Page 105 of In The Dark

“I didn’t think I’d ever have this either,” Amelia said, picking her own cutlery back up. “Not again. Not after…everything.”

Jo didn’t press. She just nodded and kept eating. She already knew what Amelia meant.

“I thought I’d be on my own,” Amelia continued. “Too much baggage. Too many ghosts. But you just…” She trailed off and smiled to herself. “You’ve never once looked at me like I’m too much.”

“You could never be too much. You just needed the right person to sit with you through the hard stuff.”

A surge of emotion hit Amelia full force. She reached for her napkin and dabbed at her eyes before the tears could spill out. “You’re so perfect.”

“Honestly…” Jo grinned. “It’sexhaustingbeing this perfect.”

Amelia laughed as she pushed her bowl aside. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Jo stood, circled the table, and bent down to press a kiss to Amelia’s hair. “Come on. I’m craving something sweet, and it’snotin the fridge.”

Amelia tilted her head back and looked up at her. “Oh? What are you craving then?”

Jo smirked. “You.”

“Well.” Amelia was guided to her feet. “Aren’t you in quite the mood tonight?”

“I’ve had excellent food with the woman I love…andcompliments. There’s nothing down for you now. You’re in trouble.”

They left the dishes where they were and moved into the living room, the lights dim and the evening mellow. Amelia curled up against Jo the moment they landed on the couch, one arm looped loosely around her waist, her head on Jo’s shoulder.

“This,” Jo whispered, her chin resting on Amelia’s head, “is the best part of the day.”

“Mm.” Amelia closed her eyes and breathed it all in. The pain was gone, happiness had planted itself firmly inside of her, and Amelia couldn’t wait for whatever came next. “It is.”

Epilogue

One year later…

The rain hadfinallystoppedby the time the last wine bottle hit the recycling bin. Amelia wiped her hands on a tea towel and turned to glance at Jo, where she was curled up on the couch in the kitchen with Ada, both of them laughing at something on Ada’s phone. Evie stood at the window, swirling the last of her Malbec as she peered out at the garden Jo had insisted on ‘saving’ from Amelia’s meticulous landscaping. A wild little patch of lavender and daisies now thrived in the corner, chaotic and oddly perfect…much like Jo herself.

A year.

Somehow, it had been a year.

Amelia set the towel down and leaned against the kitchen counter, giving herself a moment to take it all in. Her life was truly something beautiful now. Friends and conversation, dinner with those who mattered most to them. One of Jo’s hoodies slung over the dining chair, a half-written shopping list stuck to the fridge with the llama magnet…a Polaroid of them grinning in the garden on Jo’s birthday, sitting just below.

Her home didn’t justlookdifferent now. It felt different. Lived in, loved, every corner showing their relationship in one form or another.

And Amelia was still here, still thriving, and still…whole.

Evie stepped back from the window and turned to Amelia. “You having a moment over there?”

“Maybe.” Amelia smiled. “Is that a crime?”

Evie walked over and bumped their shoulders together. “Depends on whether this moment ends with more wine or a smug speech.”

“I’m leaning towards smug speech.”

“Oh, go on then.”

Amelia laughed softly, but before she could speak, Jo shot from the couch. “Wait! If there’s going to be a speech, I need snacks.”

Ada rolled her eyes. “You’ve just had two slices of cake.”