A/N: I was going to end it at Chapter 16… but almost every single review asked for an epilogue! So, I'm doing this just for you. Seriously :p Tell me if you liked this. But, this will definitely be the last chapter to the series. Oh, and this is kind of a present for all of the wonderful reviews I received throughout the story! Review to tell me what you think. And… don't think I don't realize this is in first person view. I just thought an epilogue would be so much more… heart-felt, I guess, if it shows the feelings, not the actions.
Epilogue
Smile. A simple word, yes. But a meaningless one? Definitely not.
Laugh. A word so rare to some, while so constant to others.
Joy. An alien word a few years ago, a reminder of life now.
Love. Not a very complex word, with only four letters. But it is what keeps people going. Most of the time.
…My life is back. It's here permanently. I don't have to cry anymore, I don't have to yell anymore. While years ago I hated life, I now love life. I have everything I can ever possibly want.
I have Chandler.
The pieces of the puzzle are all put together now. The pieces of my life are all glued back together. My life is no longer shattered, no longer hateful. I have my friends, I have my family, I have the love of my life.
I look at him every day, each time realizing how lucky I am to have my angel. To finally have my angel. I've spent the first ten years of our friendship pining over him, and now I'm going to spend the rest of our friendship loving him… this time knowing that I'm loved back.
And I remember the day all of my hopes and wishes and dreams came true. How could I forget? I remember sitting on the grass in the park, next to him. I remember him putting a flower in my hair. But what surprised me was… he was the one that kissed me. At first I was in shock, not fully realizing what was happening. Then I began to kiss back. The moment I kissed him, I felt my dark, cruel life passing before me, and my new, joyous, luminous life coming. It was strange, but in a wonderful way. I finally got what I wanted, and I wasn't hurting him in any way.
It was all I could ever ask for.
When our lips parted, I looked into his deep blue eyes and smiled widely, his smile mirroring mine. I felt happier at that moment than I ever thought I could be. I knew that there would be complications following the kiss, but I didn't think about it. I remember my one and only thought at that moment: Finally.
"Did I make a mistake?" he asked me, his voice hushed. I remember quickly shaking my head.
"No." Then, he kissed my lips once more. We parted a second time, our lips still inches apart. I leaned my forehead on his, and he closed his eyes.
"You were the one all along," he whispered to me, slowly opening his eyes. My smile turned into a grin, and I took his hand. For a moment in time, we just sat there, gazing at each other. We didn't want think of anything, didn't need to think of anything. Then, he took my other hand and squeezed it. "It's like they belong." I remember nodding, speechless.
We do belong, my heart was saying, my mind telling me the same thing.
…It's a strange thing when your heart and mind agree. Never before, in all of my life, had they agreed. My heart told me to go with what I feel, my mind told me to go with what was right. But when they actually agree with each other… it's a totally different thing.
Because it tells me that I want it… and should.
Yes, it's a strange thing when you're not confused.
… Life can be so cruel, even at the best of moments. When you get what you want, there's always a downside to it. It never fails.
I remember sitting with Chandler one day, sitting in his lap. We were just holding each other, loving each other's presence. It was a comfortable silence, but Chandler broke it nonetheless.
"I just hate knowing that we lost so much time to be together," I remember him whispering in my ears. "Ten years."
I merely nodded, turning towards him. "Don't forget one of those years were hell."
Chandler slowly nodded, looking towards the wall. "Never will I forget."
… When you get through hell, you move up to heaven.
Life as I knew it was over; I was in hell. But then, we came together again, and I'm floating through heaven now. And y'know what?
Being in heaven changes everything.
When you're in heaven on Earth, it's as if you're floating on clouds with the person you love. Everyone else is under you, just a little bit less happy than you.
When you're in heaven, you never want to change anything. That's the beauty of it.
… I have a joy in life that I never knew existed. I have a love in life that I never thought I'd get. I have a peace of mind that I never thought would return. I have a life I never thought possible. I have a need for someone else I never thought I'd release. I have a man in my life I never thought I'd find.
… Happiness. A word I no longer have to pretend.
Truth. A word sometimes so hard to use, yet so beautiful when used.
Perfect. A word used so little, yet described so much.
Forever. A word fearful, yet true. A long, long time. Eternity.
Soul mates. Chandler and Monica.
The real end…
Ok, so that's really the end ;) Please tell me if you liked it, or tell me if you'd just like me to delete it and leave it at Chapter 16. I know this was short, but it's supposed to be… it's an epilogue. I really am going to miss writing this, cause it was a whole bunch of fun. Oh, and before I forget… thank you so much for anyone and everyone who read this and reviewed faithfully! It's people like you that help boost my confidence :D
