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CHAPTER 20

Renaissance

TO BE REBORN I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT IT wasof my name pointed toward it Renée Renaissance The rebirth With a start, I openedcarried down a hallway and out into a blue sunny day, so bright I had to close my eyes Was I dead? Was Dante dead?

Slowly, I peeked open an eye I earing a hospital gown So my head, I looked up It was Dante

"Hi," I said,

Dante looked down and smiled "Hi"

I sed "Am I dead?"

Dante took a turn to the left The path was eht "No"

"Ahed "No"

My eyes widened as I took in reildly out of the soil, and leaves budded on the trees --the first signs of life after a long, dark winter "How long--"

I didn’t even have to finish my sentence "Ten days"

"And you? You’re--?"

Dante looked away

I let out a sigh So the kiss worked "Where are we going?"

"You’ll see"

He looked older now, ed well, I told hihed "Did I ever tell you how romantic you are?"

I smiled

Dante took roith poppies

"Hold out your hands," he said, lifting s He carriedlirazed the tops of the flowers, the petals closed, leaving a trail of green behind us

I blinked, unable to believe that this was my life That this was real That life could be this beautiful

Setting me down in the middle of the field, we lay side by side, our hands barely touching as atched the reflection of the clouds in each other’s eyes