EPILOGUE
HANK
The fall after next…
“These inclines are a serious workout!” I declare as we head down another steep cliff, orienting toward the beach. “When we hike the Pacific Crest Trail, there will be plenty of elevation gain. Nice job suggesting this hike!”
Huffing, Elliot keeps pace behind me. “You know me. I love a good shin splint.”
I chuckle. He’s arranged our first big hike together, an extended excursion next month. I’ve been at the National Parks Service long enough now that I can take a week off, and Elliot has insisted that we use the time to hike the trail, something I’ve intended to do for years.
Since I left the firm and Elliot moved into the condo, our life has found a steady, happy rhythm. He travels once a month or so to visit a convention or speak about his art, and I get the chance to join him sometimes, too. But for the most part, we’re busy with our careers and our lives in Seattle. The second bedroom in the condo has become his art studio, a place where Elliot’s chaos still reigns behind a closed door. And on weekends, wesee friends for games, hikes, and general relaxing, as well as the occasional concert or museum opening.
It’s idyllic. Peaceful and restorative, but filled with new adventures and surprises, too, and I fall even more in love with him every day we share.
When we arrive to the sea, I see a dock with a few boats waiting. I glance around and take stock before turning to Elliot.
“What’s the surprise? You said there’s a destination at the end of this hike?”
Elliot wipes sweat off his brow. “That’s right,” he says, and I see that he’s suddenly nervous. “If you don’t want to do this, it’s totally fine. I really won’t be let down. But I called up the baronet.”
My eyebrows pop. “Oh!”
“Do you want to go back to the island with me, Hank?”
My head spins. I’ve never considered returning to the island, but after just a moment’s reflection, I realize that I do want that. The disaster feels like a different life now. Secure and happy in my relationship with Elliot, I know I’m capable of facing it again, and confronting everything that’s happened.
“I think I would, yes.”
Elliot smiles and gestures to the boats. “This way. I see the pilot coming now.”
We walk up to a small boat with a little motor, and the pilot joins us, helping us each in. Elliot hands me a life jacket before slipping his on, and we take off across the water.
Elliot takes my hand, and I pull him closer as waves splash behind us. We ride in silence, holding each other, both lost in thought and the rhythmic spell of the waves.
“What made you want to go back?” I ask finally.
Elliot gazes in my eyes. “When it first occurred to me, I shoved the idea away. I thought about our old campsite still sitting there, and it creeped me out. But then I keptremembering how much has happened since then. How far we’ve come together. And it started to feel like I needed to go back, just to see.”
I nod.
“How do you feel?” he asks me.
“Good,” I answer as I check in with myself. “Grateful. I didn’t know if I would make it off that island alive. But we’ve done more than survive together. We’ve built a life that I never would have imagined. Right now, I feel proud.”
“Same,” Elliot agrees. “We’ve both come so far.”
I suck in a surprised breath. “Look.”
The island rises up in front of us, familiar but also different from this vantage.
Elliot directs the pilot toward the cove, and we get out at a reasonably comfortable spot. He produces water shoes from his bag, and we wear them as we wade toward the shore. It’s a different season than when we were stranded here, and the forest flashes with fall colors of red, orange, and yellow.
We stand on dry land, my arm around Elliot’s shoulder, and take it in. My emotion swirls, memories coming back in flashes.
“It really is this beautiful,” I say. “I thought it might only be my fevered memories.”
“Gorgeous,” Elliot agrees.
