Epilogue

 

We open a chapel. At first, it’s small, but word spreads fast. Soon we are meeting in the dome, and Fischer works with others to haul the concert equipment from Greater City to be used in our services of spreading the message of Jesus Christ. People sing and worship. They cry in sorrow and awe. And together we vow we will never forget our God again.

It is one year after the attack on Middle City 1. One year since I have seen Keegan. It is the day we will hold a special service to mourn for all those who were lost. The dome is packed to capacity, and we have set up HELP Comps around the streets so everyone can hear the service.

Several people lead the music, and others stand and give memorial. At the end, I read from the Bible Guard Nev brought me. We have other Bibles now. Using the machines available in Greater City, we have printed thousands of Bibles to distribute. Miriam took many of them with her when she left for the villages.

I step to the front of the stage and take in the thousands of people surrounding me. Nerves flutter in my throat, but I ignore them as I speak. “We are free.”

The people cheer.

“There are so many who led us to this place. People who we will never know their names or their stories, or how they helped us reach this point.” My mind is on Mr. Elders, and I am sure there are others. “Today we should honor them. Remember them. And give thanks.”

When the service ends, I step down. Fischer takes my hand and whisks me away. He stops me outside the door to my office. It’s a prayer room I share with him.

He leans in and kisses me softly on the lips. “There is someone here to speak with you.”

This happens regularly. I smile and nod. “OK.”

He opens the door and I step inside. My smile vanishes. “Dad.”

The man who steps forward looks nothing like my father. His face is haggard, his eyes lifeless. His body is no longer strong and healthy. “Hana. I’m so glad to see you alive.”

I swallow and nod. “Yes, I’ve worried about you, too.”

“I heard you speak today. Your message is powerful and persuasive.”

I nod again, unsure what he expects of me. Worries have plagued me since the attacks. No one could find him, and I never knew if he lived or died.

He steps forward and reaches out to me. Slowly, I take his hand. “I want you to know I believe. I have for months, but I didn’t come sooner because I wasn’t sure if I’d be welcome.”

My voice shakes. “I’m glad to hear that, and I’m glad you came.”

Tears fill his eyes immediately, and I can’t hold my own back. “Your mom would be so proud. She always questioned the Greaters, and when you started I just didn’t know where that left me. I’m so sorry. I have no greater regret in life.”

His words are sincere. They ring true. “Thank you.”

We stand awkwardly in my prayer room, neither of us sure where to go next. Finally, he shifts. “Can I stay here in the city? I mean, can we stay in touch?”

Relief washes over me, and I nod quickly. I can give him this. “I would love nothing more.”

Dad wraps me in a hug and joy bursts through my heart. “I love you, Dad.”

He sobs against me. “I love you, too.”

After Dad leaves, Fischer takes my hand. He leads me to a set of stairs and we walk to a large track around the top of the dome. From the top, we look out at everything that is our city.

“This is the rest of our lives,” Fischer says. “We can move on now.”

I nod, basking in the warmth of the sun and of his hand in mine. “You don’t think we’re where we’re supposed to be?”

“I do,” he says quickly. “But there are those in the cities further west. Those who haven’t travelled this way. I’ve been thinking about them lately.”

I spin toward him. It’s unbelievable how our minds work so closely together. “I’ve been thinking about them, too. There’s a girl I saw in a window there once. I’ve never forgotten her.”

Fischer smiles at me and my insides warm. So we’re going out west together. West to share God’s message. Nerves flutter in my stomach, but I push them aside and offer a prayer of thanks to God.

Fischer kisses me one last time before leaving me to go to my room, and I begin mentally preparing for our trip. It will be hard, but I can handle that. As long as I’m with Fischer, and God, I’ll be exactly where I am meant to be.