Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

EPILOGUE

(THREE MONTHS AFTER WALL MARIA IS BREACHED)

(Lorelai Briggs)

I unlock the door to my home in Mitras. The wind follows me inside as I call out to my husband, "Levi, honey, I'm home." But I get no reply.

It's a pleasant winter morning, and the streets of Mitras are covered with snowfall. I often tell my husband that the snow reminds me of my homeland, Havas; he often tells me I'm overly sentimental. He's probably right.

Shaking off my snow-dusted coat, our mail catches my eye. These days, I always have so many letters; I can barely come home without expecting a mountain of paperwork to sort through. I guess that comes with being famous.

I flip through the letters and smile as I see one is from my sort-of-brother, Gabriel. It's a wedding invitation. He and his fiancé, Thomsen, are planning to get married in the Spring, and they cordially wish for Levi and I's presence at the ceremony.

I do love weddings. Although it may take a few weeks to convince my husband to humour the idea— he's always hated social events.

Gabriel and Thomsen retired from the military shortly after I did. After Wall Maria fell, Scouting missions just seemed too dangerous. The two of them now keep a farm in Southern Wall Rose, if I'm not mistaken.

The place sounds pleasant enough, but I've never been the sort of woman to find charm in such rustic endeavours.

"Levi?" I call into the house once again. But the building is quiet. Sighing, I realise he's probably dozing. While off duty, my husband sleeps like a log.

I take off my boots, taking extra care around my prosthetic leg.

A few months have passed since my injury, during which I have been subjected to the greatest torture known to man— otherwise known as physical therapy.

Still, it's been made endurable by the presence of my dear friend Thersa. She followed me to the capital to help with my recovery after she, too, left the Scouts.

Here, Thersa has really made something of herself. She's now employed at one of the top hospitals in the Walls and even found herself a lady friend. I look forward to attending that wedding, as well.

We've made incredible progress with my mobility. While my leg will never come back, the prosthetic I had made by my godfather, Romero, has enabled me to move around on my own.

I still require a cane, of course, and I'm rather wobbly, but one can't have everything.

My newfound freedom has allowed me to dive right back into the politics in Mitras. I'm now a widely respected and also widely controversial politician who advocates for Havasian rights within the Walls.

I often work closely with my grandparents, the le Blancs, and occasionally my mother, Adette. Seeing them all is an unwelcome reminder of my past, but once again, one can't have everything.

All in all, I've found some semblance of peace in these war-torn times.

My body will never be what it was, and I have more than a few regrets, but here in Mitras, surrounded by my friends, family, and the work I adore, I'm happy.

I've never really been able to say that before. It's a nice change.

And I owe it all to Elske, the brave girl who gave her life for mine. I think about her often, and I continue to carry her spirit with me as I go about my odd little life.

"Levi, my love?" I struggle up a few steps to peer into our bedroom, but it's undisturbed.

Eventually, I find him asleep on the sofa in our sitting room. There's a stray teacup on the side table, and he's snoring slightly.