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“I will try,” I say as she vanishes into nothing, and I stumble forward into the emptiness of the intersection.

I guess this is over. I stumble back to the car, sobbing softly under my breath. I never expected that anyone would love me enough to sacrifice themselves for me. But as profound asmy sadness is, my relief and hope are beside it. Somehow, I'm allowed to keep my Daphne. I get to live my life beside her.

And I know one thing for sure: I’m going to make it the best life I can make. Not only for Garrett and Lulu, and Daph, but for me too.

Lulu has made one hell of a deal. Her deal has given me the gift of a life full of love. I’ll be damned if I’m going to waste it.

The End.

Epilogue

One Year Later – Daphne

Max is snoring lightly, tangled in the sheets, as I open the patio door as quietly as I can and step out onto the balcony overlooking the resort beach. Every time I think I can’t possibly see something more beautiful than I already have, I am surprised by a new high. This morning is like that.

The sun is popping over the ocean’s horizon, filling the sky with purples and reds, reflecting on the water’s surface in a dreamy dance. I’ve spent so many years in hell, it still seems like a dream to be in this heaven. Heaven is here on Earth.

Max has been the man I knew he was. During this last year, he has taken a sabbatical from work, and after some shady dealings to get me a fake identity, we have traveled the world and lived our lives to the fullest.

With the year coming to an end, we thought the best way to end it would be by getting married, so that’s what we did. Neither of us has any other family, so a small justice of the peace wedding worked out perfectly. Now, the rising sun on the last day of our Hawaiian honeymoon brings with it a buzz of excitement.

Tomorrow, we head back to the city. Next week, I start classes at the Culinary Center. As much as I am looking forward to it, I will miss this pace.

The door groans behind me, and I turn to see Max holding out a cup of coffee.

“Good morning, wife,” he says, handing me the cup as I smile at him. Hearing that will never get old.

“Good morning, my husband.”

He looks out at the water. “Wow. Sucks we have to leave today. And as much as I don’t want to go back to work, I’m hopeful that at least my new position will be a lot less demanding of me.”

“I think it’s brilliant you told them you’d only come back for a junior position.”

He laughs. “They still probably can’t believe it. I doubt many people negotiate a lower salary with less of a title and responsibility.”

“True,” I say, setting my cup down on a small table. “Come here, you.”

He turns and steps into my arms, wrapping me in a warm embrace. Pressing my ear to his chest, I breathe with him, and the drumming of his heart is music to my soul. “I love you, Max.”

His fingers move up my neck, and he holds the back of my head, bending down to kiss my lips. His touch is gentle and sweet, filling me with hope and security.

He is my forever, and our lives together have only just begun. Our marriage is the kind of contract that I’m happy to be locked into…I only wish we had a hundred more years to live. Because together, there is nothing we cannot do.

Love is a powerful force, and I will always honor its ability to repair even the most damaged of souls. Humans…Demons…Love can save us all.