chpt. 26

I rush down the building, and by the time I enter the streets there are people. Everywhere. People. I push through them, past them.

I want to see if Susan is okay. Is Johnny? Reed? Ben? I'm out of breath when I make it to Time's Square. And I see them.

They're standing in front of all the people, Susan with Franklin in her arms, smiling. Johnny is scanning the crowd. His eyes land on me and he comes rushing to me without a second thought.

I throw my arms around his neck, his arms circle around me in a bone crushing hug. His breath is ragged in my ear.

"You're okay." He whispers.

"Yeah. I see Susan is fine." I murmur.

"Yeah." He whispers, burying his head in my neck, my hair.

I feel another body slam into mine. Sophia. Then another, Larry. Soon Ben, Reed and Susan join in a rather lareg, group hug.

"Thank you guys." Ben says.

"We couldn't have done it without you." Susan whispers.

"All of you." Reed says, "Thank you."

We stay like for a while as I hear the sound of people cheering all around us.