Before The Last Sunrise We Chase Unspoken Promises Together by Arlo Hayes Finn 13 Summary
In “Before The Last Sunrise We Chase Unspoken Promises Together,” Bryson is haunted by the whispers of his fellow soldiers, who question his apparent devotion to his deceased wife, Vivienne. Their harsh judgments cut deeply, forcing him to confront the painful truth of his past—his neglect and emotional absence during their life together. Bryson recalls moments where he failed to support Vivienne, from ignoring her needs during her miscarriage to being absent when her father fell ill. Each memory serves as a reminder of his shortcomings and the love he took for granted.
As the story unfolds, Bryson grapples with deep regret and guilt, realizing that he pushed away the one person who loved him unconditionally. This realization torments him, and he feels an overwhelming need to atone for his past mistakes. The weight of his remorse drives him to the cemetery, where he seeks to honor Vivienne’s father, a man he never respected during his lifetime. The neglected grave symbolizes Bryson’s own neglect of love and responsibility, and he is determined to rectify this by clearing the weeds that have overtaken it.
Upon reaching the grave, Bryson’s emotional defenses crumble as he kneels before the headstone. The act of clearing the grave becomes a cathartic experience, allowing him to confront his past actions. As he renders a military salute, a gesture he had long denied, he feels the weight of his remorse pressing down on him. In that moment, he surrenders to his guilt, bowing his forehead to the ground in an act of humility and acknowledgment of his failures. This poignant scene encapsulates his desperate quest for redemption and the hope that he might find a way to honor the love he once had and lost.
Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below
**Before The Last Sunrise We Chase Unspoken Promises Together by Arlo Hayes Finn**
As the days passed within the military district, a wave of disquieting whispers began to ripple through the ranks.
“Why does he put on such a show of devotion? When Vivienne was alive, he hardly ever set foot in his own home,” one soldier remarked, his voice dripping with disdain.
“Exactly. You might catch a glimpse of him at headquarters a handful of times each year, but at home? Probably less than five visits,” another chimed in, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I heard it was all for that Nikki. Wasn’t there a scandal surrounding that? Now suddenly, he seems to miss his original wife?”
“Who is he trying to fool? Vivienne is long gone, yet here he is, playing the role of the heartbroken lover. Doesn’t he feel even a hint of shame?”
These biting remarks inevitably drifted into Bryson’s ears, each word piercing his heart like a series of poisoned needles, inflicting pain that he couldn’t easily dismiss.
Their harsh judgments were cruel, yet there was a sliver of truth buried within them.
Pretending to be devoted?
Did he even have the right to wear that label?
The notion of “devotion” that once belonged to the Bryson who had shared a life with Vivienne felt like nothing more than a cruel jest.
He recalled the day she had moved into that dilapidated bungalow with him, her eyes sparkling with hope as she meticulously arranged their new ‘home.’ In stark contrast, he was either spending sleepless nights at headquarters or returning home utterly drained, responding to her tender gestures with indifference, or worse, irritation.
On their wedding anniversary, she had gone all out, preparing a lavish spread of her favorite dishes, eagerly awaiting his return. Yet, when he finally walked through the door, he offered her no kind words; instead, he chastised her for being extravagant and wasteful.
When she found herself hospitalized after a miscarriage, the doctors urged him to stay by her side. But he brushed off their pleas, declaring he was far too swamped with work to offer her the support she so desperately needed.
And when her father, Gavin Collier, fell gravely ill, she had come to the hospital alone, pleading for him to send a car. Instead of offering assistance, he forced her to navigate the bureaucratic maze, filling out forms that delayed Gavin’s treatment. Because of that, she lost the most significant person in her life.
At every pivotal moment in her life, he had been conspicuously absent—not just physically, but emotionally, exacerbating her struggles instead of alleviating them.
In those critical times, he should have been her rock, the one standing steadfastly by her side, offering comfort and support.
But he had failed her miserably, offering only a cold shoulder and unkindness.
He even… nearly violated Gavin’s grave in a desperate attempt to coerce her into donating a kidney to Nikki.
What kind of madness had overtaken him during those dark days, leading him to act in such a heartless manner?
“Bastard…”
The word escaped Bryson’s lips, a low growl that reverberated through his throat as he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the memories.
Even now, he grappled with an inability to comprehend his past actions.
Regret and guilt churned within him like molten lava, searing through his very essence.
How many atrocious acts had he committed? It was he—he was the one who had pushed away the woman who had loved him unconditionally, until she was lost to him forever.
He found himself at a loss for how to make amends.
How could he ever hope to atone for his sins?
He felt a compulsion to go somewhere—to confess, to lay bare the weight of his wrongdoings.
The cemetery on the outskirts of the city appeared even more desolate under the oppressive winter sky.
Bryson arrived without an entourage, driving a plain jeep that blended into the stark landscape.
He located the grave, its headstone adorned with a photograph of a kindly old man, whose features bore a striking resemblance to Vivienne. This was her father—the father-in-law he had never truly honored, and to whom he had once even contemplated disrespect.
The area surrounding the grave was choked with weeds, clearly neglected for far too long.
With determination, Bryson knelt down, pulling the weeds from the earth one by one. The sharp edges of the grass sliced into his palms, yet he felt no pain, driven by an urgent need to make things right.
Only after he had cleared the grave of all the overgrowth did he stand before the headstone and render a formal military salute, a gesture of respect he had long denied.
His gaze locked onto the eyes of the man in the photograph, which seemed to return his stare with a quiet, almost imperceptible reproach.
In that moment, all of Bryson’s defenses shattered, his hardened exterior crumbling before the cold stone.
Slowly, he sank to his knees.
With a solid thud, he pressed his knees against the unforgiving concrete of the grave, bowing his forehead heavily to the ground, surrendering to the weight of his remorse.
Conclusion
In the stillness of the cemetery, Bryson confronted the ghosts of his past, each memory a reminder of the love he had squandered and the trust he had shattered. As he knelt before Vivienne’s father’s grave, a surge of anguish washed over him, mingling with the cold air that surrounded him. The act of clearing the weeds was more than a physical endeavor; it symbolized his desperate attempt to reclaim the respect that he had lost—not just from those he had wronged, but also from himself. The weight of his actions pressed down on him, and for the first time, he allowed himself to feel the full extent of his regret. In this moment of vulnerability, he recognized that the path to redemption would not be easy, but it was a journey he was willing to embark upon, one small act of contrition at a time.
As Bryson rose from the grave, a flicker of hope ignited within him. He understood that while he could never change the past, he could strive to honor Vivienne’s memory by becoming a better man. The whispers of judgment from his fellow soldiers faded into the background, replaced by a newfound determination to embrace the values of loyalty and compassion that he had once neglected. With each step away from the grave, he felt lighter, as if the burdens of his past were beginning to dissolve. The road ahead would be fraught with challenges, but he was ready to face them, not just for himself but for the unspoken promises he had made to Vivienne and her family. In the quiet of that winter day, Bryson took his first steps toward healing, chasing the dawn of a new beginning, where every sunrise could symbolize a chance to make amends.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the next chapter, readers can expect to delve deeper into Bryson’s tumultuous journey of redemption as he grapples with the ghosts of his past. The cemetery, a place that once felt suffocating with regret, becomes a catalyst for transformation. As he kneels before the grave, the weight of his past actions will force him to confront not only the pain he caused Vivienne and her family but also the fractured pieces of his own soul. Will this moment of vulnerability lead to a profound awakening, or will Bryson remain trapped in the cycle of guilt that has haunted him for so long?
Anticipation builds as Bryson’s journey unfolds, hinting at encounters that may challenge his resolve. Perhaps a chance meeting with someone from Vivienne’s past will stir old memories, igniting a fire of hope or resentment that Bryson must navigate. Additionally, the whispers among the soldiers will continue to echo in his mind, pushing him to question whether he can ever truly earn back the trust and respect he has lost. Will he find the strength to face his demons and seek forgiveness from those he has wronged, or will he succumb to the shadows that threaten to engulf him? The next chapter promises to be a gripping exploration of the heart’s capacity for change, set against the backdrop of a world that seems determined to keep Bryson shackled to his past.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
