Final Epilogue

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Pimlico

DEAR NO ONE,

It’s been a while since I wrote to you. I hope you don’t mind.

I suppose I have no need to write when I live with you, love you, and get to see you every day. I get to see you become the most incredible dad. I get to witness you become the most selfless, amazing man. And I get to love you every day as my super-star husband.

You gave me everything I was missing.

You gave me everything I didn’t know I could have.

You don’t know this, but when I speak to my mother on the phone, I tell her every little thing you’ve done for me. I regale her with tales of how incredible you play the cello, and how you’re teaching Aria to master the same songs that once haunted me. I inform her of how patient you are with Rosie, our little black-haired daughter, and her quirks of hiding food around the house, unable to be convinced she’ll never be hungry again. And I can’t stop gushing about what an amazing role model you are to James, our newest son.

It’s funny that Aria chose the day James arrived to finally shed her silence and welcome her new brother to the Phantom. It’s funny how effortless our family works, sailing the seas, exploring, teaching our children life lessons, and being there for them through every nightmare from their previous worlds.

I also haven’t told you that your mother called last week. She asked me not to tell you so that’s why I’m writing you this letter. She’s asked me to arrange a family reunion of sorts, so I’m busy planning a route with Jolfer that will hopefully keep you in the dark for as long as I can.

She’s finally ready to meet her grandchildren and tell you what she’s always been too broken to admit. That she loves you. That she’s proud of you. That she’s sorry.

I think I’ll ask Jolfer to sail to Bali and arrange for her to join us there. What better place to bury unhappiness than in a place full of happiness and children’s smiles?

I don’t really have anything else to confess. I have no panic attacks to admit to. No nightmares to succumb to and that’s all because of you.

For years now, you’ve been more than just my husband and father to our children but also my protector and best friend. I owe you more than I could ever give and if I could go back to that first meeting when you pushed a penny toward me for my thoughts, I would claim it and look into your eyes and speak boldly.

I would say my thoughts are priceless because they are all of you.

I would say my life is blessed because I share it with you.

Our children might’ve been born to different people and learned first-hand what it is like to be hurt, but now they are ours. Their blood is ours. Their future is ours. And in return, we are theirs.

I love you, No One.

I will always love you.

Thank you for accepting my very first letters and for waiting for my first word.

Thank you for marrying me and giving me a dream come true.

Thank you for finding me, for saving me, for fixing me.

Thank you...for everything.

Yours forever and ever,

Tasmin Prest