Epilogue : 20 Years Later

“Morning Carolyn,” Jonas said happily as he made his way into the kitchen. The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, warming the cozy little kitchen. “Good morning, sweetheart,” Carolyn replied joyously. Footsteps on the stairs signaled that the children were coming down for breakfast. Three beaming faces appeared suddenly, each with different color hair or eyes, and each looking excited about the day. The family enjoyed a short breakfast together, and everyone rushed out the door; the children heading for school, and the Jonas to his car.
He started the car, and the radio suddenly came on, filling the vehicle with jazz music. Tapping his fingers on the steering-wheel to the beat, he made his way down the road, and before he knew it, he was there. Stepping out of the car, he grabbed an envelope, and some flowers. He slowly made his way to the plaque which read “Here lies a young boy whose laughter and bright eyes kept us alive inside. If only we could have done the same."

“Hi there little guy. I hope you’re doing well. This new place is just amazing - everybody has memories here, and they cannot be transferred to others, like I could before. Not too long ago, I heard from The Giver. He said that he was to join his daughter soon, for his work there was done,” at this point Jonas stopped for a moment for it had begun to rain. “I wish you could experience this life filled with choice. Even though choice is dangerous, I have learned how you don’t really live when your life is run for you, instead of by you. I - I - ,” he couldn’t go on.

He was choked up, and as the rain beat down on him, he began to cry. He had never cried before, so this cry was for every feeling imaginable - not just sadness. It was for depression that his little friend had lost his life; for joy that he had made a difference; but also for fear that he had made the wrong choice, or he would soon. Feelings poured out of him through tears which fell to the damp ground. Finally, he was dry - he had no more tears left.

Standing up, he was suddenly filled with a feeling he had never heard of, let alone felt before. He tried to place it, but he didn’t know what it was. Not sadness. Not happiness. Not anger. Not contentment. It was..indescribable. Jonas bent down and laid the flowers and envelope beside the plaque before quietly whispering “I love you.” He straightened up, and made his way back to the car, the rain still pouring down on him. Jonas was no longer The Giver, nor The Receiver. He was simply Jonas, and happy with that.