Memories. They are fragile things.
We tend to remember the good ones and block out the unpleasant ones.
That's what I've been doing my entire life.
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Now that my life is over and an eternity of bliss awaits me, I chose to rake them all up—all the bad ones.
Why? Well, because I realize they are a part of my life, a part of me.
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My baby brother died in my arms at Cold Oak. His death made me love him even more.
I suffered atrocities in Hell. That made me appreciate the blessings I had on Earth. There have been so many cruel and painful moments, but along with the good ones, they forged me into the Dean Winchester I now am.
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So, when the moment came, in an anonymous barn on a run-of-the-mill hunt, that I found myself at death's door, those memories gave me the strength to console Sammy, give him courage and hope to continue life without his big brother.
And he made me proud.
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Now we both reap our reward. Nothing more can hurt or harm us.
The Winchester brothers are together for eternity.
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And to my joy, through some chick-flick soul bond, I understand that Sam feels the same way.
I turn to smile at him, seated in the passenger seat of our Heavenly Impala and when he returns that smile, it's as if I'm bathed in the warm rays of the sun.
And I Dean Winchester could not have asked for more.