Epilogue: Two Years Later
Epilogue: Two Years Later
The annual Royce Foundation Family Festival filled the gardens with hundreds of children.
The foundation, once focused only on business scholarships, now funded grief counseling, children's literacy programs, and family support centers across Chicago.
The largest building bore a simple bronze plaque.
The Sarah Royce Center for Hope
Below it were the words Sarah had written in her journal:
"Joy is not betrayal. It is healing."
Ruby stood near the stage wearing the same glitter-covered sneakers she had worn on her first day.
They were older now.
A little faded.
She refused to throw them away.
"They're lucky shoes," she always said.
Nearby, ten-year-old Olly adjusted the microphone.
"Liam, hurry!"
"I'm coming!"
The twins walked onto the stage together.
Hundreds of guests fell silent.
Edward sat in the front row beside Margaret and Victoria.
Ruby remained near the back, hoping not to be noticed.
Olly smiled at the audience.
Then looked directly at Ruby.
"We used to think..."
He paused.
"...that if we talked..."
"...we'd forget our mom."
Liam finished the sentence.
"But Miss Ruby taught us..."
"...that talking helps us remember."
The crowd grew quiet.
Olly continued.
"Our mommy gave us life."
Liam smiled.
"And Miss Ruby helped us live it again."
Neither woman replaced the other.
One had given them their beginning.
The other had helped them find their way forward.
Edward wiped away a tear as the audience rose in a standing ovation.
Ruby looked up toward the clear blue sky and whispered so softly that only she could hear it,
"They're doing okay, Sarah."
A warm breeze stirred the white daisies surrounding the stage.
For just a moment, it seemed as though the entire garden smiled.
And in the Royce family, silence was no longer the sound of grief.
May you like
It had become the peaceful pause between laughter.
THE END.
