Chapter 219 Epilogue
“Havilah, can you tell me what your painting is about?” the therapist asked with a mild smile.
“The woods,” Havilah said.
“You are such a good artist. Can you tell me why you only draw the woods?”
Her face fell. She looked down and continued to draw.
The session ended. Havilah stepped out with her yellow bag flung over her shoulder, hugging her plushie. Boyle and Bianca were already waiting for her at the reception hall.
“Excuse me, Mr. Richards, may I see you?” the therapist said.
Boyle dropped a kiss on the little girl’s forehead before he stood up.
In her office, she passed him Havilah’s drawing book.
“Your daughter has only drawn one thing since her therapy started. She has opened up about everything else but wouldn’t talk about this.”
Boyle opened the drawing book.
“I think her nightmares are tied to these woods.”
Boyle recognized the place. He knew immediately how that moment had tattooed itself deep into the child’s memory.
“Miss Joan, you already know the backstory. What I need now is a solution, and you are the professional,” Boyle stated.
The woman opened her drawer and brought out a flier. “Our organization is running a program like Havilah,” she started. “One thing about kids with trauma—they grow up and become weird or isolated by society.”
Boyle looked at the flier. “Hypnosis?”
“Yes, we can help wipe off what can alter their future, and we can input a memory back in place for them,” she said. “Your daughter will be normal like every other child.”
“Can I see successful cases?” he asked.
“Well, most of our clients love to keep it private,” she said with a nervous smile.
“You want to use my daughter as a lab rat for your weird experiment?” he asked, his eyes darkening. “Havilah is not weird. She is normal like every other child. If you are truly a professional, you would know children should learn how to live with past things. How many more times are you going to erase their memories in this cruel world?”
Boyle got up. “We are done here.” He walked out.
His face was tight even when they reached the car.
He carried Havilah up. “Avi, you don’t have to come here anymore, okay?”
Bianca already sensed something was off. She exchanged a glance with him but said nothing.
“Let’s go get ice cream,” Boyle said, trying to make his tone sound light.
They had ice cream. Havilah licked hers quietly. After that, Boyle took her to the arcade. She laughed when Boyle lost a game he bragged so much that he could play. He took her shopping, getting her what his phone told him little girls would like.
Havilah smiled multiple times, engaging in conversations with him.
When they returned home, her sketchbook fell open while Boyle tried keeping all the items they got from the mall.
“I can’t draw mommy, so I drew that place instead,” she answered the question the therapist had asked before turning towards her room.
Boyle stood there, trying to understand what she meant.
Havilah had settled in bed when a gentle knock sounded on the door and it opened. Boyle came in and sat down on the bed. He brought out a photograph for Havilah.
It was Eva’s. “Avi, it’s okay to miss her.”
“But she hurt Liam and his mama,” she said, her eyes glistening.
Boyle looked at her. She felt guilty missing her mother because of those reasons.
“Avi, what was she like before all that?” he asked gently, wiping her tears.
Havilah thought of all the moments she had with her mother that she could remember. Her little shoulders shook.
“She used to braid my hair… always sent me to bed with kisses…”
Boyle nodded.
“Then hold on to that. Think of the happy moments, Havilah.”
Havilah closed her eyes slowly, holding her plushie. Boyle stayed by her side, gently brushing her hair until her breathing turned even.
When Boyle got out of the room, he opened the fridge and got himself a bottle of water.
“You are a pro at being a father,” Bianca said as she sat at the table that was set with food.
“With the help of the internet,” he said, smiling.
“You are acing it then,” she said, laughing. “Come eat. You need energy because you have to do this until she turns eighteen.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Boyle said. He never thought he would have the chance to ever be one. But here he was.
After they were done eating, Bianca cleared the table and was ready to go to bed.
“Stay with me tonight,” Boyle said, holding her hand.
Bianca was quiet for a few minutes.
“What you are scared of will not happen because I can’t… the truth is, I actually have a phobia of being alone. I guess that’s my trauma after being locked up for years.” He smiled bitterly.
“But if you don’t—”
“I want to.”
She took his hand and led him towards his room.
They both lay stiffly on the bed. Boyle swallowed multiple times. Bianca had her back to him, her eyes opening and closing as if hesitating on something.
Then she turned.
“I’m actually not worried about anything happening between us.”
“Huh?” Boyle asked.
“I like you,” she confessed. “A lot,” she added.
She waited for a reply from him, but there was none in the first three seconds, so she took it that he had turned down her confession.
She closed her eyes and twisted her mouth.
“Just forget what I said.” She turned her back to him and lay awkwardly, clearly embarrassed.
“I like you too,” Boyle said.
She turned to face him, blushing hard.
“But I don’t think it’s fair to keep you in a relationship where I wouldn’t be able to satisfy your needs…”
Bianca used her finger to shut him up.
“You can satisfy my needs, Boyle. There are many ways to do that. We don’t need to rush things—we can take it one step at a time,” she said, brushing his cheek.
“We just need to love each other.” She reached for his arm, intertwining their fingers.
This time… he didn’t hesitate.
And for the first time in years…
Boyle didn’t feel alone.
A/N: This book is officially complete. Thank you for finding my book worthy enough to spend on. Thank you for your patience this far. I love you so much for giving me a chance. Cheers to more books.