Nick was right. My futurewasn’tin that envelope. It was standing right there in front of me; it was fast asleep in two pink-painted bedrooms upstairs; and it was in an old weather-worn fisherman’s cottage on the edge of a beach. The people I loved – and those I’d lost –theywere my story: they were my past and my present and they were the only future that I wanted or needed to know.
I felt strong as I stepped out of Nick’s hold and picked up the envelope. Amelia had claimed she already knew what my results would be. Perhaps she did, but that didn’t mean I needed to.
For all his reassurances, I could tell Nick was anxious as I turned the envelope over in my hands. He drew in a long breath and then held it as I walked to the fireplace.
‘Are you sure about this, Lexi?’
Five minutes ago, I wouldn’t have been able to answer that question. But I could now.
‘Absolutely positive.’ I smiled. ‘We’ve got this.’
Then, with no regrets, I threw the envelope and its secrets into the flames.
