The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller(74)

That one makes me smile.
Quinn looks around and a grin crosses her face in appreciation for the comments. Sabrina, however, winces with each one as her face blushes beet red.
But Quinn’s not done yet.
“Where’s Josh? Oooooh! That’s right. He’s with Candace now. They’re engaged, yes?” Quinn asks as her face falls serious. “Sucks, doesn’t it? That explains why you no longer have any friends.” She glances back at me and Kaeleb. “Well, I do. I’ve been waiting four long years for this day and I refuse to let you ruin it for me.” She pauses. “Or for them. Sorry guys.” She throws over her shoulder in a low, apologetic tone.
“It’s okay,” I yell-whisper back to her.
She looks back to Sabrina. “So, go. Get out of here. No one wants you here,” Quinn adds, shooing her away with her hands. The crowd erupts with clapping and cheering when Sabrina hesitantly turns away, clearly embarrassed as she trudges her way down the sidewalk.
The smile finally breaks free from my reins as I relax my body into Kaeleb’s. He wraps his arms around my shoulders, his body shaking with laughter. “Damn. Just when I thought this day couldn’t get any better.”
“Right?” I respond as his lips find my ear.
Quinn turns around with a beaming smile, clapping as she bounces up and down. “That was so awesome!”
I laugh. “Hell yeah, it was!”
I extend my arms and she rushes into them. Kaeleb releases me and steps to my side, ruffling her hair. “Damn, girl. Remind me not to piss you off.”
She giggles in my arms and I release her, tightening my gaze in confusion. “How did you know all of that stuff about Josh and Candace?”
She answers with a shrug of her shoulders. “My therapist told me I needed to work on letting go of what happened. So one day I called Josh and he apologized. Like, a sincere apology. I could tell.” She lifts her eyebrows and nods her head as though trying to convince me, but I have no doubt it was.
Sabrina is a virus, feeding off of people and infecting them with her evil as she manipulates their minds in the process. Not that I will ever condone what happened with Josh, but if his apology was enough for Quinn, it’s enough for me.
“It only took a week or so after what happened at the club for her to turn that maliciousness on to both him and Candace. I guess with me out of the picture, she had to find some other people to attack.” She sighs. “He broke it off with her shortly after, and even tried to get in contact with me to tell me how sorry he was. He’s not a bad person, and evidently, neither is Candace.”
She shrugs her shoulders and releases a long breath. “It’s no surprise to me that Sabrina bullied them into doing things that weren’t really indicative of who they are as people. Because a bully is all she is. All she ever will be. It’s sad really, when you think about it,” Quinn states sincerely with a sad smile on her face.
Leave it to Quinn to be able to forgive like that. Another reason why she is an amazing person.
“I let go of that a long time ago. But there was no way I was going to let her ruin today. For any of us,” she adds with a giggle before glancing down at my hand and reaching for it. “Speaking of which…let me see that ring again!”
I lift my hand and she oohs and aahs appropriately. My eyes land on Kaeleb, and his sexy, confident half-smile makes my chest flutter like crazy.
As soon as my heart takes flight, the clouds break and the first appearance of the sun in over a week can be felt as the heat of its rays bounce off my back.
Coincidence? I think not.
I turn away from him and shield my eyes, looking up into the single beam as it covers us. Absorbing its warmth, I feel the love of Linda as she sends me her message of approval. I allow her essence to flood me, knowing she’s happy now and that she will always remain ever-present as she guides me through this life.
Kaeleb gives me credit for pulling my way out of the darkness, but as I feel her permeate my being, I know she was always right behind me, in both life and death, pushing with all her might until I found my way.
Until I navigated my way right to this very moment.
And as I drop my hand from my face, I give her a silent thank you before twisting my body to face Kaeleb. With his eyes gentle, full of adoration and caring, I know without a doubt that she’s helped steer me right where I need to be.
Home.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Palmer: So, you gearing up for graduation?
Me: (Nods) I’m on track for May.
Palmer: Only a month left then?
Me: (Smiles) Yeah.
Palmer: And Kaeleb? He’s ready as well?
Me: Yep.
Palmer: (Grins) I hear you two are getting married. Congratulations, Aubrey. I’m very happy for both of you.
Me: (Laughs) And to think it all started with the Elements of Trust. Who knew you had mad match-making skills?
Palmer: (Chuckles and strokes his beard) I’m multi-talented, what can I say?
Me: You’re more than that, Doc. You’re a miracle worker.
Me: (Brows furrow) Why did you quit? Practicing I mean.
Palmer: (Laughs) It would seem that I never really did, wouldn’t you say? (Sighs) I do enjoy the teaching aspect, helping people learn to break through whatever issues they have with trusting others. But sometimes I guess there are just certain individuals who silently call to me for my guidance such as you and Kaeleb. I don’t need to get paid for it. I just do it because that’s what I feel that I’ve been put on Earth to do.
Me: (Nods) I understand completely. That’s why I’m going to med school, I think. To use my experiences to better others.