Together we walked toward her cottage, gravel crunching under our feet and the light beginning to fade into the soft blue of early evening. For a moment I felt happier and more content than I had in a long while. I had no idea what lay ahead, but I knew that whatever it was, I was not alone. I had a best friend who loved and supported me. I still had almost a month to reach at least one of my goals. I had two lemon drops in my pocket to use as I chose. And for the first time in a long time, I was starting to believe that something good was waiting up ahead for me after all.
