Ravenna sat on the whitewashed patio overlooking the harbor, watching the weekly ferry pull away from the pier, continuing its relentless journey around the islands.
After Trevor returned from England, his health had slowly worsened. The tests he had in England only confirmed what she already knew: his disease, ARN, was progressing faster than anyone thought. The new medication slowed the process but did not halt it.
Ravenna cherished what time they had left, for she knew he was approaching the end of his journey. She gave him his medication to help him sleep and assumed all of the aspects of running the hotel while making sure he was comfortable and not in pain. That’s what she was there for. She could see pain written on his face and how every movement he made tortured him.
Every day after dinner, she would steer his wheelchair to the patio, near the same spot she had last held Jack in her arms. They watched the sunset together, bathing in the warmth of the sun’s fading glow, as it dipped into the blue seawater.
He lasted another two months. One morning, she went to his room to wake him, throwing open the curtains to greet a new day and to help him dress. His body was cold. He was gone, but at least now he was finally free of pain, out of time and out of life.
Ravenna accompanied his body back to Cornwall, England, where he was buried in the family plot. His death made all of the newspapers worldwide, which recounted his battlefield heroics in great detail and showed a picture of him in his uniform. He was so handsome then, so full of life. The papers mentioned all living relatives but made no mention of his closest friend at the end, Ravenna.
She had fulfilled the promise she made to Trevor and nursed him through his final days with ARN. She always regretted that she was not able to help her brother when he suffered with the dreaded disease. Now, with all of her medical training, she was able to help Trevor live out his life the way he always wanted. She didn’t regret it, but now that she was alone she missed Jack even more.
Members of the British Royal Air Force attended the funeral in Cornwall, and at his mother’s request, presented Ravenna with the memorial Union Jack flag to honor his service to the country. He received a full military honors funeral. Ravenna sobbed through the whole ceremony. They had become very close, and she knew she would miss him…but he was on to a better place.
After the funeral, Ravenna decided to return to the only place she had ever known happiness. A place she called home, where she had finally reunited with the only man she ever loved, back to Hotel Petros. She would wait there for Jack.