Trading Heartbeats
Chapter 29 - The Last Goodbye
It was four months later, and so much had occurred for each of Amelia's friends during this course of time. The adventures that each had been on were incredible, and the outcomes of these adventures were even greater…
"Brittany," Justin called through their house, as he struggled with his tie. Justin could distinctly hear a voice call, 'Coming', from downstairs in the living room. He smirked to himself as he looked outside of the bedroom window. The sun was just about to set in their town of Cape Town, South Africa. The sky was a brilliant orange/red colour and the clouds lazily rolled across the sky. The scene was perfect, Justin thought. A small smile spread across his face as he began contemplating exactly how he'd carry out his plan for this evening. Then as the sound of footsteps were heard making their way upstairs, Justin dropped something in his pocket and turned to the doorway.
A smirk slowly made its way onto Justin's face once more as he watched a lovely vision enter into the bedroom. Brittany, wearing a shimmering dress, approached Justin. "Yes," she asked as she looked up at him. Justin looked into her eyes before kissing her forehead. Brittany's cheeks reddened.
"Are you ready," he asked as Brittany straightened up his tie. Brittany smiled and gave a nod. Justin took her hand in his, and with this, the two exited their home. Justin led Brittany out to the car, helping her inside before closing her door. Justin seated himself in the driver's seat and started off down the streets. Brittany smiled, looking out at the beautiful town she could now call 'home'. Ever since their trip to Cape Town that one Saturday, both would fly down together whenever they had breaks in their schedule until they finally decided they would take up residency there. Justin, who would be busy with wrestling, dropped in every now and then to check on Brittany. Having transferred to University of Cape Town, Brittany bade goodbye to her hometown of Chicago as well as to her friends as she settled into her humble abode with Justin.
Cape Town excited Brittany. It was a part of the world she'd never known, and always wanted to explore. The university catered to everything she wanted to learn. The house that Justin had bought them was everything she could've dreamed off. As she stared out of the window, continuing to grin to herself as they drove past beautiful houses, she asked herself if everything would continue to be this perfect. Brittany never believed in 'Disney-princess-endings' (nor did any one of her friends). She didn't believe that love could be perfect, but at this moment, driving along the streets of Cape Town, she rethought all of that. Perhaps, Justin was right by saying 'everything would take its shape'. She hadn't known whether this 'shape' would remain this way or if it'd morph into something significantly different.
"Brit," a voice from behind her disturbed her thoughts. Brittany looked back at Justin who sat back in his seat, shutting off the engine of the car. Although she'd been gazing out the window, with her mind being set adrift, Brittany hadn't noticed they'd arrived at the restaurant Justin promised to take her to. "We're here," he announced. Brittany gave him a small smile before he slid himself out of the car and helped her down. Flashing him another smile of gratitude, both Brittany and Justin entered into the restaurant. In one second Brittany had been mystified by the place. It's walls were painted with many different murals on it. There were murals of the city, of the sunset, and of the people. It's tables were arranged in a neat fashion, allowing each customer to move around the restaurant freely. Justin gave her a peck on her cheek startling her out of her gaze. Brittany's cheeks flushed a deep red as she looked towards him. "Where do you want to sit," he asked. Brittany smiled and looked toward a table in the corner of the room.
"How about over there," she replied. Justin followed her gaze and smiled in agreement with her choice. Justin's hand found hers as he lead their way over to the table in far right corner of the room. As Justin pulled out the chair for her, Brittany took her seat muttering a thank-you under her breath. Justin smiled and sat opposite from her. With her hands lying within his on top of the table, Brittany asked as she looked around at the murals, "Do you come here often?" Justin gave a slight smirk.
"Only once before," he replied to her. She gave him a small smile before the waitress bustled her way over. The waitress, carrying her notepad, had short, brown, hair and glasses that looked like they were about to fall off her nose. Her apron and dress hung loosely off her skinny body.
With a quivering lip, she asked while staring at the mural beside them, "May I take your orders?" Justin smiled and ordered for both himself and Brittany; although it was supposed to be a discreet gesture, Brittany could swear she'd caught Justin giving the trembling waitress a wink. The waitress gave a nod and took a pause before jotting down everything … well, everything that she'd heard … onto her notepad and scurrying away to the kitchens. Justin gave a slight chuckle and looked up at Brittany once more. Their eyes locked for a second before Justin looked down at their joined hands once more.
Brittany opened her mouth to say something, for the table had grown much too quiet as far as she was concerned. As she had, however, the trembling waitress stumbled back toward their table. She stared off at the mural beside them while she talked rather robotically, "Here are your plates, sir and madam. Enjoy." She set down two plates and two napkins before she scurried off once more towards the kitchens. Brittany looked at the woman strangely before shaking it out of her head and looking back at Justin. Justin still hadn't been looking into her eyes, and he wore a thoughtful look on his face. Brittany raised one eyebrow. She opened her mouth once more to speak, however, Justin looked up at her and spoke instead.
"Well, shall we," he asked with a smile on his face - the look of deep thought nowhere to be found on his now dimpled face. Brittany gave a slight nod as their hands separated from each other's. As she took her napkin in her hands, she unfolded it and laid it across her lap. Doing so, she looked down and her mouth gaped open at what she saw next, for sewn onto the olive green napkin were the words 'Sal Jy Met My Trou'. Brittany's brow furrowed and a confused look spread across her face. She knew it were something in Afrikaans, but she hadn't known what it could possibly mean. As she looked up at Justin, who now stood beside their table, she waited for an answer.
A smirk twitched onto his face as he got down on one knee and fished around in his pockets for a box that he'd dropped in there earlier. Her heartbeat quickened in an instant as she watched Justin. Tears built up in her eyes as she had begun to realize what the words sewn onto the napkin had meant. "Will you marry me," Justin's accented voice spoke to her once more. She was left speechless. Her throat tightened and her tears had over-flowed onto her cheeks now. She nodded her head vigorously and Justin placed the ring on her finger.
Sliding off of her chair, she flung her arms around his neck hugging him dearly. Justin wrapped his arms around her and the couple shared a kiss. The onlookers awed and applauded the couple embracing on the floor. Brittany pulled away from the kiss only to mutter, "I love you," to Justin. Justin's lips pulled into another smirk.
"I love you more," he whispered in return. Their lips succumbed to one another's once more in a passionate lip-locking kiss. Finally, all the wondering and thinking Brittany had done, not only in the car, but during the course of her life was over-with. It was no secret her life wasn't exactly the storybook-princess life - with her friend running off and sleeping with another friend's boyfriend, and the drama that came with sharing an apartment - but things had taken shape, just as Justin said they would. This shape, though, had also morphed. It morphed into something Brittany had never believed she'd experience. No, it wasn't a storybook-ending, but a perfect beginning in love.
It had been 3 months since Kofi had proposed to her at the same art museum they'd visited that time before. Kofi, having travelled to Atlanta for what seemed to be a billionth time, mailed down a ticket to Sonelle to join him up there. Eagerly accepting the tickets, she boarded her plane and flew to Atlanta. Kofi anxiously stood in the airport awaiting his love's return. Although he'd been surrounded by bunches of fans, he had his eyes transfixed on only one - Sonelle. She stepped off the plane only to be swept up almost immediately into the arms of Kofi. The two kissed meaningfully, forgetting everything and everyone around them. The only thing that mattered at this moment, was each other, and so, the two left the airport and proceeded back to the hotel that Kofi had been staying at. Sonelle quickly unpacked and settled in nicely, before Kofi surprised her once more with tickets to a different exhibit at the same art museum.
At 6:00pm, the couple merrily headed down to the museum where they proceeded to the exhibit Kofi had bought tickets to. Walking past several magnificently painted paintings, Kofi had brought them to the stop at one. It was a magnificent painting. The best out of all they'd seen so far, Sonelle noted. It was of a woman with tears stemming down from her eyes. As Sonelle looked closer at painting, she could distinctly see the words 'Vous Etes Mon Bonheur' scribbled off to the corner of the painting. "You are my happiness," she translated out loud. As she turned to Kofi, she found him balancing on one knee. Her hands flung to her chest as she stared down at him with tears immediately flowing out of her eyes.
"Sonelle," he asked taking Sonelle's left hand. Sonelle swallowed what felt like hundreds of knots in her throat as tears continued to roll down her face. A radiant smile played upon his lips. "You know that you mean the world to me; you truly are my happiness. I made a promise to you before that I'd always be faithful to you, and now," he paused as he removed the promise ring from her finger and stowed it away in his pocket, "I'd like to add onto that promise, if you'll let me." Sonelle's lip quivered as she watched Kofi take out a small box from within his shirt pocket. Opening the box before her, he said once more, "I want not only to be faithful to you forever, but to be yours … for eternity." Her trembling lips pulled into a smile as she nodded her head, watching Kofi place the ring on her finger. Kofi rose to his feet and wrapped his arms around her tightly. Sonelle had done the same and two shared a most loving kiss.
Kofi finalized his divorce with his, now, ex-wife; invitations were sent out; guests had RSVP-ed; bridesmaids and a best man was chosen; and finally, today was her big day. With the flashback that had just taken place in her mind, a slight tear rolled down her make-upped face, as she looked at herself in her flowing blue and pink-coloured gown (Sonelle had never been one to uphold tradition.). Anxiousness and nervousness pulsated through her body as a knock sounded on her bedroom door. "Come in," she managed to mutter. Khaila and Brittany, who were going to be one of Sonelle's bridesmaids, stepped in. Both were already dressed in their bridesmaid dresses.
A bit of tears had swelled up in Brittany's eyes before she shook her head of them. Khaila's smile beamed as she looked at Sonelle in her wedding gown. Even more tears flowed down her face as she watched her friends' reaction. Khaila and Brittany approached her hugging her tight. "You guys," she croaked as she hugged them both just as tight.
"Don't cry, Sonny," Brittany spoke as she patted away Sonelle's tears with a napkin. Khaila smiled as they both pulled away from the hug. Suddenly, another face had tripped herself in. Amelia, who had now grown her once short hair back to its original length and dyed it a brownish red colour, brushed her bridesmaid dress off before she glanced up at Sonelle. Her grey/green eyes filled themselves with tears as her hands flung to her own cheeks. Sonelle giggled a bit as Khaila gave her friend's hand one last comforting squeeze. Sonelle gave each of them a slight nod and so, the girls were off.
Sonelle was driven to the chapel that both herself and Kofi had selected in her hometown of Chicago. As she assembled by the doorway with her bridesmaids behind her, she clutched onto the bouquet that she picked up before leaving the apartment. The chapel's doors opened, and Sonelle took a deep breath. Staring down at the altar at Kofi, her heart did a summersault in her chest. The band played The Wedding March and Sonelle started her ascent up the aisle followed by her bridesmaids. Her eyes never left Kofi's as she continued on down the aisle. She watched as a smile spread across his face; oh, how she loved his smile!
She finally got to the altar. Through her tear-filled vision, she was able to see Kofi grinning at her, and she grinned back. The couple turned toward the altar and the ceremony began with the residing priest saying, "Friends and relatives, we are gathered here today to witness the couple of Kofi and Sonelle join in Holy Matrimony." As time progressed, as did the ceremony, until the time for the exchange of vows came. "I understand that you've both written wedding vows," the priest asked. Both Kofi and Sonelle nodded, and the priest made a gesture which clearly said 'go on.' Kofi turned toward Sonelle and took a deep breath.
"Sonelle," he started, "today I take you in your entirety to be my wife. In this ceremony, I promise you everything that you deserve - love, respect and happiness. Today, I promise you that I will be faithful to you, that I will care for you and that I will bring you as much joy as you've brought me with every fiber of my being, and finally, I promise to love you just the way you should be - completely, entirely and indefinitely." Sonelle's eyes filled to the brim with tears as she tried to quickly swallow down the knots that had been building in her throat.
"Kofi," she began with her tears rolling down her cheeks, "today, I take you to be my husband. With this in mind, I vow to grow with you, to laugh with you and to cry with you. I vow to be at your side whenever you need me, and to ease your mind in times of struggle. I vow to love you, Kofi, with all my heart for as long as I shall live." Sonelle's tears continued to pour out onto her face. Kofi's eyes themselves had become wet with tears. A second reading had been said, and then finally, the priest had presented the rings on the altar before instructing Kofi to take his and place it on Sonelle's finger.
Kofi withdrew his breath again and exhaled inconspicuously as he said, looking into her deep brown tear-filled eyes, "This ring is a token of my love. I marry you with this ring, with all that I have, all that I will give and all that I am." Placing the wedding ring on her finger, a tear had slid down Kofi's cheek.
Sonelle swallowed her knots in her throat - or tried to - once more before responding, "I will forever wear this ring as a sign of my commitment and the desire of my heart." Taking the ring, she would slide onto Kofi's finger, she repeated his vow, and in turn, he repeated her response. She slid the ring onto his finger, and the priest continued with his closing prayer. Bowing his head after his prayer, the priest looked up at the congregation and at the almost-wedded couple.
"By the power vested in me, by the State of Illinois, I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest finally said. "You may now kiss your bride." Kofi's hands slid onto Sonelle's cheeks wiping away her spilt tears with his thumbs. Sonelle gave a small smile as they locked eyes for a microsecond before their lips fused together for a passionate kiss. The congregation erupted with applause. As they pulled away from the kiss, Kofi smiled down at her. Sonelle gave him a smile as well.
"Are you ready," he asked as Sonelle's arm linked with his.
"Definitely," she told him. The two shared one last kiss before they descended down the aisle leaving their dull individual selves behind and looking forward to a bright future together - one where they wouldn't have to conquer everything alone, where they would grow together with each other in each other's love.
It had been four months since Punk and Khaila had confirmed that Khaila had indeed not been pregnant, and things were drastically changing. Khaila had packed up her suitcase and loaded it into Punk's car. After being asked by Punk several times whether she'd like to travel with him while he was on tour with the WWE, Khaila had finally agreed. "Khaila," Punk called from inside the house. Khaila marched her way back inside surveying the area for him. He wasn't in the kitchen, nor in the living room. Khaila walked down to the bedroom door and opened it. As she did so, however, Punk didn't look his usual semi-cheerful self. His lips had been pulled into a frown as if he'd been pondering something difficult.
"Everything okay," Khaila asked as she neared him. Punk sat down on the edge of the bed still staring fixedly at the wall behind Khaila. He still hadn't provided an answer. Khaila, crouching down beside him, resting an arm on his leg, looked up into his deliberating hazel eyes before asking, "Punk?" Punk immediately gave a slight jump as if he'd been pulled harshly from his daze. Looking at her, his face continued to maintain that deliberating look. "Is everything okay," Khaila asked once more. Punk nodded slowly twice before letting his eyes wander back to the wall. Khaila rose from her spot of being crouched down beside him and took a seat next to him on the bed. Placing her hands on his, she gave him a peck on the cheek. "Punk, what's wrong," she asked.
She could see Punk gnawing on his lip, careful not to gnaw on his lip-ring. She'd gotten a reaction. Punk sighed and turned to her. "When was the last time you heard from Amelia," he asked. Khaila froze instantly. She hadn't even heard the name since Cody had muttered something about a pre-natal to the nurse. After Sonelle's dinner, everything had fallen apart. Yes, they were there at Sonelle's wedding together; however, Amelia left immediately without even bothering to stay for the reception. Why was Punk bringing her up now? Khaila's eyes narrowed and she rose up out of the bed withdrawing her hands from his and folding them.
"A long time ago," she stated coolly, "why?" Punk got to his feet immediately. He sensed what Khaila was letting on about. No, he didn't want anything to do with Amelia; on the contrary, it was in fact the other way around. Placing his hands on her arms, he delivered a sweet kiss to her forehead.
"Believe me. It's not what you think. She called," Punk said looking towards his phone which now lay on the bed. Khaila raised one eyebrow. Why did Amelia want to talk to her after all this time? What could she possibly want? Hadn't she yelled at Khaila to control her boyfriend when Cody was clearly pounding on him? Why in the world would she want to get in touch with her after so long? Khaila turned her head away from Punk and looked clearly out the window.
"I don't want to talk to her," she said stiffly. She looked back at Punk so as to catch his reaction to all this. The reaction she caught, however, took her by surprise. It wasn't a smile or a chuckle; instead, it was a frown. Had Punk actually been sorry for Amelia? Khaila raised one eyebrow. Punk sighed and looked down at their feet before looking up at Khaila once more.
"Actually," he started softly, "she called to speak to me." Khaila's arms dropped from their folded state as she looked up at Punk incredulously. He gave a slight 'yep-it's-true' nod. "She wanted to see me," he muttered. Khaila looked from Punk to the window once more.
"Do you," she asked stiffly. Punk's brow furrowed.
"Do I what?"
"Do you want to see her," Khaila asked a bit impatiently, as her head directed itself back towards her. Punk looked down at their feet once more. The lack of an answer made Khaila worry. "Well, do you," she asked a bit forcefully this time. Punk closed his eyes and looked back up at her, opening them once more.
"It couldn't hurt, could it," Punk asked. Khaila's mouth hung open. She tried to form words or sentences to say something - anything from stopping them from meeting, but not a single letter matched onto another. Had Punk really wanted to see Amelia? Was he going soft on her now? After all, she'd done and caused for the both of them? Punk moved his lips towards her forehead again, but Khaila dodged it. Punk sighed and placed his hands on her cheeks, turning her face towards his. Khaila looked up into his eyes. "It's not what you think," he told her softly. Khaila rolled her eyes and looked out the window once more. "Hey," he whispered once more. Khaila looked toward him once more. "Look. I just want to see what she has to say; she said you probably have an idea of what she's coming here for anyway." Khaila scoffed. Idea? She barely even wanted to remember Amelia let alone something she'd said. It had been four months, whatever she had said was chased out a long time ago.
"When is she coming," Khaila asked crisply. Punk glanced up at the clock on the wall.
"In about an hour's time," he told her. Khaila sighed and attempted to make her way past him. Punk, however, stopped her from doing so. Khaila tried once more, but was stopped again by Punk. She cunningly tried outsmarting him, but Punk was one step ahead and her attempt failed once more. She folded her arms and looked away from him letting out a slight 'humph'. Punk chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. Khaila looked up at him, a small smile breaking out onto her face. "You're not mad, are you," he asked unsurely. Khaila rolled her eyes, still bearing a smile on her face and shook her head.
"Not at you, anyways," she told him. Punk's lips twitched into a slight smirk as he kissed her cheek gently. The couple rested themselves on the bed with the T.V. set on mute. With Khaila resting on Punk's chest, she steadily listened to his heartbeat contemplating exactly what Amelia had wanted. Something she'd told her earlier, but what? Khaila thought back to the dinner. She remembered chuckling at Punk at the dinner table as he made shapes out of his food. She remembered the feeling of wanting to smash a glass over Amelia's head for something she'd said. Khaila closed her eyes then opened them just as quickly. Sitting up on the bed, she looked toward Punk; her chest heaving as she remembered exactly what Amelia had told the girls. Punk looked up at her blankly. The two stared at each other for a while until finally Khaila spoke, "Punk, I know what she wants with you." Punk sat up curiously. "She thinks-" Khaila had begun before being cut off by knocks at the front door. Khaila turned toward the direction of the front door and rose to her feet. Punk watched Khaila leave, still confused. What did Amelia think? What did she want with him? "Punk," Khaila called from in the living room.
Punk lazily rolled out of bed and trudged down the corridor toward the living room. As he entered into the living room, he stared upon the brownish-red haired girl that sat upon their sofa. Punk merely gave her a nod before sitting on another seat. Khaila looked at both of them, still standing. "Should I leave," she asked Amelia coldly. Amelia shook her head a bit.
"Y-You can say. You probably know what this is all about anyways," Amelia whispered quietly. Khaila gave her a stiff nod and sat down beside Punk, who looked more confused than ever. Amelia took a deep breath before looking at the both of them once more. At last, she'd worked up the courage and turned to face them both. "I, um … well, you know that I went in for a pre-natal," she told both of them in a hushed tone. Neither Punk nor Khaila nodded, they simply sat there listening. "Because I was unsure of who the father of my child was; if it were Cody or … you, Punk," Amelia continued her voice shaky. Khaila swallowed hard already sensing what would come next. "The results came a week after, and … it-" tears had flowed onto Amelia's cheeks. "It said Cody was- he wasn't the father," she choked on her tears as she looked down at her lap - humiliation and embarrassment now filling her up inside. Khaila had noticed something unsteady in Punk's breathing. He seemed to exhale more than he inhaled. His hands balled up into fists. "The baby is yours, Punk," she looked up at him. Khaila's bottom lip slipped beneath her teeth as she bit down hard on it.
Punk shook his head. "No, it's not," he told her rising to his feet. Amelia looked from Khaila to Punk pleadingly. Her tears continued to flow down her face even more. Amelia rose to her feet and approached Punk slowly. Khaila immediately stood up and glared at Amelia.
"But it-it is," Amelia said withdrawing the piece of paper from her bag that she'd cried over several months ago. "S-See, it says that Cody's not the biological fa-" she was stopped by Punk's shouting.
"I don't care what that piece of paper says! I want nothing to do with you or the mistake that we made. Nothing was ever supposed to come out of that," he yelled. Khaila quickly took hold of Punk's hand naively hoping that would simply calm him down. Amelia opened her mouth as if she were about to say something, but Punk stopped her once more, "What did you expect to happen? Did you expect me to drop everything I have with Khaila to come live with you to raise a child?" Punk shook his head as he looked at her. "I love Khaila. I can't leave her. I've hurt her far too much, and I don't plan on hurting her ever again, so please, you'd do us all a favour if you just left," he concluded. His chest heaving. Amelia looked from Punk to Khaila, who simply looked down at the floor. Amelia grabbed up her bag, exiting Punk and Khaila's house. Punk took a deep breath and looked at Khaila.
Khaila looked up at him not knowing what to say. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him full on his lips. Punk, caught off-guard by this, wrapped his arms around her as well, sharing in this spontaneous kiss. As the two pulled away, Khaila looked up into his eyes. "I'm not proud of what you said to her," she relayed to him, "I'm glad, though, that you chose me." Punk gave a slight chuckle.
"You were always my choice," he whispered to her. Khaila smiled and the two shared in another passionate kiss. Pulling away once more, Punk leaned his forehead against hers and with a smirk, he whispered, "Let's get gone." Khaila gave a slight nod and the two proceeded into the car. Kissing goodbye to all the drama of their hometown of Chicago, Punk and Khaila steered off into the horizon. There was no plan from there. Neither had thoroughly thought through anything from after the airport. They would simply go … and go … and go. Just they way they always secretly wished it would be - a getaway ride to somewhere that would reflect their love: unintentional, but meaningful.
Amelia sat alone in a room in the maternity ward dressed in a Johnny skirt. It was one month after she'd told Punk the news. The nurses bustled around, propping Amelia up and fixing utensils around the room. Amelia fiddled with her fingers waiting for some sign that Cody would come. She repeatedly looked at the door hopeful that a blue/green eyed man would step in and make everything better; however, as the time passed, she realized this only to be wishful thinking. Cody wouldn't come. Why would he? It wasn't his child. He didn't need to come. He wouldn't regret anything. Suddenly the door swung open once more, Amelia's heart leapt as looked to the door hoping it would be Cody. The excitement disappeared immediately off of her face as a man dressed in a doctor's uniform stepped in. "Are you ready for this, Amelia," the doctor asked. Amelia gave him a slight nod. Her eyes becoming blank once more as she stared down at her fingers. And so, the moment mimicked her once traumatizing dream.
Several hours passed, and finally the sound of a baby crying had filled the air. Having presented the child to its mother, Amelia's heart had warmed. A smile spread across her face as she looked down at the, now, passive baby boy in her arms. "Lucas Alexander Rose," she said breathlessly to the baby, as she caressed the baby in her arms. Suddenly the dorm opened once more, Amelia eagerly looked toward the door, hoping that maybe this time it would be Cody. Just as before, her face had fallen and her heart had sunk a bit as a nurse entered the room.
"Miss Amelia," she asked as she approached Amelia with a note. Amelia's hopes had risen. Perhaps it was Cody! Perhaps he'd sent a note telling her he'd return home soon. A smile spread across her face as she took hold of the note in her hands, still caressing a sleeping Lucas on her arms. As she unfolded it, her smile had faded just as quickly as it had appeared. There was nothing on the note except, 'I'm sorry too.' Tears filled her eyes and she dropped the note onto the floor. There was no use in hoping he'd returned. It was just as she'd expected. He left her, and although the note had said 'I'm sorry too', she knew that it had nothing to do with regretting that he was leaving and more to do with regretting he'd ever have the misfortune of crossing paths with her. Suddenly, she'd felt something wiggle in her arms. Looking down, she realized it to be Lucas and a smile had once more formed on her face. It was no doubt that the letter Cody had sent was nothing more than their last goodbye, but as she held little Lucas even more securely in her arms, she began to think perhaps this was her new beginning.