Ash’s estate.
Ash got out of bed and walked to the window. Stars shimmered across the night sky.
“Dad, I miss you so much… You know, I want to give your car to an incredible girl I met today. I barely know anything about her, but I think she’s a wonderful person.”
Sitting on the windowsill, he looked up at the full moon.
“She’s so beautiful. Everything about her is beautiful… Her eyes drive me crazy. She drives me crazy! I can’t look away. Mili… she’s like the moon. So mesmerizing, magnetic, and mysterious.”
Ash smiled softly. “Dad… am I falling in love?”
A brunette in his mid-thirties entered the bedroom.
“Mr. Kurt, you have a meeting tomorrow. You should get some sleep.”
“Dany, I can’t sleep yet. I only just woke up.”
“Where were you last night until morning? Why did you run off from the security team?”
“I just wanted to be alone.”
The man stepped closer to Ash. “I understand. You miss him.”
“Dany… I miss him so much.”
“I know,” he hugged the young man.
“Miss Lilia’s worried about you.”
“Nonsense! She only cares about business.” Ash protested.
“That’s not true.”
“She was busy saving the corporation when Dad died. She only showed up at the funeral at the very end. She didn’t care about him.”
“Please understand—your mother was trying to protect Eric’s legacy. Otherwise, those vultures would’ve torn apart everything he built over the years.”
Ash ran a hand through his hair.
“Lilia cried all night when she found out his car exploded.”
“I know.”
“Don’t judge her. Lilia loves you and suffers just as much. You’re everything to her—the closest, most precious person she has. She needs your support more than ever.”
“I know. Thank you, Dany. You’re the family’s best friend.”
“Always here for you, Ash.”
The guy sent Dany to Milly to take care of the paperwork for the car. After his father’s death, Dany had become his right hand. He was the one who was willing to do anything for the Kurt family.
***
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The next day, Mili drove out to watch the whales. She sat at the edge of a cliff, admiring the magnificent creatures.
Whales leapt from the water, shooting fountains from their backs. The girl watched in awe at the grandeur and beauty of the giants.
…
“That’s it! I can let you go.”
Tears streamed down her cheek. The girl broke into a full-throated sob.
“A-A-A-A-AH!”
The ocean swallowed her cry.
The waves didn’t flinch—they carried her grief into the vastness, as if the sea itself had been waiting to receive it.
…
“Mom, I promise I won’t cry anymore. Dad, watch over her.” Mili smiled sincerely through her tears.
“I’ll miss you…” The sun dipped toward the horizon. Its brilliant colors slipped beyond the edge of the earth, and in the distance—for just a second—a green flash flickered across the sky.
The girl parted her lips in disbelief, and then, as if shrouded in mist, she beheld…
“M-Mom? Dad?”
She covered her mouth with her hand as she saw her parents—like a mirage in the twilight sky. They were smiling at her. Mili wiped her tears with a smile on her face.
But just as quickly as they appeared, the mirage began to fade.
“NO!” She cried into the emptiness.
Mili read the words on their lips just before they vanished.
We love you.
The girl dropped to her knees and laughed through her tears.
“And I… I love you! Goodbye.”
Another phrase—gentle and barely audible, like a breeze brushing past—whispered in response to her farewell.
We’ll always be with you.
Mili lay down on the grass and gazed up at the blue sky, smiling with joy.
Her heart felt warm and light.
She lay still for a while, lost in the moment.
Then, suddenly, her phone rang.
She didn’t want to answer, but something eventually made her reach for it.
“Yeah?”
On the other end, a voice so warm and happy that Ash didn’t immediately recognize who had picked up.
“Mili, is that you?”
“Ash. Hi. Yes!” the girl exclaimed with joy.
“How are you?”
“Wonderful. I was watching whales.”
“Whales?” the guy sounded surprised.
“Yeah, I’m in Massachusetts.”
“Whoa, cool!… I wanted to ask, —When will you be back at the hotel?”
“After ten tonight.”
“Damn, I won’t be able to make it then. I’ll bring the documents and the car in the morning. Will that work?”
“Sure. What time?”
“Nine?”
“Perfect,” the girl laughed.
“Why are you laughing?” Ash smiled warmly—Mili could feel it through the phone.
“It still feels unreal.”
“Once I’m there, you won’t have any doubts.”
“Thank you.”
“No—thank you. I’ll never forget our ride.”
“Glad to hear that. We could do it again…”
“Ash, we need to go.”
Mili heard Dany’s voice in the background.
“Sorry, I’ve got to run. I’ll call you.”
“Of course. See you tomorrow.”
“See you. It was great hearing your happy voice.”
“Really?”
“Yeah!”
A soft smile touched both their lips.
…
Setting the phone aside, Mili looked back up at the sky. The warm wind gently brushed her tear-streaked cheeks.
