After the Storm

Epilogue

[ARIZONA'S POV]

April 2022

Callie and I were sitting on the porch that overlooked the yard, permanent smiles stretched across our faces. In the distance, Sofia chased Lexie and Tim around the trees.

In just a few weeks, Sofia would be turning eleven. The twins had just turned eight in the middle of March. It was easy to tell who looked like who now, not that it mattered to either of us. It was just interesting how Sofia inherited almost nothing from Mark while Tim seemed to purely consist of his genes. The twins were fraternal, but they shared many similarities. Lexie just happened to take after me.

I could sit and watch our children play forever. Their laughter was a sound that I would never tire of. As they chased each other around the yard, I paid attention to the little things; Lexie's blonde curls bouncing around her shoulders. Tim's eyes sparkling  underneath the sunshine. Sofia's unique and contagious giggle.

I know that everybody believes this about their children, but they're perfect. I never could've imagined how beautiful my life could be.

I felt sentimental as I watched our family, prompting me to lean over and kiss the side of Callie's face. None of this would've been possible without her.

"I love you," I whispered, leaning my forehead against her shoulder and closing my eyes.

"I love you, too," Callie whispered, brushing my hair behind my ear and leaning into me. "Forever."

-X-

November 2024

I wrapped my arms around Callie and Lexie, smiling for another photograph. Lexie held her ribbon proudly, beaming as she stared into the camera.

"Just one more and that should do it," Mrs. Whittaker, the librarian, announced. "Congratulations, Lexie. You should be very proud of yourself."

Lexie had participated in her school spelling bee and she finished in first place, leaving myself and the rest of our family very proud and impressed. The librarians wanted to include a photograph of her and the finalists in the school paper.

-X-

July 2027

Callie and I spent most of the summer attending activities for our children, but we wouldn't have wanted to spend our time any other way. It brought us an indescribable joy when we watched our children do the things they loved.

Today, Timothy was participating in one of his final baseball games of the season. I kept my eyes trained on my son as he walked up to bat and send the ball flying across the field.

Callie and I stood up, clapping and cheering for our boy. There was nothing these kids couldn't do, I swear. With that hit, Timothy brought his team ahead.

-X-

May 2029

It's raining outside, per usual, but today is too important to be tarnished by the our state's trademark weather. I held onto Callie's hand, my heart pounding in my chest as we waited for our eldest daughter's name to be called.

"Sofia Robbin Sloan Torres."

I promised myself that I wouldn't cry until after the ceremony, but I'd abandoned that promise as soon as Sofia ascended the steps onto the stage. I wiped my eyes, my makeup smudging in the process, and I knew I looked nothing short of a mess- but I didn't care; nothing could ruin this day.

Sofia walked across the stage, her shoulders high and her smile bright, just like Callie and I taught her.    I knew that her confidence, however, was something she'd inherited purely from Callie.