Page 124 of Darkwater Lane

I’m no longer haunted by his voice anymore.

I’ve made him irrelevant.

Am I done with Melvin Royal?

“I am,” I tell Sam.

Then, to the delight of everyone around us—and myembarrassment—Sam drops to one knee. When he asked me to marry him before, it had been an impulsive, almost casual mention. We’ve never been the sunset-cliff-kneel-down-ring kind of people.

Yet, here we are.

And I realize in that moment, surrounded by everyone I love, by so much happiness and joy and optimism for the future, that we’ve found the light at the end of the tunnel, and it is glorious and warm.