𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒊𝒓𝒆 » 𝐀. 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐒

❝𝒙𝒗𝒊𝒊𝒊.❞

𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟗𝟐𝟒.

"Nora."

Nora was an empty vessel as she sat in wait for her trial. She would rather skip the whole thing and skip to the part where she hangs.

"Eleanora!"

She snaps out of her trance and recognizes her mother calling her from her cell across the way. Nora stands up and moves to sit by the door to meet her mother, where she was waiting for her.

"I know it's disgusting but you need to eat." "I'm going to die anyway-" "You don't know that, maybe there's a way. Maybe Tommy-"

"Don't say that heathen's name in front of me." "You need to stay strong, and that means you need to eat, Eleanora. Now." Nora reaches over and cringes as she takes a bite of the stale bread. After a brief struggle swallowing she clears her throat.

"How long have you known?" She mutters softly, keeping her voice down. Polly turns to her daughter, "That Arthur was your father, or that you were the one that sent him to hell?" Nora scoffs and shakes her head, "I've always known Eleanora, that's why when I found out what he was doing I made sure he never returned. I tried to protect you the best I could. Even after the fact. Tommy investigated what happened to him, someone spotted him outside of Solomon's factory a few nights before he passed, Tommy and I went to Solomons." Nora shuddered in absolute shock. "Tom was meant to keep you out of this, that was the deal that was made. You should've come to us, Eleanora." "You saw how Arthur reacted, actions aside he was still your brother, he was still their father-" "Everyone understood, you were following through on an order, just like...just like Michael."

The guards made their entrance known as they made their way down the halls. They stop and turn to Nora's gate. "You have a visitor, Grey." She stands up and glances at her mother before following the guards outside to the visiting yards. She lays eyes on her fiance and gasps. He looked distraught, confused, hurt.

"Nora." She immediately breaks into sobs as she hugs him tightly, taking him in for what she decided would be the final time. "You shouldn't have come."

"I came as soon as I heard, I had to bribe the guards to let me see you. My love this has to be some mistake, I'm hiring the best lawyers, we will get you out of here soon I-"

"No."

Elliot pauses, "Nora...I know you, I read the charges, I saw the damage, that...that couldn't have been you-" "You need to go to office, tell them that you are retrieving my engagement ring, and I need you to get on that boat as planned, to Melbourne."

Elliot's face drops as he backs away from her, unable to take in what she's telling him. "Nora-" "I'm not scared, Elliot. But I won't let myself hold you back any longer. You deserve better than me, better than my family, the Shelbys. You were always free to go. So go-" "Not without you-" "Elliot," she pulls him close as she cups his face, "You were going to marry a murderer," she mumbles quietly, "You deserve a clean slate, and God has given you one. I do not deserve that slate. So if any part of you truly loves me, you will accept this as my parting gift."

Tears stream down each other's faces as she kisses him deeply and moves to wipe his own. "I will always love you for loving me, Elliot Murphy. You go with your family, and you start your life over. Have kids, be happy, be blessed." Elliot sobs softly, "I love you."

"Time's up!"

The guards come to get Nora and grab her hoarsely dragging her away, "Let go of me!" "Let go of her! Nora!" Nora didn't even fight the guards as she took in the sight of her best friend, her fiance, for the last time.