Home || Enoch O'Connor

E P I L O G U E

A Glance Into Life After Blackpool

I narrowed my eyes at the flower bud in my hand, concentration unwavering.

I had to get it right this time.

I tried and tried, and slowly, I felt it. The addictive rush of power in my veins, travelling to my palms.

I watched in awe as the flower bud bloomed, before smaller, delicate vines appeared, twirling around my hand.

I laughed.

A crash sounded, making me jump. The flower fell from my hands.

I looked up, eyes wide.

A moment later, Enoch stumbled into view, disheveled.

"Did you... Fall?" I asked, humour in my tone.

Enoch huffed, "No."

Even though I knew he was lying, I left it alone.

Enoch came to sit beside me.

"I got it right," I told him, picking up the flower. "Then you fell."

"I didn't fall." Enoch protested, sulking.

I chuckled. Whatever he wanted to believe.

"So why're you here?" I muttered, stretching out my legs and leaning back against the wide trunk of the tree.

Enoch gave a one-shoulder shrug, "I was bored. Besides, Jake's getting really obnoxious nowadays. He just doesn't stop messing things up in the house."

I raised an eyebrow, "What'd he do this time?"

"He was in my room. Putting salt and pepper into my jars."

I let out an incredulous laugh.

Jake's pointless pranks just never seem to cease. Last week, he stole Horace's suits, and hid them. Honestly, I had no idea what he was on.

"Do you miss Cairnholm?" I mumbled, resting my head on Enoch's shoulder.

Silence followed.

Then, "Yeah. I do."

I smiled, memories of that small island in Wales that I had spent only days at.

That seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Yeah," I agreed, a soft smile on my face. "The clear blue skies, and the ocean."

"The beach." Enoch said softly, and I could hear his smile through those words.

I thought about the beach. The sand, the water. Enoch, and me.

"Do you remember the first time we spoke?" I asked, reminiscing. "The stupid handshake, which you refused to return. Then you all but pushed past me."

Enoch frowned, "I was busy that day."

I shot him a look.

He sighed, "But that was rude. I apologize. Sincerely. I just... I didn't know who you were. And you were..." He trailed off, eyes distant.

I tilted my head up to look at him.

He got lost in his thoughts for a few passing moments, before his eyes travelled down to meet mine.

"You took me by surprise that day," He told me quietly. "You dressed so differently, acted so strangely. You were so foreign, but it was your beauty that put me off the most. And then you went ahead and insulted me, and no one's ever done that before. Everyone's just afraid. Of me. But you weren't. Like I said, different."

I stared at Enoch, unblinking.

I chuckled, "You know, back where I came from, people avoided me like the plague. They didn't like me, and they didn't dare talk to me. So I guess that's why I kept wanting to annoy you. Because you don't avoid me."

Enoch smiled.

He relaxed, resting his body, and he looked so much at peace.

It made me happy.

"Well, if they label us damned," He spoke, eyes content. "Then let us be damned, together."

I liked the sound of that.

I reached forward, pressing my lips to his, before pulling away.

I settled down, head against his chest, and closed my eyes.

Enoch lifted his hand, resting it on my hair gently.

And there didn't have to be anyone or anything else. Just the zephyr, the soft swaying of the trees, the rustling of the leaves, and Enoch's soft, steady breaths.

Just us, imperfect, but perfect together.

In his arms, I was home.