by Penny Harmon
"Take me to the ocean, Cohen. Nobody is ever sad there." She faintly whispers, but her words are not lost on me.
I know that our time is almost over. I can tell by the shallowness of her breath and the weakness in her hand as it attempts to squeeze mine in reassurance. Our roles have reversed and it feels all wrong. I was always the protector. My heart begins to race as she’s being loaded up on the stretcher, but I refuse to let her go. I need to hold her just one last time. I’m holding my breath, but unable to take my eyes from hers. Tears are flowing down her face but a subtle smile greets her lips as comfort washes over her. All too suddenly, her eyes flutter shut and her body goes into a five-second-long spasm before her addiction steals her last breath. I bow my head and sob.
She was gripped by addiction, but I'd had hope. Promises were made, the birth of a pipe dream. Those promises will forever haunt me. Now the little blonde girl from the picnic table is lying dead in my arms. Ocean eyes closed forever. I'm not a knight in shining armor, though I'd tried to be. I'm a failure. I stand limp as I watch the EMT's take her body away.
It was a much more peaceful ending than one would expect after all the demons faced that has led to this moment. However, I felt no comfort. This wasn't the ending I had written in my mind. We were supposed to make it out together. Two kids from Happy Endings Resort, living out our happily ever after.
I feel like I’m losing it completely. Maybe I will stop feeling this way if I can escape from this burning house and the insipid thoughts trapping me here. Dealing with her death would be so much easier if it weren’t in vain. If it served some purpose or was unavoidable. But she did this on purpose. Used and used until it ate her away. I want to hate her. I try to hate her, but nothing she’s ever done can make me do that. I had grown to love her too much.
I find it hard to internally separate the little girl I used to know from the woman she had become. I could never understand why she turned to drugs, but I guess it wasn’t meant for me to know. I’m assuming it was her guilt that had gotten to her, the same way it was now getting to me. I’ve been rushing through life for as long as I can remember. I never dealt with the pain caused by my father passing away. Instead I funneled my energy into those I thought needed it more. I chose to focus on their problems instead of my own.
Brynn was my reason to stay, and then Ari. But they both deserve better. Brynn deserved better. I realize that I’m no good for Ari and I can’t disrupt her life more than it already has been. She shouldn’t have to deal with my breakdown and the loss of her sister at the same time. I’m nothing more than a burden to her. I’m not the man I thought I was. I’m selfish and I can’t stay here any longer. I hate this fucking town. Before my thoughts consume me, I run.
*****
Links to The Happy Endings Resort Series!
Book 1: The Inheritance: https://www.amazon.com/Inheritance-Happy-Endings-Resort-Book-ebook/dp/B00TXVMOL0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490999745&sr=8-1&keywords=Happy+Endings+Resort+Series
Book 2: Anywhere with You: A Novella: https://www.amazon.com/Anywhere-You-Novella-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B00VH7FWLC/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491000122&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Happy+Endings+Resort+Series+anywhere+with+you
Book 3: Drunk on You: https://www.amazon.com/Drunk-Happy-Endings-Resort-Book-ebook/dp/B00VXYTTHC/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491000180&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Happy+Endings+Resort+Series+drunk+on+you
Book 4: Finding Us: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Us-Happy-Endings-Resort/dp/151411125X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491000234&sr=8-1&keywords=Happy+Endings+Resort+Series+Finding+Us
Book 5: Summer Maintenance: https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Maintenance-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B010E4UZXS/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491000281&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Happy+Endings+Resort+Series+Summer+of+Maintenance
Book 6: Elastic Heart: https://www.amazon.com/Elastic-Heart-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B012MMUEZY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491000357&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Happy+Endings+Resort+Series+Elastic+Heart
Book 7: Luring Shadows: https://www.amazon.com/Luring-Shadows-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B013XHGZM8/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491000409&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Happy+Endings+Resort+Series+Luring+Shadows
Book 8: A Soldier’s Dawning: https://www.amazon.com/Soldiers-Dawning-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B014P63VV4/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491000472&sr=8-1&keywords=Happy+Endings+Resort+Series+a+soldier%27s+dawning
Book 9: The Thinnest Veil: https://www.amazon.com/Thinnest-Veil-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B0174E4EAG/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491000515&sr=8-1&keywords=Happy+Endings+Resort+Series+the+thinnest+veil
Book 10: Flowers for Marta: https://www.amazon.com/Flowers-Marta-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B018Q4PHF4
Book 11: Until You: https://www.amazon.com/Until-Happy-Endings-Resort-Book-ebook/dp/B01CASO1PY
Book 13: Hold Me Close: https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Close-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B01FL1EQYI
Book 14: Dirty Dancing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XBGC4F4
Book 15: The Art of Letting Go: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Letting-Go-Endings-Novella-ebook/dp/B01MUUVK37/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0
Book 16: Through the Seven Doors: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XKQ9T1Z/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1489505784&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=sage+short+through+the+seven+dooors
April Fool’s: Book 12: Expert Tease: https://www.amazon.com/Expert-Tease-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B06XZ8PR4D/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491493067&sr=8-1&keywords=lola+kyle+expert+tease
Book #17: No Final Destination: https://www.amazon.com/Final-Destination-Happy-Endings-Resort-ebook/dp/B06XYQTNX8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491493139&sr=8-1&keywords=penny+harmon+no+final+destination
Book #18: Withdrawn-Prequel to Reckless Abandonment: https://www.amazon.com/Withdrawn-Reckless-Abandonment-K-Pinson-ebook/dp/B06WWNK7F3/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491493170&sr=8-1&keywords=k.+pinson+withdrawn
-Check out the pages of my fellow HERS authors’ pages-
The Happy Endings Resort Series FB Page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Happy-Endings-Resort-Series/793762117371160
Find each HERS book listed on Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/series/147104-happy-endings-resort
~The Inheritance~ by Jennifer Benson Feb. 23, 2015
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Benson-Author/245003878989266
~Anywhere With You~ by Danielle Jamie Mar. 30, 2015
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDanielleJamie
~Drunk On You~ by Glenna Maynard Apr.27, 2015
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGlennaMaynard
~Finding Us~ by T.H. Snyder May 26, 2015
https://www.facebook.com/authorthsnyder
~Summer Maintenance~ by Jennifer Foor Jun. 29, 2015
https://www.facebook.com/JenniferFoorAuthor
~Elastic Heart~ by Evelyn Stone July 27, 2015
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Evelyne-Stone/434966173278127
~Luring Shadows~ by Kristina Rienzi Aug. 31, 2015
https://www.facebook.com/KristinaRienziAuthor
~A Soldier’s Dawning~ by Lisa Survillas Sept. 28, 2015
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLIsaSurvillas
~The Thinnest Veil~ by M. Stratton Oct. 26, 2015
https://www.facebook.com/MLStrattonAuthor
~Flowers for Marta~ by Jenn Braddock Nov. 30, 2015
https://www.facebook.com/JennBraddockAuthor
~Until You~ by Heather Dahlgren Feb. 29, 2016
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeatherDahlgren
~Hold Me Close~ by Alisha Cole May 30, 2016
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorA.Coggins/
~Dirty Dancing~ by Brandy Lynn Feb. 27, 2017
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBrandyLynn
Beginning March of 2017
Two Books will be released each month
(Please be aware titles, authors and release dates are subject to change)
~The Art o
f Letting Go~ by M.C. Brightly Mar. 1, 2017
https://www.facebook.com/MCBrightly/
~Through the Seven Doors~ by Sage Short Mar. 15, 2017
~Expert Tease~ by Lola Kyle Apr. 1, 2017
https://www.facebook.com/LokyWrites/
~No Final Destination~ by Penny Harmon Apr. 15, 2017
https://www.facebook.com/pennyharmonauthor
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~Withdrawn~ by K. Pinson May 1, 2017
www.facebook.com/authorkpinson
~Untitled~ by L. Chapman May 15, 2017
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLChapman/
About the Author
Penny Harmon began writing at an early age and developed a great love of words over the years. After her children were grown, she took her writing more seriously and has published in both newspapers and magazines. In January of 2016, her first novella, Complicated Inheritance, was published and is the author of the Rocky Isle Romance Series.
Penny lives in Maine with her long-time partner, Dan, two grandchildren, and three cats. She enjoys spending time with all nine of her grandchildren and enjoys working on DIY projects, especially those of repurposing.