---

Epilogue II – 20 Years Later

The balcony creaked a little under our chairs, but it held.

We sat there—me and Mo. Older now. Laugh lines on our faces. Mo had regained his full roundness and wore it like armor. I kept my beard trimmed, my eyes sharper than ever.

Two mugs of coffee steamed on the table between us.

Then the phone rang.

> “Doctors, we need you right now!”

We looked at each other, sighed, and stood up.

Twenty years later, and somehow—we were neurosurgeons.

---

The Operation

The hospital was bright. Surgical lights overhead. Machines blinking.

There was a bullet lodged deep in someone’s frontal lobe.

Old us would’ve freaked.

Present us?

Calm. Steady. Trained.

Scalpel. Clamp. Suction. Retractor.

And then—we pulled it out.

The room exhaled.

Another life saved.

---

After the surgery, we didn’t go home just yet.

We passed by a corner shop. Bought bags of marshmallows. A box of maple syrup. And two giant biscuits.

“Still obsessed with sugar,” Mo said, grinning.

“You’re one to talk,” I smirked.

---

Celebration

At home, I stacked the marshmallows high like a sugar tower.

Two biscuits—one top, one bottom.

Poured maple syrup over the top until it dripped like golden lava.

Mo added candles.

Spelled out:

> G R A D

Today was Lola’s graduation.

She finished engineering school. Top of her class. Honors, awards—the works.

We called Nina and Koko.

Told them to bring their energy—and maybe some sparkling juice.

---

We all sat in the living room. Lights off. Snacks on standby.

The door opened.

Lola walked in, glowing with joy, holding her graduation certificate like it was a trophy from destiny.

> “SURPRISE!!!” we all shouted.

Confetti popped.

Candles sparkled.

Music played.

She laughed—pure, golden, unfiltered joy.

---

Then the door opened again.

Nina walked over, smiling warmly.

> “Guys… I want you to meet someone.”

She brought in a man—tall, kind eyes, respectful smile.

> “My husband,” she said. “We got married last month.”

Before we could even say congratulations, she added:

> “And also… I’m pregnant.”

The room exploded in cheers.

Mo hugged her so hard she squeaked.

Koko ran around the room yelling something about baby names like “Thunder Jet 2.”

He sometimes forgets he's 25.

---

One Last Sunset

As the sky began to dim, we all stepped out onto the balcony.

Me.

Mo.

Lola.

Nina.

Koko.

And soon… another little one on the way.

We sat in silence.

Watched the sun set over the city we once ran through in chaos and fear.

Now… peaceful.

Warm.

Whole.

And for the first time in forever—

there was no unfinished business.No shadows.Just us.

Together.

Watching the light fade.

---

The end.