Never Forget (Memories)

for what seems like an eternity. I raise my hand and gently put it behind his neck, rising up on to my tiptoes as he lowers his head.
    His lips meet mine. He wraps his arms around me, holding me tightly as if he'll never let me go again.
    He's not perfect. I'm not perfect. But you know what?
    That's okay, because I've realised that love is seeing other's imperfections, and loving them anyway.

    EPILOGUE

    ALEXIS

    Four days after Alec and I made up, Grammy's heart gave out. They managed to resuscitate her and she naturally fell into a coma. They said if it happened again they didn't know if she'd come back.
    It did. Two days later, exactly a week ago, her heart gave up the fight and we said goodbye.
    Today, we say our final goodbyes. I stand in front of the church, dressed in black, knowing my beloved Grammy is lying in there. I take a deep breath and a hand slips into mine.
    I curl into Alec's side and he kisses my forehead. As if saying goodbye to my Grammy isn't enough, we leave for London after her funeral. I have to say goodbye to Alec, too.
    A battle of emotions fight inside me but I hold it together, accepting condolences and shoulder-pats from well meaning friends of Gram's.
    Many have stopped me over the last week to regale me with stories of years gone by. In Tesco, at the beach, they even stopped by the cottage a few times. I smile and nod when they do. I don't need them to tell me how amazing my Grammy was. I know. I have my own novel of memories that will stay with me until I die and join her again.
    The sun is shining through the stained glass window at the far end of the church, casting rainbows of light through the building. Grammy would have loved it.
    When the first half of the funeral is said and done I step up to read my eulogy for her. I have no prepared speech, no scrap of paper like my brother did. Even if no words leave my mouth, she'll know I was thinking of her.
    I look up, casting my eyes over the church and I swallow. It's packed. People are stood up. It's a testament to Grammy. Alec catches my eyes and nods once. I can do this.
    "If someone had told me nine weeks ago when my parents drove into the smallest town in history that I'd be stood here saying goodbye to my Grammy today, I would have told them where to go. I would have laughed and told them my Grammy was immortal, with foundations rooted deep enough on this Earth to withstand a tsunami.
    "I also would have been wrong. I've found out many things over the last two weeks, things I didn't know, but should have. It's all because of Grammy.
    "One last summer is all she wanted with me. I'll always think I didn't spend enough time with her, but time isn't something you can measure. It's what you do in the time you do have that matters. This summer I've laughed, cried, joked and danced with her. I've listened to her tease me and try to play Cupid. I know why, now.
    "She'll never get to watch me marry the man of my dreams, have children or graduate university. She'll never watch me land that big fashion label I've talked about since my mother introduced me to Chanel at age seven, and she'll never see my clothes on the runway. But, she's seen me happy. She's seen me fall in love and do some really, really crazy stuff this summer. Courtesy of Jen," I smile at my friend to a small rumble of laughter and she bows. "Seeing me happy was enough for her. Because of that, I've changed and grown into the kind of person I know she wanted me to be and for that, I'll always thank her.
    "She wasn't just my Grammy. She was my friend, my rock, my confidante. She made everyone's day brighter without even realising it, especially mine. Some things in life are priceless, and she was one of them.
    "So, Grammy, if you're up there listening with your Vino in hand, then thank you for being you because it's the greatest gift you could have given us. You're not here in body but you'll live on in our hearts and you'll never be forgotten. I don't know what else to say, and there's a pretty good chance I'm boring everyone now. We all know I got your, um, gift for talking, so I'm just gonna tell you that I love you. Those three words say pretty much all I need to say." I step down and pause at the coffin, kissing my fingers and pressing it against the wood. "You should also know I cut back your lavender plant earlier. I'm still waiting for you to come and kick my ass, so if you get a minute, I'll be on the M5 waiting for you."
    Everyone laughs and I smile. I look back