What do you need?"
" I want to know about my Mom, but Daddy won't tell me. He said to talk to you. Does he not forgive her for leaving? Does he hate her, Auntie Nudge?"
" No." Her melodic voice drained of its usual luster. "You have to understand, your parents loved each other more than anything in the world. Fang could never hate your mother. She could do the most horrid things to him, and he'd still love her to pieces."
" Then why does he get angry when I ask about her?"
" Because he killed her, Kaylee."
You guys must hate me now. Believe me I understand fully! My condolences for the next chapter. MR