Epilogue

It was hot in Manhattan, even for August.

Eugene carried food from Shake Shack that he couldn’t really afford. But he was treating himself anyway, because he had been good lately.

He was watching his money carefully. He was writing a lot, and he had even gotten himself a second job at a comic book store.

He actually had Sebastian to thank for that. Sebastian's parents knew someone who knew someone and…well, there you go.

He entered his building; greeted the doorman; then took the elevator up.

He unlocked the door and saw Anna sitting there on the couch. She was surrounded by papers and had his laptop in her lap.

"Hi!" she said, very casually.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. "And what are you doing?"

"Reading everything you've ever written," she said."Fascinating stuff."

He laughed. "Are you serious?"

"Very," she said. "But I'm going to take a break. And you're going to share all that food with me." She took the papers and put them neatly in a pile. Then she gently placed them on the coffee table next to the Titanic book.

He sat down next to her.

She took the Jelly Donut Frozen Custard from him and started drinking. 

"Save some for me," he said.

"We'll see," she said.

 *** 

Dennis sat on his couch between two little girls—his granddaughter Kayla and her little Australian friend Mia.

The three of them each had a laptop.  They played Minecraft.

Dennis built a tower of cobblestone in his world.

Kayla fought zombies with a sword made of stone.

Mia sheared a flock of multi-colored sheep.

In the other room, his daughter was drinking tea while chatting with Mia's mother. 

"Grandpa, look! Look!"

Dennis looked over at Kayla's screen. Another zombie slayed.

Kayla picked up the zombie flesh.

"Look at mine!" Mia said.. The two had been competing for his attention the last hour. It was a miracle he's got any of his own work done. And he had only a little bit of time left before the meeting.

"When are your friends getting here?" Kayla asked.

"Soon," he said.

"One of my friends has gone away," Kayla said sadly. "My daddy too. They're gone now. To the Other Side. I can still talk to them, but it's not the same. My mommy says I shouldn't talk to you about that, but—"

"It's fine," Dennis said.  And it sort of was."

"My Daddy's in Australia," Mia said.

"That's not as far away as the Other Side," Kayla said.

"It's pretty damn far," Mia said.

The doorbell rang.

"Is that your friends?" Kayla asked.

"I think so," Dennis said. "Remember when they're here, you're to play in your mom's old room. Or go outside."

"I know," Kayla said. "It's your grown-up meeting."

"Yes," Dennis said. He stood up and put his laptop on the table. 

He went to the door and opened it.

"Hi!" He said to his five friends.

"Your hair is purple," Mia said to one of them.

Rachel laughed. "So it is," she said. "You're very observant." 

"That's a bit sarcastic," Mia replied. "Come on, Kayla. Let's go play."

Dennis and Rachel laughed as the kids left the room.

 *** 

Zoe sat in her apartment eating s'mores with a fantastic crowd.

Arthur and Bernard.

Taylor and Jesse.

Jessica and Frankie.

Her mother and her father.

Mickey and her old pediatrician.

Sarah Jessica Parker and that guy who used to do the voice of Elmo.

They all roasted marshmallows in a fire in the center of the room.

"Let's eat something healthy too," Taylor said.

"Sure!" Zoe got up and went to the refrigerator.

She opened the produce bin and found the raspberries she had bought for the party. They were covered in mold. 

She turned around and saw Keith standing right behind her. He looked at her with sadness.

She burst into tears.

He kissed her on the chin; then on each cheek.

He kissed her on the forehead and then gently on the lips. "I love you," he said.

"I'm scared," she said.

She looked out to the living room. Everyone else was gone. It was just the two of them now.

"I was wondering if you want to go on a walk," he said, almost shyly. "Maybe we can have a picnic." 

"Yes," she said, wiping away her tears. "But maybe later. I'm going to wake up now. I need to visit Taylor."

"Okay," he said quietly.

Before waking up, she gave him one passionate kiss. "I'll see you tonight," she said.

She opened her eyes and found herself in her bedroom. The sun was shining through the blinds.

The End

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