“You sure about this?” Matty asked quietly.
“Yes. I’m absolutely sure.”
Reese took the wooden box and placed it in the pit, then lifted the lid. It was a box she remembered Joyce used to keep her checkbook, bills, and miscellaneous papers in. There would be no more debts harbored in it after this.
“You know, there were a lot of times she wasn’t bad. She was a good mama when it was convenient to her, and those times, my god, those times were bliss. They didn’t happen often, but that made them even more precious to me. Well, until I was old enough to realize that they were strictly when they aligned with her time or intentions. "Sometimes," she swallowed back a hard lump. “Sometimes she was a greatmama, but that was a very rare percentage of the time. The rest was hell and honestly not enough to make up the difference.”
Matty came up beside her, her hand settling on Reese’s lower back. “I’m sorry, baby. There’s nothing that can change the past, but I feel like this will help you move forward.”
“I think so too. Now, let’s do this.”
She popped the little flip cap up on the lighter fluid bottle, reaching it out over the pit. She didn’t squeeze the bottle for a long moment. It needed to happen, but it was surreal to realize it was actually happening. She’d thought of this moment for months. She was finally silencing Joyce.
She applied pressure to the bottle. Clear liquid spurted out onto the box, soaking the top notes. The white paper contrasted so sharply with the brown box and charred remains from their previous fire.
Matches were quietly handed to her. Matty’s thumb rubbed her hand when they exchanged the bottle for them. Reese smiled weakly at Matty through light tears. It wasn’t so much sadness as she was finally getting to the end of a very long, rough journey.
It took her two tries to get the match lit. She was never really good at them. When it hit the notes, fire erupted instantly, flickering up.
“Wow,” she laughed, eyes wide. She looked over at Matty. “Might have used too much lighter fluid.”
Matty laughed, looping her arm around Reese’s waist. “That’s okay. It’ll burn off.”
They watched the fire a little longer. Relief like she had never experienced flooded over her. This was her new beginning. She’d taken back everything she set out to. It was only forward from here. She had everything she wanted and then some. Never had she imagined how her life would go when she came back to town, but it was the best decision ever. She had a job she loved, a home that truly was hers now, and best of all, the love and support of so many. Especially Matty, who loved her so fiercely that sometimes it took her breath away.
This was a life worth fighting for. She’d never regret the work it took because it gave her everything and more. A life worth loving.
