Epilogue

I was sitting impatiently in my seat of the Department of Family Reunions building. Sitting by me was my wife, Julio, Oscar, Felipe, Rosita, and Victoria. We were all excited, because we just got the call that Coco has just passed, and she should be here any moment now.

"Excited?" Rosita asked me.

"Are you kidding?!" I asked back. "I'm ecstatic; I haven't seen my Coco in

96 years." I looked at my wife. "I mean, our Coco." She smiled. Rosita smiled too.

"You deserve it, after all that happened to you."

"Yeah."

"Here she comes!" Julio announced. We all saw a little elderly skeleton race in. Was this my Coco? She was a toddler when I left, so it was hard to face that little face to this grown woman.

"Papa?" She questioned, looking around. "Papa? Its me, Coco. Remember me?" I beamed as Imelda patted me. It was truly her!

"Go to her." She said. I beamed, and raced to her before Julio could,

"COCO; COCO; COCO!" Coco turned around, and a smile lit up her face. She raced to me as well.

"PAPA!" We each embraced in a giant hug. We withdrew after a hug that seemed to last a lifetime.

"I promise, Coco. I will never leave you and your Mama ever again." I then noticed Julio. "Oh, that is unless you want to live with your husband." Coco looked at Julio as well.

"You should live with your parents." Julio said to her. "You and your father have a lot to catch up on." Coco smiled back.

"Si, we do." She agreed. "Thanks for understanding."

"You can live in the mansion if you all like." I suggested. I looked at Imelda who gave me a nod of approval so I continued. "Since Ernesto is spending eternity in prison for his crimes, they offered the mansion, and Imelda and I accepted." I looked at everyone else. "You all can if you all want." Again I looked, and again, Imelda gave me the nod of approval. "Si, you all can." Everyone cheered at that, and said they'll all move in as soon as possible. Coco looked at me. She then frowned. I was concerned.

"Coco?" I questioned. "What is it? If a mansion's too much, you don't have too. We can move out. We don't need to live there."

"It's not that." She shook her head.

"Then what is it?"

"Miguel told us about Ernesto, and what he did to you, Papa. That's why you couldn't come home, wasn't it?" I frowned. I was glad that Miguel had told her, but it must have shattered her heart to learn the cold-hearted truth.

"Si. It's true."

"I forgive you. You were just trying to come home, set things right. You were always my hero. I was never mad at you. I knew something had gone terribly wrong." I was really moved by this, wiped away my tears of joy, and gave her one last big hug.

"You make me so proud of you, Coco. My dear, sweet, Coco. I love you."

"I love you too, Papa."

After another minute, Imelda cleared her throat. We stopped, and I stepped back to let Imelda and the others hug my daughter.

As soon as the hugs were over, Coco took my hand, and I took her's. We then all walked out of the building as one dead, but happy family.

Julio's right. We do have a lot to catch up on. I can't wait to tell Coco about my afterlife, and Coco to tell me my son-in-law and about her long filled happy life, and this time I'm happy to say it's the truth and the real finito of my tale.