Winter Days *Epilogue*

Oh, yeah, I know it's not easy

I know that it's hard

No, it's not always pretty

A flash of pink in a sea of brown. In the middle of your yard a flower stood tall. All around it the grass was still dead from winter, but this one flower pushed past it all. Despite winter's attempt at holding back spring's color and warmth, this flower prevailed. It would be the first of many. It wasn't easy, but it took the chance. Now that flower wasn't living in the past. It wasn't stuck wondering ' or

Could you do that? Could you be like that single flower? It would be hard of course, and the results could go anywhere, but wouldn't it be better to be out of the past?

You stood up from your crouched position in your yard and brushed the dirt from your knees. The air was filled with warmth as the sun kissed your skin. Lauren and Big C had left for their honeymoon this morning. Gabe gave that ring to Namine and now they were engaged. Of course, they didn't plan to marry until after she graduated high school. You still kept the letter from Axel and Reno's mother tucked away in your house. You meant to give it to them, but then you were kidnapped and it escaped your mind. Now you were forced to make a decision though. Your biggest fear at the moment is that they'll go searching for her and find an empty house, or worse an unloving mother.

Kairi sent you a letter explaining how she was adjusting to living in the castle. It was all subtle changes.

Things would always change though, just like the seasons, but it was up to you to change with it. You had to change along with the change. Winter was gone and spring was moving in. That meant you had to let go of the winter and embrace the new change. You weren't going to waste another minute being sad or angry over the King situation because that would only take precious seconds of your happiness away.

You would be brave.

You would stay strong.

It was time to .