Getting to Nirvana {editing}

Epilogue

Arhat: At this stage, the path bears ultimate fruit in nirvana. The experience, frequently accompanied by unimaginable bliss, has been compared to falling into the depths of a cloud and disappearing.

Nirvana

"Are we almost there?" I bounce in my seat frantically as I gaze out the window at the boring glass buildings and seemingly endless expanse of highway. It seems like that's all I've been seeing for the past hour or so.

My dad chuckles. "Chill. We've been driving for less than thirty minutes. Don't worry, your boyfriend's not going anywhere. He doesn't have any other ride."

I groan feeling my face grow hot, but my insides melt at the title. I've never had a boyfriend to call my own. Even though we haven't made it official, from the phone calls I've received from Daniel since I got home, he made it seem like it was going somewhere.

"I really gotta scope this boy out make sure his intentions are pure with you." I turn around in my driver's seat to look at Zephyr. Her small but pronounced belly pokes from over her seatbelt. Now that she's almost five months pregnant she hasn't really kept it a secret anymore. She even reached out to her friends and told them although I don't think she wants anyone else to know. She still attends that catholic school but since it's Thanksgiving Break my dad flew her out to be with us.

"Yes mother Zephyr." I mock playfully. Ever since her pregnancy, Zephyr has gotten increasingly more mature. Instead of worrying about trivial things like high school gossip and homecoming queen, she now worries about what stories to read to her son, because according to her reading to him while he's in her stomach will make him intelligent.

"Hey not yet." She smiles at me warmly. Even though mom and dad blatantly told her she was giving the baby up for adoption, I'm still not sure she's actually going to go through with it or not, and I don't even think she knows either. I shrug my shoulders care freely. Only time will tell.

"Now we're here." My dad announces as he pulls into the Houston airport. From our view we can see planes gliding in the air, just taking off.

I check my phone. Daniel's flight landed approximately twenty minutes ago.

When my dad stops the car I quickly unbuckle my seatbelt and basically leap from my seat.

To my horror my dad starts getting out too.

"Oh no." I groan. "You are not coming with me."

"Oh come on. Your mother wanted me to take a picture of you two lovebirds."

Because my mom was too busy cooking for our Thanksgiving feast tomorrow she opted to stay at home. Much to my delight. I couldn't take two parents gushing about my first ever relationship at the same time.

"No." I command. "You're staying. Just drive around and come back in like ten minutes. By that time I'll be out with Daniel, and you can both meet him then."

My dad grumbles but gets back in the car obligingly, muttering about how Daniel must be made of gold from how love struck I am.

"Love you daddy." I say warmly grateful to him. Without him Daniel would still be in France in that stupid jail. He paid his bail and his ticket here. In return all he asked for is for Daniel to treat me with the utmost respect. Although Daniel is also grateful he's too prideful to accept this and insists on paying everything back as soon as he gets a job.