They wake up all tangled now-her elbow digging into his ribs, his snores rolling in her ears-a sweetest mess there could ever be. Mann traces her cheek with a smirk. "Remember when all I could hear was you driving me insane, Cassette?" She swats him, then kisses him slow. "Now, you're my entire damn band, you oaf."
In those miles? Just a story to tell over tea now while laughing till they hurt. Together, they wander down a path while holding hands, the sky almost feeling as if it is on their side. One night, he digs up that old guitar-he patched with love-and he plays while she sings, their voices entwining as if they were doing it for eternity.
Love didn't just hold on-it thickened all that distance and turned it into something warm, something to wrap around oneself. With the last flickers of the stars falling down, they know-this isn't a closure. It is them who are still hitting Caruso notes against the world, still in love with each other terribly-and gloriously-well.
Not a pretty bow; just two stubborn hearts singing their song.
The end. ❤️