"I see that the new arrival is assimilating quite well into Abnegation," Natalie said at the dinner table.

She quieted down once I came back into the kitchen.

"Sorry," I said. "I thought I heard something fall up there, and…"

"If it was the curtain rod again," Shimea said, "just tell it to leave us alone for a few moments."

"You were speaking about me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at Natalie.

Smiling, she replied, "I was simply making a complimentary remark. When I'd heard that we'd be receiving a Candorian, I'd been concerned about your… honesty. But, that hasn't turned out to be a problem." She then quickly added, "No offense."

Before this evening, I'd only met Natalie Prior once, in passing after church. Geb and Shimea had invited her over for dinner, so here she was, paying attention to my every little move, as if I would blurt out the truth and blow my cover… in a faction which no one pays attention to, anyway, and is too kind and selfless to kick me out, even though I'm pretty sure most of them have figured out some of the aspects of my personal history.

"You really don't have to say nice things to me," I replied. "After all, I am being a nuisance, I assume. Also, I'm not offended by what you've said. After spending time in Candor, one hears all sorts of things."

Natalie said, "So far, you haven't shown yourself to be a nuisance. At least, I feel that way. Other individuals might not feel otherwise."

Another person I'd met after church had been Marcus Eaton. He'd given me some sort of death glare, like he didn't want my scumliness hanging around his grey-clad manor or whatever. He told me, "Welcome; if I can speak for all Abnegationers, we hope we can come to accept you as one of our own." Wow, Marcus- you make me feel so wanted and accepted. Jerk.

Geb passed over a bowl of butterless mashed potatoes.

"Here," he said. "You've eaten barely a thing."

"I… don't have much of an appetite at the moment," I replied. "But, thank you, anyway."

All day, I'd been wondering what my family and friends were doing, and whether or not they knew of what'd happened to me. Jack knew I was alive- he must've told my mother that I was safe, which would have been a great relief to her. Would she tell Harry? Did he even care? At least she cares. All those years, her silence and lack of reaction creating less of an incentive for him to abuse me, she had cared. She had done what she could, all that she could, at the time. It wasn't fair. For anyone. Let's hope Harry has less of a grip over my mother. Let's hope she finds some way to free herself.

Hopefully Jack tells Peter that I'm alive. Poor Peter- what has that fellow even gone through in his life? I hope he finds a place where he can fit in, where he can be productive, where he can be loved. Every night, when I pray, I ask God to help lonely Peter, and to make sure he leaves behind his destructive behavior. Wouldn't it be a shame if he did anything that he'd bitterly regret?

It's doubtful whether or not any of my friends would learn of my escape. How could they benefit from such knowledge? Life would go on for them- they would find new friends, leave behind some of the old ones. Elizabeth and Sigurd were probably going to get married, just to let the baby have both parents be together. Alexandra would, day by day, learn more about her new faith. A prophet at the Abnegation church last Sunday had walked up to me, saying Alexandra would, a few years from now, become a missionary. To think that there's a world outside of our insulated city, a world where people possibly have no knowledge of Christ. Would she go into the fringe, where Peter used to live? Or even farther away?

Matthew, my first and best friend in Candor, must be wondering why this had to happen to me. Sorrow must be framing his visage, and horror must be stooping his posture. I tried to see if he was at the synagogue last Sabbath, but I couldn't find him anywhere. Olgaba and Elgobelia had no idea where he was. Olgaba was her usual cheerful self, but Elgobelia looked concerned.

Taking me aside, she said, "I don't think cheer-bucket Olgaba has quite figured it out, or wanted to figure out, that Matthew will have a relapse. While I wanted him not to, I soon realized how transferring made him a happier person. Before, Olgaba and I had to keep an eye on him, to make sure he didn't… You know. And now, with you declared dead, he'll… he might…" Tears started to form in her eyes. "What if he's gone already?"

I never saw him at the synagogue, or anywhere, after my supposed execution.

Whatever became of Ella? As years went by, I would lie awake, wondering what she was doing. Had she been able to keep her whole family safe? Did she ever regret how she'd outed so many people, sending them to their deaths? I know she'd survived the revolution- a long while afterwards, I'd seen her standing at the end of Main Street, carrying a bag of groceries. I couldn't believe it was her; it was like a ghost had wandered into the city. She and I made brief eye contact.

I age. I age everyday. Now, I have several wrinkles all across my face. My favorite wrinkles, though, are my laugh lines. Hard times come and go, but I've learned to have a sense of humor despite how pessimistically hopeless the situations get. I have several honorary grandchildren- they're really the grandkids of Rebekah and Sarah and Caleb and the rest, but they love me just the same, and continually put a smile on my face.

So, life goes on. And I've gone on. And, while my life in itself never turned out to be the fairy tale I wished it to be, with a happily ever after and everything being fluffy and "normal", I'm certainly content. I would not have my life any other way, because, you know what?

I've learned to love and be loved, wherever I go. As long as I am kind and friendly, I will never be alone, ever again.

Finis.

Did all-y'all like that ending! I hope you did! If you've got any complaints, praises, or comments, just write a review, please! A special thank you to all of my faithful readers: poseidon's hufflepuff daughter, Epicness by Liv, theevilsquiddancer, Dances with Vampires, and all of the others who have reviewed, followed, favorited, &tc. Thank you, and ta-ta for now!