Epilogue
For a long time after Warren's sentence, time stood still. I stopped going to work, Nita stopped going to school- and neither of us had any wish to communicate with the outside world. I cried every night, screamed into the pillow and didn't care if anyone heard, because I knew that next door my daughter would be doing the exact same thing. There was nothing either of us could say that could make it any easier; we just had to keep on fighting to get through the dark times

Then one day, we ran out of Nita's favourite cereal, so I went shopping for some more. That same evening, all three of us sat down to watch a program on TV together, and found ourselves laughing at all the little jokes. Adam took me out for dinner, and just before we left Nita gave me a big hug, grinning from ear to ear, as if she knew something I didn't.
"So, what's the occasion?" I asked, sipping my red wine. He gave me one of his most charming smiles.
"Do I really need an occasion to take you out for a nice meal?" I laughed, swirling the red liquid around in my glass.
"Well, when the alcohol costs four times the price it should you kinda need an excuse to drink it." He reached across the table, and took my hand.
"Now you mention it, there is something I've been wanting to talk to you about..." I put my head on one side inquisitively, shooting him a questioning look.
"Well go on then, spit it out." He laughed at my outward personality.
"Alright then, if you insist. Kirsty, I just want you to know that I care so much about you. What I'm about to say will probably sound really clichéd, but I want you to know that I mean every word.
"Every time I close my eyes I see your beautiful face, because nothing else would ever be enough for me. If I could dream about one thing for the rest of my life, it would be you. Your laugh, your smile, your personality- everything, and I'd go to the ends of the Earth and back for you." I didn't know what to say, so I just sat there staring straight at them with a surprised look on my face.
"I know these past few months have been difficult for us both, and you have been so remarkably strong... You've battled through most of the fight, but you're not completely at the finish line yet. You know it, I know it. Even Nita knows it. You need someone to pull you the rest of the way, to carry you if you get too tired, and to support you. And more then anything I've ever wanted before, I want to be that someone. I want to be the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning, I want to be the last thing you smile at before you close your eyes to go to sleep at night. I want us to grow old together, and to live out our last days in each others' presence. I want to be your rock, Kirsty." He knelt in front of me, taking my hands in his. Even at that point, my confused mind had no idea what he was getting at. It was all very overwhelming, but my heart sang at his adoring words. He slipped his hand into his pocket, and withdrew a small velvet coated box, royal blue in colour.
"I guess what I'm trying to say, is that I love you Kirst. With all my heart and soul. And although it's taken me a lot of consideration, I have realised that we're finally ready to face the world... Together. So, Kirsty, will you marry me?" Tears of joy sprang to my eyes, and I put a shocked hand over my mouth as he opened the box to display an absolutely gorgeous ring. It looked as if it were pure silver, with a glittering crystal in the centre and deep blue stones framing it around the outside.
"Adam..." I whispered, squeezing his hand. "Adam, yes! Yes! Of course I will!" He slid the ring onto my finger, grinning like a mad thing, and got to his feet, taking me in his arms and pressing his lips against mine in a passionate, gentle kiss. For the first time in months, no image of Warren sprang into my head at that moment, no guilty emotions chewed through my soul, and no pain arose from the pit of my stomach.
I was happy.

And that's when I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that everything was going to be okay.

The End.