Page 46 of Feral

I thread my hands through Azadeh’s hair, massaging the conditioner in her silky black locks.

“I wasn’t joking about the babies,” I whisper. “I want them.”

She turns and wraps her arms around my neck. “And I want to give them to you.”

Epilogue

Azadeh- Ten Years Later

Isit in the gazebo built for me many years ago as the kids run like wild animals in the yard, chased by two men who are just as wild.

The four of us married nine years ago in a makeshift civil ceremony. Obviously, it wasn’t legally binding, but we wanted something symbolic to show the world our commitment to each other.

We started weekly therapy sessions to work out our trauma. I was adamant about not bringing children into this world until we had a better coping mechanism to deal with our issues than sex. The guys agreed, and we’ve been attending weekly therapy sessions since as a family. Our daughter Nasrin was born two years later, followed by our twin boys two years later.

I gave up my journeys around the globe, but Lev set up a non-profit that I run, which helps girls who need to escape bad situations. We’ve saved five thousand girls from dire conditions in the eight years it's been running.

“I never thought this place would be my refuge,” Lev says, wrapping his arms around me and rubbing my pregnant belly. Our next child is due in a month. “Never thought the place of nightmares would become the place of perfect dreams.”

“We have a good life, Lev,” I say, bringing his left hand to my lips. His wedding band shines in the sunlight.

Lev kisses my cheek, watching our two men and three kids play. “We sure do.”