Chapter 26: Beginning Anew

Hannah helped Echo with the finishing touches on the house. It was only a month or so later that it was ready for her to move in.

"Thank you so much, Echo." Hannah said as she admired the finished product. "For everything."

"It would not have been complete without you." Echo answered.

"Aw, you're just being nice."

"Hannah," Echo's voice was serious. "Without you, this is only an ordinary house. When you are here, it is home."

She knew it was true. To Echo, at least. No matter how she denied it, he would never be at home without her.

She dipped her head. "Stop it, you're going to make me cry again."

"Even the most courageous shed their tears." Echo told her. Just as he had said before.

"I'm not brave." Hannah whispered.

Echo pulled her into an embrace, sensing her grief.

"Yes, you are."

xxx

Hannah had made the decision not to rebuild the mob houses. It was against human law, after all, and they didn't want to risk another incident. Echo didn't mind, knowing that Hannah would continue to feed and care for the mobs that passed through. It also left the Ender with plenty of materials left over to make a more suitable home for himself in the cave. As much as he wanted to stay at the house with Hannah, there remained a rift between them that he refused to cross. Hannah was older now. She made decisions for herself. It would only be a matter of time before she no longer needed a protector.

xxx

"Check this out, Echo," Hannah said when he came to dinner that night. Though they did not live together, Hannah insisted on having the Ender over for meals.

She showed him a picture. A woodland cabin, surrounded by trees. As Echo continued to look at it, he noticed that there were mobs hidden in the greenery. It seemed to symbolize something, though the Ender wasn't sure exactly what.

"There's a message on the back," Hannah continued, turning it over. Sure enough, two short lines were scrawled in a familiar hand;

Forgive me

I love you.

"It's from Uriah." She said quietly. "I'm certain."

Echo was silent. Hannah had told him about what happened. This was a peace offering. Uriah and Hannah were adults now. It was time for them to follow their own paths. Echo knew that. They all knew that.

This was a sign to begin anew.

XXX

A/N: Sorry for the short chapters.. Echoes from his Past is finally coming to a close. Two more chapters, and it will be complete! Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing. It's been very encouraging!

God bless, and stay wonderful! :)

-Wonder