Chapter 16 - THE NEW CHAPTER BEGINS
Six months after the letter arrived, the leaves outside my office window turned a brilliant amber and gold, marking exactly one year since the night I walked out of the brick-front colonial in the Honda Civic with Natalie. Much had changed in twelve months. Vanguard Creative was now a thriving agency with a team of six talented designers operating out of a sleek loft in the Seaport District. My bank accounts were secure, my professional reputation was untouchable, and my peace of mind was something no amount of money could buy.
On a crisp Saturday afternoon, Natalie and I sat at our favorite outdoor café near the harbor, sipping iced lattes and watching the sailboats drift across the blue water. "So," Natalie smiled, bumping her knee against mine under the table. "Did you ever hear anything more from Daniel after that desperate letter?" I shook my head, taking a slow sip of my coffee. "Not a word. Last I heard from our mutual acquaintances through the grapevine, he moved back in with his aging parents in upstate New York, taking a low-level administrative job at a local hardware store." Natalie let out a low whistle. "Talk about a catastrophic fall from grace. From corporate executive to clerking screws and nails." "He chose his path, Nat," I said softly, looking out at the endless horizon where the ocean met the bright autumn sky. "I chose mine. And for the first time in my life, I wouldn't change a single second of the journey."
