Rebellious Aurora | ✓

forty | epilogue

Five years later

"I would like to congratulate Aurora Marie Luna Steele on achieving a diploma on Bachelor of Science in Nursing," the announcer spoke into the microphone as I walked up to the stage, earning whoops and cheers from Cayden and my friends. I collected my diploma from the announcer and smiled at the crowd before walking out of the spotlight, my heart revving as my hands began to stop trembling. "Next, I would like to congratulate Ashton Nixon on achieving a diploma on Bachelor of Laws with the award of Honours class."

The graduation ceremony passed by within half an hour and Ashton and I had travelled to the cemetery together, in our caps and gowns, after seeing our families. I quickly got out of the car and rushed to my sister's headstone, a lump rising in my throat slowly as I collapsed to my knees in front of her headstone and showed it my diploma.

"I did it, Dakota," I said, waving the diploma as if she would see it. "I'm going to be a nurse."

I heard heavy footsteps stop beside me as I turned my head to the side to see Ashton on his knees, showing his diploma to his sister. "Hey, Lilah, your brother made it. Man, was it tough. I'm finally going to take over dad's law firm. Who would've thought Millie and Cayden were bitches?"

I smiled at him as he talked to his sister's headstone before turning to mine, setting the bouquet under her name. I had taped a picture, the one the doctor had taken during my last moments with her, underneath her name on the headstone.

Dakota Emerson Steele (2002-2018).

Beloved daughter, sister and friend.

Fly high, angel.

During these past five years, Ashton and I would make a trip down to visit our sisters every weekend and update them on our lives and our adventures. We would come here to celebrate their birthdays and ours with them, had cried and ranted to them and each other about college and how difficult our classes were. With every step of the way, Dakota was in my mind and in my heart. Some days were the hardest, like the anniversaries and her birthdays and the holidays and other days, it was easier. It had become a routine.

"We knew we would find you guys here," a familiar voice spoke as Ashton and I turned around to find Cayden and Millicent walking up towards us, grins plastered on their faces. Cayden.

"Showing off to Lilah and Kota, huh?" Millie questioned with an exaggerated eye roll as she blew a kiss to the two headstones.

"You know it," Ashton answered with a smirk as he placed an arm around my shoulders. I couldn't help but laugh.

As I brought up my left hand to shield my face from the sun, I couldn't help but admire the diamond resting on my ring finger. I bit my lip and glanced over to Ashton who was already admiring me with shimmering eyes as he leaned in and kissed my temples.

"Where's your wife and husband?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Millicent spoke first. "He went to drop our kids down at a birthday party." Yes, Millicent married a man who was a mutual friend with Cayden, who also taught at a middle school.

"She's waiting for me at home," Cayden winked. "Women are terrifying when they're pregnant."

Cayden met a wedding planner, who was also going to help Ashton and I with our wedding, who he had fallen in love with the very moment she pronounced his name wrong in her French accent. He was also expecting his first child to arrive soon.

"Hey, how's that tattoo healing?" Millie questioned as she took my arm and twisted it to the side, revealing a sunflower tattoo.

I had the tattoo done in memory of my sister a couple days before graduation because every time I saw a sunflower, it reminded of Dakota's bright smile when Ashton had brought her the bouquet of sunflowers. I missed her every moment of every passing day.

"Good," I answered with a chuckle. "Come on, let's get something to eat."

"Finally, someone who adores food as much as I do!" Cayden exclaimed in the air. I watched him and Millicent approach Kahlilah's headstone, placing a kiss before saluting Dakota's. They turned around and walked towards their car, leaving Ashton and I to say our own goodbyes.

I turned around to face my sister's headstone and kissed the cold surface. "See you soon."

Ashton saluted Kahlilah's and Dakota's headstone before placing an arm around my shoulders before we walked away from the cemetery. I couldn't help but look back at Dakota's headstone as a bird landed on it, watching me leave. I gave it a warm smile before the bird chirped and flew away.

A tear slid down my cheek as I turned my gaze away.

"She's proud of you," Ashton whispered in my ear. "I just know it."

I bit my lip. I knew she was. She always was proud of me.

a/n: I know it should've ended between Ashton and Aurora doing something extreme or a future of them with children but I just felt like Dakota needed to be mentioned since she was such a small yet big character in this novel. She also meant a lot to Aurora and Ashton since she did support them from the beginning.

Anyways, this story has come to an end and I am quite upset that I will no longer be writing Aurora and Ashton anymore. ): They're like my little children.

But I am still writing Damon, Aurora's cousin, and Aurora DOES make a special appearance in the novel, My Brother's Rival and I, so please check it out if you haven't already!

Thank you guys for loving Ashton and Aurora, following them on their journey of love, heartbreak and sadness. And most of all, thank you for having faith in this book when for a moment, I didn't.

I love you.

Thank you.

See you guys on My Brother's Rival and I.

ariella xo