Page 169 of Falling Into Gravity

“Oh, another theme song…I know that’s right,” Stephanie clapped.

Little Lunar stood first, hand to his heart, singing every word...“Oh, you got power… superpowers.”

“Do you even know how to wield them?” Pimp’s head shook like he could really sing.

Luna sung a little part crying her eyes out. “All God’s children are special.”

Noodle grabbed both of Aku’s hands. “Crazy to say this but you are the greatest.”

Aku giggled. “You’ve come along way kid.” They fell into each other’s arms, crying tears of joy.

“You’re the main character now!” The whole family shouted, everyone filling up the dance floor.

Kamari clapped along just as Monday scooped him up.

Malik pulled Aku close and rested his hand on her belly, singing into her hair.

Solar found Stephanie’s eyes, rushing to wrap her arms around her Mama. There was still hurt there…years of it. Questions that never got answered and silence that lasted too long. But if Aku had taught Solar anything, it was that love wasn’t supposed to be perfect. It wasn’t clean or easy or fair. It was messy, raw…real, and still—love was the thing that kept them breathing. “I love you Mama.”

Shocked, tears rolled over Stephanie’s round face. “Oh, baby,” she sobbed holding onto her daughter. “I love you so much.”

Seeing the scene, Luna cried too. Her family was healing.

Little Lunar hooked his arms around Aku and Noodle. The three of them had a long, beautiful journey but they made itthrough, while always being able to lean on each other. “I love y’all,” he announced.

“Love you too,” they said in unison.

“Our sun,” Aku reminded him.

“We made it.” Lunar smiled.

“Did you think we wouldn’t?” Noodle asked.

He shook his head just as Bu, Pimp, Malik, and Devonte joined their circle. Pharoah just sat back in his wheelchair with a content smile on his face.

They were the main characters now…the Superheroes.

Alive…In love, and in the middle of a moment they knew they’d carry for the rest of their lives.

They didn’t need magic.

Theywerethe magic.

epilogue

. . .

One Year Later

The auditoriumat MIT was packed wall to wall. Cameras lined the aisles. Screens broadcasted the stage across the globe. The banners overhead readHONORARY DOCTORATE CEREMONY: MALIK RICE, MIT SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & URBAN TECHNOLOGY.

It was surreal…All of it.

The gold-trimmed robes. The roaring applause. The big-ass projector screen behind him, flashing his face like it was a movie premiere.

But Malik Rice wasn’t blinking. He stood tall in his fitted custom burgundy suit—no tie, gold Cuban link under his collar, a subtle blue handkerchief in the breast pocket nodding to Crescent Park. His beard was clean. His braids straight to the back with the fresh line. The light hit his face just right as he stepped up to the podium.

He cleared his throat.

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