You Watched Me Fall {A Novella}

Epilogue

Copyright © M.T.Wilson 2012 - All rights reserved

Epilogue

  

    The lake shone in the light of the midday sun, the trees lush and green and the shingle beach warm to the touch. Everything was so peaceful, so quiet; naught to hear but the birds singing and the chatter of insects.

    Cohen picked up another stone, feeling the smooth edges between his fingers before flinging it out at the lake so it skidded on the surface. It bounced once, twice, three times and then disappeared beneath the water. Just like Isa. The thought brought a fresh wave of sadness and frustration through him. He had said he would keep her safe, and he had failed. Once again he had watched her fall, but the second time he could do nothing to save her.

    He kept thinking that he should have been able to help her, that he could have. But as Maya kept telling him, she sacrificed herself to banish the demon and keep him and Maya safe.

    “Still sulking?”

    Cohen looked up as Maya plonked down next to him. “Huh?”

    “Never mind,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s been a week, Cohen. When is this going to end? It’s not like she’s dead.”

    “We don’t know that. We don’t know where she is, that’s worse.”

    Maya sighed. “I see what you mean. Maybe she’ll contact us.”

    “How?”

    “I don’t know. Somehow…”

    Cohen looked away from her and threw another stone. Instead of bouncing it plopped into the water straight away and he frowned, mumbling to himself.

    “Do you remember,” He began, “what it was like when Ollie changed? Did you feel like you’d lost him?”

    “Well, yes-”

    “Did you feel like you failed him?” Cohen continued. She nodded, staring down at the shingles. “That’s how I feel right now. I lost the person I love and what’s worse is I failed to stop that from happening.”

    “Cohen, I really don’t think there is anything you could have done,” Maya said. “Not against that demon. What happened happened, you can’t keep blaming yourself. You need to move on.” When he opened his mouth to protest she quickly carried on. “I’m not saying to forget her. I’m just saying you’ve got to get over all this self blame and carry on with your life.”

    “I know,” Cohen sighed. “That doesn’t mean it’s easy.”

    “Come on,” Maya said, getting to her feet.

    “Where?”

    “To buy ice-cream,” Maya grinned, holding out a hand to Cohen. “They’re on me.”

    Cohen cracked a smile and allowed Maya to pull him to his feet.

    “What flavour are you going to have?” she asked as they headed to the forest path.

    Cohen glanced back at the lake and the corner of his mouth twitched. “Angel delight.”