The Girl in the Cupboard
Epilogue:
8 years later
The past does not define me. It is merely the past. Things that cannot describe my future for me.
And that's why I'm who I am now. I am no longer just that Girl in the Cupboard. Now, I'm a happy young woman. I'm Marianne.
In those weeks after I had first escaped the cupboard, I had thought that I was already the person I was meant to be. But I wasn't. In retrospect actually, I was only an older vision of the little 6 year old Marianne.
Yet, since then, I've grown. Marco no longer runs my life; what I do or when I need to be scared.
But he did scar me.
I am ten times more cautious, I've been like that for 8 years. No, I don't inflict a thorough search of the history of every person I ever say hello too. I'm just a little less trusting of new faces, which my therapist had said was perfectly normal.
Yeah, I had to go to therapy for a year after Marco had been arrested, but it helped. It healed me a little.
But there was a scar, just in the back of my head. You can't just forget these sorts of things. Being ripped away from who you loved, then having them ripped away too. It'll always scare me just a little, because I'll always wake up in the morning frightened of what the day might bring.
Still, it gets better. I know everyday makes the memories a little less painful.
The only good thing about what had happened was my bond with my family. I'm 24 now, and I'm so much closer to my family than most of my friends my age.
That's why I'm spending Christmas day with them. Why I'm waking up in my old room rather than in my apartment. Why I can hear my mum humming and cooking downstairs.
I throw the sheets back, sprinting downstairs, "Merry Christmas!"
Jacob smiles at me from his chair, "Merry Christmas Mari."
I ruffle his hair a little, making him laugh and shove my hands away. I don't care if he is twenty now, he's still my baby brother.
"Merry Christmas," my mom says, "Matthew and your dad are just snoring upstairs."
Jake and I giggle, and Jake has a brilliant idea, "Let's spread nutella on their faces. As a Christmas present!"
Mom laughs, "You do that. But first, Mari, could you just run to the store and grab some eggs?"
"Sure mom!" I kiss her cheek and grab my keys, slipping my boots on and my winter coat.
I took less than ten minutes at the store, and I found myself back in my driveway faster than expected.
As I walk up my porch, I find someone about to ring the doorbell.
"Hello," I tell them, smiling.
The person turns around and my smile somehow gets bigger.
"Asher," I breath.
"Mari?"
I nod, feeling cozy when he wraps his arms around me.
The truth is, after about two years, Asher got accepted into some fancy college far away. We had broken up since our relationship had been rocky at the time and I hadn't seen him for the next 6 years.
It had broken my heart to let him go, but no matter how much we loved each other, neither of us could handle being so far away, and that decision had resulted in me crying myself to sleep for weeks.
He hadn't come back, and I figured he had moved on.
"It's so great to see you," he mumbled in my ear before letting me go.
I smiled weakly, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm visiting my mum for Christmas. I thought I'd stop by and see you guys. But I figured you'd spend Christmas with your boyfriend or something."
My cheeks heated up, "I'm not seeing anyone right now actually."
Was I imagining Asher's smug expression right now? Was I imagining him looking happy I was single?
"Oh, really?" he asked.
"Yeah," I say. I haven't actually dated since we broke up, no one else could ever make me feel like Asher had.
"Are you?" I ask him. He shakes his head.
I try not to smile as I say, "Oh."
For a moment he smirks at me. A knowing, devilish smirk that's not cocky, but almost as though he's just thrilled. And for a moment I feel like I'm sixteen again, being wooed over by that handsome boy.
"C'mon in, my mum will be so happy to see you," I open the door, allowing the smell of pancakes to flood out of the house.
Asher grins at me, "Smells good."
I laugh, "Just go inside."
He slings his arm over my shoulder, like he used to, and pulls me inside with him. I lean into him slightly, inhaling the familiar scent of his being.
And once again I think; the past can't define my future.
The end.
ITS OVER! *sob*
just kidding, but yeah, sorry the epilogue was a little late, but I made if super long so yay!!!
and we wanted to let you guys know that we'll be taking a break from witty for a week or so, not too long, but we won't post the new story right away.
we've started writing a story on wattpad too! our username is stll sparklylaughter so make sure to check it out :)
i think that's it, sooo i hope you guys liked "The Girl In The Cupboard"
comment for a notification about the new story :D
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