"Even odds say you aren't interested in watching the fireworks tonight."
Annie was standing in front of the wall of stars, where she had been deep in thought for a while. "Are you?" She replied.
Auggie was quiet a moment. "Maybe something more private?"
Annie swallowed her emotions and took Auggie's hand. She gently placed it on one of the stars. "I know they are anonymous, but this one is his. I saw them carving it that week."
He ran his fingers over the indention then stepped back and wrapped his arm around Annie. There were no words for moments like this.
"Do you have much to do today?" Annie asked.
"Not sure yet. We can check in, see if there are major security threats, then maybe pretend to be real government employees and take the day off?"
Annie nodded. "I'd like that."
They walked together to the DPD, just as they had a year ago. There were no tiny flags or cupcakes along the way, only painful memories.
That evening, Annie and Auggie cuddled together on the couch while fireworks exploded around the city. "I wonder where we would be, if he were still around." Annie stated.
"Who knows?" Auggie replied. "There are far too many variables in that 'if' statement. I'd like to think we would have ended up together, either way."
"I'm glad we were able to close the circle."
"Do you really think it's closed?" Auggie asked.
Annie looked at his face. "As much as it ever will be."
"Henry's information, it makes me wonder."
"And it always will." Annie responded. She sat up and pulled Auggie with her. "But for now, come on. I have my own way I want to celebrate tonight."
Annie guided Auggie up the service door to the roof and took in the view of the city. The official fireworks were over, with the noise of illegal home-versions tapering off. She placed a blanket on the rooftop and urged Auggie to sit.
"I know that it's customary to light a candle to remember a loved one, but Jai was a patriot, and he died on the Fourth of July, so I thought this would be more appropriate." She pulled out two sparklers and touched one to the back of Auggie's hand. His eyes lit up as he discovered what it was.
"You think this is safer than lighting a candle in my apartment?" Auggie asked.
"I think you'll get more out of it." Annie replied. She lit her sparkler, then touched Auggie's. They sat silently, each holding the fiery stick until the flame died, leaving them with silence.
Annie pulled the charred stick out of Auggie's hand, and set them aside. They held each other for a little while, remembering the friend who's death sparked a course of events that led to them being in each other's arms.