Chapter thirteen: Epilogue
Once she landed, she immediately got up and started walking in a daze in the direction she thought the dorm was. She was trying not to think, about anything. She turned the corner of the garden path and tripped on the brick border. A strong hand caught her and she looked up into the eyes of...Mr. Pigott? Lyra snapped out of her haze and blinked, scanning the clearing she had stumbled into.
Beside her teacher, she saw Jason and a little ways back was Nelie. But the whole clearing was filled. The baker a stout elderly women, waddled up and offered her a warm pastry and a cup of coffee. The mail man that delivered to her dorm, wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. Two of her friends from across the hall ran up and hugged her. A nun, who took a fancy to her as a child smiled reassuringly and took her hands. Just a small group of people she knew. Nelie cleared her throat,
"We're all here, Lyra, because we care for you. And we were worried about you. Will isn't the only person who loves you." Lyra Stared around open mouthed at the kindness that surrounded her. She was unable to speak.
"Lyra." Jason was standing in front of her now and taking her hands. At first she thought to pull away, but was comforted by his warm voice and touch. "I can't imagine what you've been through tonight, but we're all here for you whenever you need us." He looked back nervously at Nelie who gave him a discrete thumbs up. Lyra was too enthralled by the presentation to notice. She nodded her head and again took in her company. She cried, and laughed and smiled all at once and the tension and worry evaporated from everyone's face.
"Thank you all so much for coming here. I can only guess that Nelie put this together?" She smiled at her best friend and winked at her, a promise to repay her later. Then she looked back up at Jason, who had a cautious expression towards her. Nelie quietly motioned for everyone to follow her out.
Jason and Lyra remained and stood awkwardly apart, not sure of the other.
"Jason..." Lyra began
"Yes?" He inclined his head,
"I need time to put all this behind me. And I think I need more than one good friend by my side..." He nodded slowly
"So can I count on you to just be my friend for a while longer, take it slowly at first?" Lyra thought he would say no, but when he looked at her, he seemed pleased.
"Yes, I think I can manage a bit longer, for you." He started to draw her into a hug, but hesitated waiting for her to resist, he cradled her head against him. She sighed relishing the warmth of a friend who cared for her.
Will got home just after the sun had set. The lights in his house were off, which normally he would have registered as strange, but he was caught up in reliving his last moments with Lyra that he didn't even pay attention when the door opened before him. It wasn't until a blast of confetti hit him in the face and Sarah jumped at him yelling "Happy Birthday!" that he realized anything was out of the ordinary.
Sarah hugged him timidly, unsure of herself. Until Will embraced her and smiled as he glanced over her shoulder at the huge chocolate cake in the center of a confetti strewn table. He drew Sarah away and held her slim shoulders at arm's length. Then he leaned in and whispered in her ear,
"I know you've been waiting a long time for me, but you might have to wait a bit longer, ok?" Will hoped it would be enough for her, and he tried to look sincere as she watched him skeptically. Finally she nodded her head and pulled him towards the cake table,
"But it better not be too long, or I might fall in love with somebody else." Sarah smiled at him over her shoulder as Will's mom lit the cake and the chorus of "Happy Birthday" filled the room.
