CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: A New Life Awaits

I was so scared for months after House died. Every night, I prayed, which I hadn't done in a long time. I prayed for my happiness, which I knew was slipping away. I prayed for the strength to keep going in my life, which I knew I was running out of. I ended each prayer with the words, "God, please take care of House. And House, please take care of me. Amen."

I don't think I'll ever fully get over House's passing. He was the most important person in my life, he had taught me so much about life and love, and I wasn't sure how I was going to manage without him.

Things began to get better, though, starting with one sunny afternoon, two months after House's death. I was walking around town when I saw a quaint, little art shop down the street. One painting in particular caught my eye. It was a picture of a little girl and a little boy, childhood sweethearts, I presumed, and they were sitting on a swing in the backyard on a beautiful night blowing bubbles.

Something about the apparent joy on the children's faces and the obvious magic in air made me stop and admire the work. It was obviously painted with skill, I thought as I noticed the little nuances that make a painting a work of art.

I looked down at the artist's name.

Trinity Jacobs.

Trinity Jacobs! I looked again to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I wasn't. It was her. It was her painting.

As I stared at it, I started thinking about my own life. I knew introspective thoughts could be perilous if not in one's own favor, but I needed closure. I remembered the questions I had asked myself when I first came back to Princeton. What went wrong with me? What was always wrong with me? Why did I leave this city, anyway? And why am I back? Now I had some answers.

What went wrong with me? What was always wrong with me? Nothing. Nothing was wrong with me, I finally learned. How could you ever become a better person if you didn't have any faults to overcome?

Why did I leave this city? Why am I back? I left because I couldn't face myself. I thought that getting out of Princeton would somehow magically cure my depression. I thought I could run away, but I couldn't run away from the place that held so much of who I am. I had to come back. To see House and to really look at myself.

Now I knew what I had to do. I had to leave Princeton again, not to cure myself this time but to cure others. I was already cured. I knew that my job as a doctor was not done, my potential love was out there, my life was not over, just as House's life was not over. It was just beginning. He lived in me, and I would carry on in his footsteps, helping people like he helped so many, especially me. Without a second thought, I boarded a plane to Italy.

Nervous and uncertain I was, but I barely took the time to even acknowledge the feelings. There was nothing holding me back. I had no family, no job. There were so many opportunities waiting for me out there, and I had to take them. No looking back.

During the ten-hour flight, I started having doubts but quickly pushed them to the back of my mind. Instead, I smiled and chatted with the guy next to me. I ate a nice meal, relaxed, and looked out of the window at the beauty that surrounded me. I eventually fell asleep and for the first time in years, slept peacefully.

When the plane finally landed, the breathtaking sights of Italy blew me away. It was the most stunning place I'd ever seen. Perfected architecture, unequalled artistic splendor, and a vibrant liveliness made me in awe of the country. I checked into a hotel for the night and decided to walk around the fabulous city of Venice.

It was about an hour into my journey that I spotted her. I actually saw her, sitting by the water, focused as she painted. My palms were sweaty. I ambled up to her.

"Trinity," I said. She gasped and turned around.

"Dr. Chase!" she asked excitedly and incredulously. "What on earth are you doing here!"
I hadn't really thought this part through yet. "I…needed a change. I want to help people again, be a doctor again. But instead of being an intensevist, I'm going into psychology. Somehow my heart led me here to do so. I have always wanted to learn a little Italian." I smiled.

Her big, crystal eyes looked at me, unsure. "Did you know I was here?"

"Yes," I said. "Okay, Trinity, I'll be completely honest with you. I've wanted to get to know you better ever since I met you. I know this will probably sound really strange, but I kind of think I might be in love with you."

Trinity stammered, "S-so, am I the reason you came out here? Or is that just great luck…?"

Suddenly cursing myself for being so stupid, I said, "I'm sorry. You probably think I'm crazy now. I should go."

"No, I don't think that at all," she replied.

I hesitated. "So what DO you think?"

"I don't know…I've never had anyone do anything like this before," she said, pondering. "Are you sure you want to stay in Italy?"

"Definitely. It is the perfect place to start a new life."
"So this isn't just an impulsive thing that you'll regret later?"

I shook my head. "I'm certain that it's not."

She began to smile. "Okay, Dr. Chase. See, the thing was, I wanted to start a relationship with you as well, but I knew I would be leaving for Italy at the end of the year, so I tried to make careful effort not to fall in love. It didn't work though. I found myself being quite taken with you, and one day I had the feeling that you felt the same about me. So I freaked and left before I found something to hold me back," she said. "But now you're here."

Hopefully, I asked, "What are you saying, Trinity?"

"I'm saying, 'Desideri andare gru a benna un caffè con me?'"

My eyebrows raised in surprise. "What!"
"Want to go grab a coffee with me?" Trinity replied, smiling her perfect smile.

"I would be more than delighted," I said, beaming. She put her artwork away and her arm through mine. Things were looking up for me, and I had no doubts about it at all. I felt no guilt, regret, or self-hatred. All I felt was the miracle of hope, the phenomenon of second chance, and the promise that House would always be in my heart, guiding me through the hardships that of course would come, and celebrating with me at times like this, when I could hardly keep from shouting out to the heavens in pure, utmost bliss.

I was with the best woman in the world, ready to begin a new life in an empyrean place. I was determined to heal all the patients I could, and to give them the hope during their difficult states. I'd tell them about my own similar experiences and what I learned from them. I'd tell them never to give up because when it comes down to it, hope, faith, and love are all you have to get you through. I'd tell them all about my Tuesdays with Gregory.

THE END

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