A/N: And this is the Epilogue! I hope you like it! Thanks for all who have read this!

Epilogue

I’m outside of Grace’s house, holding a picture frame of her I’ve kept for awhile. I ring the door bell and take a deep breath. This is the right thing to do, I tell myself. The door opens slowly to reveal Mrs. Jenkin’s face. She takes one look at me and smiles. “Tristin... come in!”

“Thanks.” I walk in to the house and she gives me a huge hug.

“Big day today. How was the ceremony?” I nod, today was Graduation day.

“It was difficult. I wish you would have came.” I was looking for her out in the crowd when they called me up. All I saw was my parents and Tracey... but they weren’t there. It made me sad because they were like my second parents.

“Tristin... that would have been really hard for us.” I nod some more. I should have known. “You look really nice. Your parents must have been really proud.”

“Thanks. Yeah, they were. You know... They did a special memoriam for Grace. It was really nice. They made me speak.” I pull out the folded speech in my pocket. “I figured you’d want to read it. You can keep it, too.”

She takes my paper and smiles. Tears start to form in her eyes. “Tristin, you were always the best girl for Grace to be friends with.” I smile, tears starting to form in my eyes.

“I also have this photo, it was taken a couple weeks before the accident. I also figured you should have it.” I show her the photo of Grace blowing a kiss to the camera. She chuckles as the tears fall down her cheeks.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.” She pulls me in for another hug. She grabs me on the shoulders and holds me out in front of her. “Tristin, if you ever need anything. Anything. You can always come here you know that? I hated not hearing from you after the slip up.”

“I’m sorry. I just felt so horrible doing that to you. I thought that if I stopped talking to you, I wouldn’t make that mistake again. It’s just that... it’s so hard.” I croak. I wipe away the tear drops on my cheeks. “It was really hard getting over her.”

“I know hun, I know. Please, write to us from college? I’d like to see how you’re doing as well.” I gulp. College... that was another thing Grace’s parents will never see their daughter go off to. I nod and hug her again.

“I will, I promise.” She smiles and brushes my hair out of my face.

“Now, go on. Make something big of yourself! Because that’s what Grace would have wanted and that’s what your destiny is. Go full fill it.” I nod and smile, knowing that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to live my life to the fullest. Because life is short, I know that from experience.

:-:

Sarah waits for me outside of my house, as I grab the last of my bags. “Next stop, COLLEGE!” She honks the horn as I wave goodbye to my parents. Sarah and I are going to the same college, and we’re going to be room mates. Ever since that day, we’ve become close. Not as close as Grace and I, but we’re getting there. I’m glad she’s going to the same college as me. I don’t think I’d be able to go through it alone.

“You ready for the next step in life?” She looks at me with her goofy little grin.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” I respond with a smile.

Destiny is a strange thing. Some people don’t believe in it, they believe we decide our own fate. But I don’t. Somehow, I’m grateful that I don’t decide my own fate, because if I did...

I wouldn’t be here.

“Grace was in all her steps, Heav’n in her Eye, In every gesture, dignity, and love.”

– John Milton

A/N: Once again, thanks to all who read this story!! And a special thanks to clumsybella15 for being a great reviewer!!