Chapter 52: Preparing for a New Beginning

Gabriella’s parents spent the next couple of days considering her proposal. Meanwhile, Gabriella and Robert helped them around the cabin, preparing meals, gathering supplies, and sharing stories of their journeys. The time spent together felt precious, like a gift none of them had expected but all desperately needed.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the lake, Gabriella found herself sitting on the porch with her father. The air was cool and still, the only sounds coming from the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird settling in for the night.

Her father leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the shimmering water. “This place has been our home for a long time now,” he said quietly. “When we first came here, we didn’t know if we’d ever see you again. We didn’t know if we’d survive.”
Gabriella nodded, understanding the weight of those words. “It must have been so hard for you and Mom.”
“It was,” he admitted. “But we did what we had to do to keep going. We kept this place running, kept each other safe. But in doing that, we also closed ourselves off from the rest of the world. We thought it was the only way.”
“I can understand that,” Gabriella replied, her voice gentle. “After everything that happened, it’s natural to want to protect what’s most important.”
Her father turned to her, his eyes softening. “And you, Gabriella—you found a way to survive, too. You found a community, you found love. You’ve built a life. It’s more than we ever hoped for.”
Gabriella felt a lump in her throat. “I had to keep going, just like you did. But I never stopped thinking about you and Mom. I always wanted to find you, to bring you back with me.”
He smiled, a mixture of pride and sorrow in his expression. “We’re so proud of you, Gabriella. You’ve become so strong. And now, you’re giving us the chance to be part of something bigger again.”
“It’s not just about being part of something bigger,” Gabriella said, her voice filled with emotion. “It’s about being together as a family. I want you and Mom to see what we’ve built, to be there with me and Andrew. I want us to be a family again.”
Her father was quiet for a long moment, the silence filled with the unspoken emotions they both felt. Then, he reached over and placed his hand on hers. “Your mother and I have talked about it. We’ve decided that we will come back with you. We want to meet Andrew, to see this community you’ve helped build. We want to be close to you again.”
Gabriella’s heart swelled with relief and happiness. “Thank you, Dad. That means everything to me.”
He squeezed her hand gently. “We’ve been away from the world for so long, but it’s time we rejoin it. It’s time we rejoin you.”

The next morning, as they prepared to leave, Gabriella’s parents packed their belongings. They didn’t have much—just a few personal items and essentials they had gathered over the years. The cabin had served them well, but it was clear they were ready to leave it behind. It was a place of survival, but not of life, and they were ready to embrace the latter once again.

When it was time to set out, Gabriella realized a logistical challenge: her parents didn’t have horses of their own. The journey back to the community would be difficult on foot, and time was of the essence. They couldn’t afford to travel slowly, not with the dangers that lurked in the wild.

“Mom, Dad,” Gabriella began as they stood outside the cabin, the early morning sun casting long shadows over the clearing. “We’ll have to share our horses. It’s the quickest way to get back.”
Her father looked at the two horses, then at Gabriella and Robert. “Are you sure it’ll be okay? We don’t want to slow you down.”
“It’s not a problem at all,” Robert interjected with a reassuring smile. “We’ll take turns, and it’ll give us a chance to talk along the way.”
Gabriella nodded, placing a comforting hand on her mother’s shoulder. “We’ll make it work. We’re in this together now.”

After a brief discussion, they decided on a plan: Gabriella’s father would ride behind Robert on his horse, while her mother would ride with Gabriella. This arrangement would allow them to travel more swiftly, even if it meant a bit of discomfort for the extra riders.

They mounted the horses, with Gabriella’s father gripping Robert’s waist for stability, while her mother settled in behind Gabriella, her arms wrapped securely around her daughter’s waist. It was an unusual way to travel, but the necessity of the situation left little room for alternatives.

As they started down the trail, the rhythm of the horses’ hooves on the earth provided a steady, almost soothing backdrop to their journey. The dense forest around them felt both protective and oppressive, its shadows long and mysterious in the early light.

The first few miles passed in relative silence, each of them lost in their thoughts. The weight of leaving behind the cabin—their refuge for so many years—was heavy, but the prospect of reuniting with the community and meeting Andrew gave them hope.

Gabriella could feel her mother’s quiet presence behind her, the way her arms tightened occasionally as the horse navigated uneven terrain. It reminded her of when she was a child, riding with her mother on the same horse, laughing and carefree. But those days felt like a distant dream now.

After a while, Gabriella’s mother broke the silence. “Gabriella, tell me more about Andrew. What is he like?”
Gabriella smiled, even though her mother couldn’t see it. “Andrew is... kind, strong, and always thinking about others. He’s the one who helped me find my way when everything seemed lost. We’ve built something really special together.”
Her mother’s voice was soft, tinged with emotion. “I’m so happy for you, my dear. I always knew you’d find someone who would cherish you.”
“Thank you, Mom,” Gabriella replied, feeling a warm glow in her chest. “I can’t wait for you to meet him.”

Meanwhile, Robert and Gabriella’s father were having their own conversation, sharing stories of life before and after the outage. Robert listened intently as Gabriella’s father recounted the struggles of surviving in isolation, the decisions he and his wife had made to protect themselves, and the hope that had kept them going despite the odds.

“I can’t imagine how hard that must have been,” Robert said, his voice filled with admiration. “But you did what you had to do. That takes a lot of strength.”
“It wasn’t easy,” Gabriella’s father admitted. “But we had each other. And now, we have the chance to be with our daughter again. That makes it all worth it.”

The journey continued, with the group taking short breaks to rest the horses and switch riders. The landscape began to change as they moved closer to the community, the dense forest giving way to open fields and rolling hills. The familiarity of the surroundings brought a sense of anticipation and nervous excitement.

As they neared the community, the sense of urgency grew. Gabriella’s heart raced with every step, knowing that soon she would be able to introduce her parents to the life she had built, to the man she loved. The closer they got, the more she could feel the weight of the years of separation lifting from her shoulders.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the outskirts of the community. The familiar gates came into view, and Gabriella’s heart leapt. This was it—the moment she had been waiting for.