On the way to see Nick, Ivy stopped by the florist to pick a bouquet for Nick. Among all the flowers displayed, she was instantly attracted to the blue irises. When the florists wrapped them up for her, she was told that blue irises meant hope and courage. It was exactly what she needed Nick to have.

When Ivy reached the familiar neighborhood, she began to be nervous unexpectedly. Before she even get to alight, Marcel stopped her with a box.

“Open it first before you see him,” Marcel instructed as Ivy obediently obliged.

The first thing which caught her attention was Jason’s dim shimmering green hue bracelet. Tears welled as Ivy caressed it and noticed there were many other keys. She blinked hard to control the tears she thought were spilling but there weren’t any as she gripped tightly to the bracelet recalling the times when their bracelets kept getting stuck with each other. It was also what lead them to meet each other.

Now, the bracelet sat alone on its own in the box. She took out hers and attached them together in the box. She didn’t notice that only she could see the green and pink hues intertwining now that Jason was no longer around.

Marcel then gave her an envelope as she looked at him with a sullen look. She wiped away her tears which she thought she had but again, there weren’t any.

As she set aside the box to read the content of the envelope, she realised it was Jason’s will. His assets were split into two between her and his mother. Ivy began to understand what the keys in the box meant as she buried her face into her palms and let reality hit her silently.

Ray turned around and gently patted her head from his passenger seat.

“He left you his house, his car, his company, and Lucky on the day he went to see you at the cliff in case, just in case things went wrong but…” Marcel stopped explaining as Ivy drew a very deep breath while still covering her face with her palm.

She was forcing herself not to break down as she looked up, staring out into Jason’s house from a distance. She knew Nick was their priority, and noticed she probably really had no more tears to spill though her heart still aches.

“Thank you, Marcel. Let’s settle Nick first.” Ivy insisted as she fought her emotions and took the keys in her possession.

She then kept both bracelets in her pouch where she used to keep hers. A shimmering twinkle attracted her attention when she was about to close the box. It was her infinity pendant with two stars twirling sitting in the box as she held it up. She recalled it was supposed to be given to her during Jason’s very first confession but he didn’t have any energy to put it on her.

A part of her sighed in regret for being so worried about how it would be when she leaves him instead of enjoying every moment with him cause that had cost her, his life. She drew a deep breath to push away all the building-up emotions as she quickly wore it before alighting.

“I’m fine. I promise. Don’t worry.” Ivy assured Ray who drew her in for a hug briefly.

“Let’s go,” Marcel said as Ray led them to Nick’s house while holding onto the bouquet of irises.

On the way, she looked across and glanced at Jason’s place again. It gave her a dull look with weeds overgrowing the familiar courtyard she once visited so often. She could still picture herself fighting with Nancy at the entrance of his house and imagine Nancy sitting by the round table in the garden looking into the glass door, spying on her and Jason.

Ivy was flooded with anguish for a moment as she felt it was her fault that she couldn’t save Nancy from her depression. However, with that, she was determined to try and save Nick instead.

She tried to keep her composure as her main focus was on Nick and his state of mind. She drew a deep breath before she rang the doorbell. Ray patted her shoulder as she gently touched his hand on his shoulder to assure him she was alright.

A while later, a very haggard and frail-looking Nick opened the door to greet them. The sight of him made all of Ivy’s thoughts of staying strong and thinking she had cried enough, crumble.

Nick has never expected it to be Ivy at the door either. He instantly broke down and cried when Ivy pulled him in for a hug. It led to them both collapsing onto the ground as they cried together.

Nick could feel his worries for Ivy had dissipated away bit by bit and it was comforting to finally get to hold her in his arms. A part of him felt horribly bad for Ivy with Jason’s fate as he understood her feeling about losing someone she loved. He realised he wasn’t crying because of his depression or grief for Nancy but rather the poor fate of Ivy who deserved better.

Ivy surprised herself thinking she had cried enough only to find herself wailing in Nick’s arms as she too understood his feelings of having to grieve alone on the loss of Nancy. She counted her blessings being able to grieve among her family members and she never failed to thank Jason each time this thought crossed her mind.

She understood the reason for her crying was because Nick wasn’t as lucky as she was. He had to endure all of it alone but he still make it. She promised herself she will make sure she devotes her time to helping him pass this tough time.

Ray and Marcel could only stand by and watch over them as they tried to control their own emotions, sympathising with Ivy and Nick’s situation.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

When Ivy and Nick were calmer, Ray and Marcel helped them up to sit on the couch in the living room as they catch their breath. Ray and Marcel then helped to clean up a little of Nick’s house and ensured Ivy and Nick were hydrated.

Ray then placed the vase of irises at the coffee table Ivy and Nick were seating. The fragrance soothed Ivy’s mind as she caressed them.

“Ray, you could leave us alone to talk. You’re both busy enough.” Ivy said as she held onto Ray’s hand.

Ray then smiled and gently patted her head. “Are you sure?” Ivy nodded.

“I have his keys. If there’s anything, I will call you.” Ivy meant she had Jason’s keys as she showed the bunch to Ray. Ray looked at Marcel who nodded briefly in agreement.

“Alright, drink more water and stay safe. Anything, just call us.” Ray reminded again as Ivy send him off with Marcel.

“Alright, go…” Ivy urged at the doorsteps as she watched both of them walk away before she shut the door.

She walked over to the couch as she studied Nick who was still dumbfounded.

It was heartbreaking as Ivy wondered if this was how she looked like to everyone back then. It must have broke everyone’s heart many times.

She squatted by Nick’s side and held his hand while giving him a glass of water.

“Drink some. You will feel better.” Ivy urged as Nick slowly reached out to the glass initially but instead, he caressed Ivy’s face. Ivy smiled briefly.

“It’s tough, I know. I want you to know from now on, no matter what happens, I am here, Nick. I will always be here for you like you promised me that time that you will always be with me.” Ivy comforted him as he continued to caress her face gently as he admired her smile which he didn’t expect to see again. She then turned his attention to the irises.

“When I went for the psychology therapy I dreaded all this while…” Ivy chuckled a little.

“... Phyllis, the therapist always showed me flowers which represented different meanings. So, I thought I want to give you too, a gift…” Gifts reminded Ivy of her surprises to Jason back then as she drew a deep breath to control her emotions.

“Iris… is meant to give you hope and courage,” Ivy said with her trembling voice as she place a petal on his palm. He gently caressed them.

“Nick, no matter how hard it is, please be brave to face them. Keep your hopes up high. I will be by your side and face all of it with you. I promise…” Ivy urged as she held his hand where he was tightening his grip as he pulled her in for a hug before he broke down and cried again.

“Let it go, Nick. Let it all out. I made it. So, you can too.” Ivy comforted as Nick nodded while calming down a little in her arms.

“Thank you…” He said as he pulled away from her arms. It startled Ivy to hear him speak finally as she smiled.

“Thank you for making it…” His eyes welled with tears again as Ivy’s eyes reddened while she wiped his tears away.

“Thank you for being so strong and keeping your promise… Thank you for not giving up, Ivy…” Nick struggled to continue as Ivy who was struggling to not cry gently patted his back.

“Thank you for not dying…” Nick finally said in his choking voice, on what he wanted to say all along before breaking down in Ivy’s arms as Ivy sobbed with him.

“Thank you for not giving up and dying too, Nick. You did well… I am very proud of you…” Ivy said softly to him when he was calmer.

“Let’s make their sacrifice worth it alright?” Ivy asked as he let her go and looked at her gaze before he nodded with a smile.

“Let’s step out of this house for a start?” Ivy suggested while he skeptically nodded again.

“Have you been to Jason’s house yet?” Ivy asked while standing.

He shook his head sadly. “I haven’t since that night when I had a last drink with him there…” He wiped his tears away as Ivy held his hand and gripped it tightly.

“Would you… Are you willing to come with me, the rightful owner now, to visit my new house?” Ivy asked as he smiled in the midst of his tears welling and nodded.

Ivy took an iris and gave it to him. He looked at her confused as she urged him to take it.

“Let’s go.” She said after he took it as he bravely left his house while in the lead of Ivy. Ivy may look calm but inside of her, she knew there was a storm waiting to create chaos for her.

Each step reminded Nick of the last night he ever saw Jason in that house. The gentle breeze was soothing as Ivy tightened her grip on his hand the closer they were to the entrance of the house. She caressed the car with her free hand as she felt the gloominess of the ambiance without Jason.

She reached out into her pocket to take out a bunch of keys. She wondered which was the house key as Nick reached out to a set with a polar bear keychain.

“It’s this set,” Nick said as Ivy nodded and tried the grill’s lock.

It worked as she turned the doorknob with a heavy heart.

They were greeted by a very stale air of liquor and Lucky’s scent. The darkness in the house made it look so melancholy. Ivy’s eyes began to well with tears.

She was reminded of how Lucky would have jumped excitedly on her the moment they open the door and how Jason would start to tease her nonstop as she stepped into the house if they were around.

As she bit her lips to stop herself from breaking down, she couldn’t deny the fact in front of her. "He is gone… Jason is gone… He is really gone…" Ivy mumbled.

Nick drew her into his arms to comfort her. “It’s alright. It’s going to be alright, Ivy.” Nick comforted as Ivy sniffed and blinked away her tears which fell to her cheeks.

The smell of liquor was exactly the same liquor they had the last night he saw Jason. His eyes reddened recalling the jokes and conversation they had. A part of him was glad that he had the forgiveness for his stupidity to cheat with Nancy on him. As he recalled how Jason fulfilled the promise he made to Nancy’s grandma to take care of Nancy till death, Nick made a promise himself there and then to Jason that he will protect and be there for Ivy whom Nick knew Jason truly cherished but didn’t have a chance to be with any longer.

“Let’s head in and switch on all the lights and air the place before we give it a new life shall we?” Nick asked as Ivy understood the meaning behind his statement.

Ivy smiled in the midst of her tears knowing Nick was encouraging her to move on with their life which meant he was beginning to move forward too.

She nodded as he helped her wipe away her falling tears.

“You, are Jason’s precious gem whom I, will now continue to protect in return for all the wrongs I have done to him in the past as my penance,” Nick comforted.

Ivy couldn’t help but bury her face into his body as she hugged him and sobbed silently.

Nick hugged her tightly as though he won't ever let her go. “I promise, Ivy.”

They both knew they were each other’s refuge from then on. Though it may get arduous but all that mattered was that they both were together, alive, and making good use of the sacrifices Jason and Nancy had made for them.