Page 67 of Phoenix
“You saved me, Niamh,” he whispers, “you saved the boy in me too. Do you have any idea what that means to me? You’re my hero, baby.”
“You save me, I save you,” I tell him, and he kisses me. “I will always save you; I love you.”
“Not as much as I love you.”
_____
Warren
As I look at the wreck of what used to be the bar, I feel a torrent of emotions. The funny thing is, I don’t feel at all devastated or pained over what I’ve lost here. I only feel hurt for my family, for Lou, and for Jake. This bar has been my life, my world, for years, and yet, I had no idea how much it was holding me captive here. The smell of stale beer, sweat, the men’s bathroom, and death. My father died in this bar, Javier and Antonio brought back the blood of their murdered parents to this bar, and Lou’s heart broke in this bar. And I don’t want it anymore.
“I found something,” a small voice says from behind me, my sister’s voice. I nod as I remain crouched down low, then eventually get to my feet and go to follow her. She leads me over to a small pile of singed picture frames, most of which are completely destroyed. “It’s the only one left.”
She hands me a picture of my parents, both sitting on my bike that was once Dad’s. They’re laughing and holding hands, looking completely smitten with each other. It can’t have been long after they got together; they’re both so young. I can’t help but stare at them, taking in their smiles and their love for one another. Even when I hear the sound of Jake walking up alongside me, I can’t help but keep my eyes on them.
“Your mother was beautiful,” Jake mumbles.
“Yeah, that’s why I’m so much better looking than you,” I tease, earning me a small laugh.
“I wish I had known her,” Lou says as she rests her head against my shoulder. “I remember nothing of her.”
“You were barely one, Lou, when…when it happened,” I trail off into a whisper. “Can’t believe it’s finally done.”
“I’m sorry, Phoenix,” Lou says sadly.
“Actually, I’m not,” I tell her truthfully, “in fact, I think this is exactly what was needed to finally set me free. I can start again with Niamh; we can start again.”
“Really?” Jake asks with the sound of shock in his voice.
“Yeah,” I reply, smiling easily, like I do when I’m with Niamh and she sees me for who I really am. “And call me Warren. It’s time to let Phoenix go, he’s flown the building…or the pile of ashes,” I tell them, gesturing to the burnt rubble all around us.
“Well, big brother, Warren, we best get you to your new life,” Lou says, straightening up my suit, which feels uncomfortable. But it is my wedding day, and for Niamh, I’ll do anything.
_____
Niamh
“You look beautiful, Niamh,” Dad says to me, dressed in his suit and offering me his arm. Once upon a time, I would have shied away from the contact, but after everything, I take it without question. He smiles proudly and with what looks like a little relief.
“I never thought this day would come for me, not after…” I trail off, wanting to leave all bad memories behind on this particular day. This day is mine and Warren’s future, the beginning of a new life.
“I know, dear, but…” Dad says sadly, then looks back up at me with a smile. “You know, before, if I had seen who you were about to marry, I would have been a little worried. But now I couldn’t be happier. I know he will look after you, that he loves you, and that’s all you can hope for, especially for your one and only child. You two deserve one another and I know you’ll make great parents one day.”
“Dad, one step at a time?” I laugh. “I’m freaking out over walking down the aisle, let alone having babies.”
“I’m sorry, I’m just so excited for you,” he says, “you had so much taken away from you. We all did—"
“Not today, Paul,” Mom flusters at my father, “today, we leave all of that behind.”
“Let’s get going,” I tell them. “Believe it or not, Warren will be freaking out more than me. He might be a mountain of a man who has faced terrifying people, but this is way out of his comfort zone. Besides, we don’t want to risk the tide coming in.”
“Righto,” Dad announces, putting his best foot forward.
_____
Niamh
Dad walks me through the seaside restaurant that Warren purchased shortly after that horrible evening when we both nearly lost our lives. We are much closer to Lou and Daniel, and I know he feels a lot calmer here, we both do. The fresh sea air clears away any thoughts of fire for him while giving me the open space I need to squash any memories of that dark and dank basement. I might not want to immerse myself in the busy city, which lies not too far away, but I know I am a lot better than I once was.