The sun dipped low over Seabrook, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold.
Ariana stood on the beach, the sand cool beneath her feet, waves lapping gently at the shore. She held Ethan's hand, feeling the warmth and strength she had come to trust.
"I can't believe it's finally over," she whispered.
Ethan smiled, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "No more hiding. No more running. Just us."
She looked out at the horizon, remembering the plane, the crash, the confusion, the loss and then Seabrook, the town, the people, the quiet mornings, and the nights spent talking under the stars.
"I almost didn't come back," she admitted. "I was scared… of everything."
"You chose to," Ethan said softly. "That's all that matters."
Her chest swelled with emotion. "I've learned something," she murmured. "Home isn't a place. It's a person… and you, Ethan, are my home."
He pulled her close, their foreheads touching. "And you're mine."
They kissed, a slow, sweet kiss that spoke of survival, love, and a promise to never let go.
Behind them, the waves continued their eternal rhythm, carrying memories of the past into the distance.
Ahead of them, the future stretched wide and bright — filled with love, freedom, and choices made with the heart.
Ariana lifted her head, eyes shining. "I am Ariana Cole. I survived, I chose… and I am free."
Ethan grinned, laughter mingling with the sound of the sea. "Then let's live this freedom together."
Hand in hand, they walked along the shore, leaving footprints in the sand proof that they had faced the storm, embraced love, and found their place in the world.
And somewhere in the distance, the first stars appeared, tiny sparks in the sky, reflecting the spark that had never faded between them.
The story wasn't over. It was just beginning.