Epilogue

Ranma

There are still times when I wake up thrashing and screaming. There are times when strange hallucinations appear, just for a moment, or sometimes go on forever. Then leave so abruptly I'm left wondering which world I really live in. She's always there, no matter how sick my hallucinations make it look like she's dead. She's always there. Holding me until the vivid pictures leave; whether it takes seconds or hours.

Simples distractions, like my training, and my children, long conversations with Lufa that sometimes last all through the night, and touching my wife until it feel likes a damn crime, keep me away from my dark past. One day, however, I know I'll have to look back and retell my stories in full. One day, when I know they're ready, I'll take my children on a training trip like any other time, and tell them of my nightmares. How even after all these years, they've never truly left. I'll tell them to make them braver. I'll tell them to make them understand. Understand that there is always a cryptic message behind every turning point in life.

You just have to find out how to decode it.

To Be Continued...

Stay tuned for Decode II: Deceit From Ashes!

(To keep up with my progress on Decode II, and other stories by me, check out my profile.)

Afterword:

Thank you to everyone who put Decodeon their Story Alert, Favourites, and, of course, reviewed. I greatly appreciate all of your commentary, support, and kindess.

Also, a special thank you to naomeofthesand, who was just as much a devoted fan of Decode as much as a friend. Without you, this would have taken me a lot longer than two years to finish. Thanks a million!

Until next time,

- Jadells

(2010-2011)