Veiled Innocence

Epilogue

The Louvre—Paris, France…

Thirty-seven days.

That’s how long it’s been since I’ve seen her.

I wait at the back of the loud exhibit hall and watch as people shuffle through to look at the sculpture in the center. All I can hear is the—tick, tick, tock—of the watch fastened around my wrist.

I glance down at it and see that it’s been nearly three hours.

Three hours since the front doors have opened, and three hours that I’ve been waiting.

I’ll wait all day and all night, if that’s what it takes.

Raising a hand, I push my fingers through my hair which is finally starting to grow out, and that’s when I see her.

She steps into the room I’m standing in, and all of the noise surrounding me disappears.

All I can see—is her.

She looks as perfect as the first day I ever saw her.

Her hair is curled in soft waves flowing down over her black coat, and she’s clutching what looks like a photograph—my photograph.

My instinct is to call out to her, but I wait.

I wait and watch as she looks around, her eyes moving over the people near her and when she stops, I know she’s seen it. Psyche and Cupid in their lover’s embrace.

She seems drawn to the marble couple in the center of the room, and I see her raise a hand to her chest and place it over her heart as she approaches.

I can hardly believe my own eyes—she’s here.

I step out from behind the sculpture and all I can manage is her name. “Addison.”

Her stunning blue eyes find me, and as she looks my way, all I can think is...

There she is, staring at me—my salvation, and my new beginning.