Some of the guys built a bonfire on the beach—on theeast, not to be confused with the fire they were using to burn bodies on the west.
The only body they buried was that of Kent, The Ivory’s personal security and his right-hand man, who’d sacrificed himself to save us when Russo’s men were firing at us. Angel and Trevel wanted to have a small funeral for him, which they did. His grave now rests beside those of our friends…
Henry Landon. Kieran O’Malley…
And Parker Freeman.
It was an emotional moment even being over there. But we had each other, and that made it easier, just like it did when we lost them.
Velle had the team cook food for everyone over the bonfire on the beach—easier than doing it in the kitchen. We ate, talked and laughed, celebrating the win, and remembering those who lost their lives along the way, whether in the war itself, or the years of imprisonment that led to it. Then we poured out a drink for them.
Now we’re sitting around the fire, as afamily, beneath a blanket of stars, while Colson strums his guitar. He’s just playing, weaving soft melodies as a soundtrack to our chitchat. All the couples and throuples cuddling up, watching the fire. As it does, the chatter dies down, and all that’s left is the fire, and the music.
Colson stops the unfamiliar chords of his own music. He does that often, comes up with something on the fly. It’s how he writes his songs, melody first.
But now he’s started on something that’s not his. Likely one of his emo-boy favorites.
I can see that Velle is instantly perked.He knows this song.
And then Colson begins to sing, lyrics about being along way from home, lost by an echo, I’d never have known…
Cyrus and Tauren are smiling, and as he goes on, the smiles spread across the rest of us. Bobbing and swaying along to the enchanting harmony of our friend the musician, around this campfire ofvictory.
To my surprise, by the chorus, Byron joins in.I’ve never heard him sing! He’s actually got a great voice.
Then Trevel joins. Then Ren and Dash, and Kemper. Cyrus, and even Felix, and I’m mad I don’t know the lyrics because I don’t listen to sad-boy songs!
But by the second chorus, I pick it up.
And when Velle, Joy, and Rook join in, it’s a full-on family kumbaya around the campfire. Like that time we sang in the cafeteria…
Onlynow, we’re free.
We broke out, and burned it down. So we’ll sing… Because wecan.
There’s room to believe…
Out of sight, out of mind, out of reach.
Start over. It’s no way to begin.
By the final chord, we’re all cheering and whooping, and laughing.
“That was amazing!” Ren trills.
“Now doCrimson and Clover!” Felix cheers.
We all laugh. Well, those of us who get the joke, which is most of the Pen family, minus Rook, Lem, and Trevel, who look lost.
But Colson is grinning, and ever the secret lover of playing to people’s requests, he starts it up.
“If you guys think I’m singing in front of all of you like some fucking ballad or whatever, you’re high,” Dash chuckles as Kemper pulls him in close, grinning and kissing his hair.
“Whatisyour obsession with this song, anyway?” Velle smirks.
Dash’s forehead lines, like he’s remembering something. “I think my parents used to play it when I was little. When things were… simple.”
He looks up. His father is over by the trees lining the mansion driveway, talking to The Ivory and Angel.
