Ghost ˚ C. Xavier [4]

Epilogue

A/N: I recommend listening to the song while you read. Also, please read the whole thing, I think you'll like the ending

One Year Later

The wind blew through the trees causing the leaves to rustle ever so slightly. The birds chirped away their little songs and calls to their families. Life kept going and the Earth kept turning. The universe was strange like that. Everyday, second, hour, minute, week, month... Lives ended and lives began. There are millions of people who have to go on with their lives even when they think it impossible. That's the great thing about people. Even when they think their world is over, they keep going because they know that there's more planned for them. 

 Charles sat on a swing in the park across from the Summers home. It had been hard for him to get there on his own, seeing as he couldn't drive or walk as he could all those years back. He looked to the empty swing to the right of him, the wind making it rock back and forth as if someone was using it. He turned away, his eyes closing for a moment.

The sound of footsteps on the dirt made him look up slowly. "Is this seat taken, Charles?" 

He shook his head, a pain forming in his chest. 

"You look tired." The woman said, a sad smile forming. "There's so much sadness and loss in those beautiful eyes." 

Charles returned the smile, a few tears forming as he did so. "You look just as you did the day I found you." 

The girl chuckled while digging the toe of their boot into the sand below them. "I haven't aged...I'm not real." They said.

"I know." Charles blinked and the swing was once again empty, swaying in the wind slowly. 

He allowed more tears to fall, a watery smile forming on his face as he sobbed quietly on the piece of playground equipment. "I'm so sorry, Beth..." He choked out into the chilly air.

I can help you, Beth. But you have to let me in. You have to trust me. I can not only help you control your abilities, I can help you understand them.

The birds continued their song as the broken man sat below them as he remembered the things he said to her. 

"I'm sorry that I failed to fulfill my promise. You trusted me and now..." He whispered to the empty swing. 

--2029--

"Hey, don't wake her yet..." Charles whispered to the shadowed figure that had stepped into the room. "Let her sleep for one more hour." The figure got closer, but he didn't mind since it was only Logan. Right? "You know, Logan? This was without a doubt... The most perfect night I've had in a very long time." Charles's eyes began to water with tears, his heart beating loud in his ears. "But I don't deserve it... Do I? I did something-something unspeakable." He paused, taking a deep breath. "I have remembered what happened in Westchester..."  Silence fell for a moment before he continued, Logan walking closer as he did. "This is not the first time I've hurt people." 

His mind went back to Beth. How could he have done that to the woman he loved? It was to save her, he thought.

"Until today, I didn't know. You wouldn't tell me... So we just kept running away from it." Charles turned over so he was on his back. "I think I finally understand you." He said, looking up at Logan, who was still covered by a shadow as he placed a hand on Charles's shoulder. "Logan...?" 

'Logan' placed a fist on Charles's chest, pausing for a moment before sinking his claws into the old man, pulling them out to reveal the crimson liquid as the telepath struggled to breath.