Touching Melody

Epilogue

Maddie





The cemetery is peaceful. A light breeze pushes the leaves. The sound reminds me of the ocean at sunrise, its waves rolling lazily to shore. The sky is clear and blue. No one else is here, just the chirping birds, the dead, and me.

I make my way through the gravestones. My parents are buried under a giant oak near the back. Their headstone is in the shade, away from the summer heat. In my hands are a bunch of daisies, my mom’s favorite flower. I’ve placed them in an empty bottle of beer—my dad’s favorite kind.

“Hi, Mom and Dad. Sorry it’s been so long. It was really hard to visit you here. Knowing I can’t see you. Wondering…” Tears build and roll down my cheeks. I don’t bother wiping them away. Crying is part of grieving, and I know it’s necessary. I sniffle. “But I’m trying. No, actually I’m doing better than trying. I’m living my life the best way I can.” I place the bouquet of flowers in front of their headstone and step back. “Kyle is in my life. He’s all grown up, and he’s amazing. Better than I ever imagined. With him on my side I know I’ll be okay.”

A breeze whips past my face and I imagine it’s my mom and dad, hugging me. When it passes, I take another step back. “Aunt Eliza and Uncle John have been great to me. They aren’t the same as having real parents, but they’re close. Aunt Eliza is always telling me to live a little. Well I intend to do just that. Live each day with hope. With love. And without excuses.”





Afterword



Thank you so much for reading Touching Melody. Maddie and Kyle are fictional characters based in a fictional world. Their journey is a one of love—finding it and fighting for it—based on their life choices.

While many scenes in this story are based on reality, that doesn’t mean I condone recreational drug use, underage drinking, premarital sex (with or without protection), or excessive use of curse words. If anything in this novel bothered you, I would suggest talking to someone about it. Get the real facts, based on your situation. I’m all for discussion with parents, parental caregivers, or a therapist. One in five women is sexually assaulted during her college years.

The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) is a great source to get answers to questions and/or information.