Chapter 21 (epilogue)

Willow's P.O.V.

It's been a week since Al woke up. I've convinced myself not to regret my decision, but the more I try to forget him, the more I remember him. His confidence, his smile...

It's today that I realize that letting go isn't the same as forgetting. I can remember without tearing myself apart over my decisions.

Because I want to remember the story.

I want to remember us.

My fingers fly across the keyboard as the words appear on the screen; The choosing ceremony is always dead silent once the announcer asks for questions...

Three Years Later

Al's P.O.V.

The doctors had said I was incredibly lucky to have remembered as much as I did, but I still felt like there was something missing. A blurry abyss of which I could not restore.

Since then, I have only partially forgotten about the void in my memories. I'm living the normal Dauntless life now.

I hear a knock on my door and get up to open it. To my surprise, the door opens to Willow. I'd met her two years ago, because my mother is good friends with hers. We have become friends in the time between then and now. I'd want to be closer with her, but it always feels like she's hiding something painful. She tries to hide it, but I can see the barely perceptable discomfort in her eyes occasionally.

Willow's holding a stack of papers in her hands. "I need to talk to you, Al," she says, looking at her shoes.

"Quite a script, I'm guessing."

She looks up at me, and I know that this is no joke. Her eyes hold mine for an eternity.

"Why don't you come in?" I say, finally tearing myself away. She sits on the living room chair, and I sit on the one next to her. "Okay, what is it?"

She sighs, and for a second I think she might be holding back tears, but her voice seems steady. "Al, I wanted to stay out of your way. I truly did. I thought it would be best for us..."

"What are you talking about?"

Willow tosses the stack of papers at me, standing up. "Getting to know you a second time has been a privilege. I don't want anything more than for you to know what we were." She takes a step towards the door. "Please, just read it."

After she leaves, I stare at the stack of papers in my hands. My eyes run along the words, my fingers flipping pages. Could it be? As much as I try to convince myself otherwise, I can't. The images; they're so vivid. And I know, without an explanation, that the void has vanished.

*Page Break*

"Willow!" I call after her. She stops walking, but doesn't turn to face me like the rest of the Dauntless around us upon my yell. I run to catch up with her, and when she looks at me with her beautiful eyes, I'm sure of what I'm about to do. Because I remember. "I'm sorry for putting you through so much pain, Willow," I say, taking her hands. "I'm sorry I didn't remember. I'm sorry I left you."

She shakes her head. "No. I'm sorry, Al. For putting your life in danger. That's why I wanted you to forget. You deserve so much more." She pulls one of her hands away to wipe away a tear. "I'm sorry I told you about us. I should have let you forget..."

"If you'd let me forget, I would've never forgiven you. Because I want you in my life, forever and always."

Author's Note: What a journey this story has been! Naturally, I need to thank my readers, and, of course, followers and favoriters (dat word tho)! You've given me the strength to continue writing this! I hope you enjoyed this story! And even if you didn't, you can let me know as well. I welcome critics! I can also take suggestions or whatever else you want to talk to me about. I hope this story felt as real to you as it felt to me.