Actions

  • Entire Work

Work Header

Rating:
Archive Warning:
Categories:
Fandoms:
Characters:
Additional Tags:
Language:
English
Series:
Part 1 of The Seer
Stats:
Published:
2025-11-13
Completed:
2026-04-12
Words:
63,733
Chapters:
32/32
Comments:
68
Kudos:
8
Bookmarks:
2
Hits:
561

What Could Have Been

Chapter 32: Epilogue

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

September 11th, 2001

Edinburgh Scotland

All anyone could talk about was how beautiful it is on September 11th, 2001. It seemed all across the globe were clear, blue skies, weather commentators saying what a perfect month it's been. Students are studying for their upcoming exams, fretting over the minor things in life. The peaceful things.

  Dylan celebrates his twentieth birthday that day, surrounded by his boyfriend, Cathal, friends Wes, Eric and Isa and of course Cathal's cat's Macbeth and Duchess, along with their new kitten, Marie. She warmed up to Dylan instantly to his surprise. Dylan's mother Sue and his father and brother holler 'Happy Birthday Dyl! We love you!' over the phone in Sorscha's house. Along with friends he knew from school.

  But the minute Dylan blows out his candles, Cathal blinks at their television. "Hey…what's going on in New York?" he asks.

  All heads turn.

  Smoke fills the cities skyline. A clear blue sky. Firetrucks are barreling down the streets, towards the World Trade Center. The group look at one another, confusion. Mostly confusion. And fear.

  The words are foreign, as a reporter states a plane has crashed into the World Trade Center. An American Airliner. Cathal drops his cup, filled with water. Just as he saw. Before it happened. A large, gaping hole is in the Trade Center's right building. Isa shakes her head, fumbling for her phone. Calling her father, knowing their uncle works there. He missed his flight to New York and praised God for it.

 Several gasps echoed the house when the first building falls. The second is left standing, for now.

 In London, England, Queen Elizabeth II breaks royal protocol and declares her soldiers to play the American national anthem. Other countries follow suit. Though some are in celebration. A sickness so deep, known as hatred.

  Eric had dreams of becoming a soldier. Now he is unsure, being a college student, having Isa. Let others achieve what he cannot, he decides.

  Cathal feels guilty for some reason, in which Dylan shakes his head. "That's stupid, Cath…what were you supposed to do?"

  "I know…I just…think I could have done something, somehow. But not everything can be changed." He sighed. His heart aching for New York, feeling Macbeth curl against his side. Dylan makes him look away from the television, turning it off. He kisses Cathal with a bit more expertise than before.

 When he pulls away, he takes Cathal's hand in his. A wedding ring on either's finger. "C'mon, let's take a walk."

  And Cathal takes it without hesitation. Smiling. The bells toll outside for America, and life moves forward all the same. Inspite of everything.

Notes:

In the life of a writer, we are often tempted to visit an episode of the past. Sometimes it will involve people already dead. Columbine interested me early last year, though not for the shooters alone, it was the mental health aspects clearly ignored or not noticed in the 90's. I was only seven when this occurred, I don't even remember the news on it, or magazines, just being a happy child blissfully unaware of horror.

While writing this, I was also reminded of a school shooting that happened in my community years ago. I was in high-school, a sophomore at the time of it. 2005 or 2007. I heard some commotion outside like my other classmates, we saw our principal and several other school officials running down the hall. We learned one of our own was shot. A girl by her ex boyfriend multiple times. She survived thank God well as her unborn baby girl, beautiful mother and child to this day.

I wrote this to send a message. Yes, there is romance in it, but the core of my story no matter what someone may tell you, is healing and survival. I wanted to focus on that for a change like my other works. If you don't like it, fine. Leave. And if you're a troll writing stupid stuff about Eric and Dylan, I pity you honestly I do. You're not funny, you're a cruel person. Please be respectful.

I think about Columbine this month and pray the families and friends affected by Eric and Dylan's selfishness, and the victims. In a way, I do see them as victims as well, but not in the same light. They did not have to hurt people because they were hurting. That's the message I portrayed in this story. Thank you to all who have supported this <3 I may write an Eric and Isa spin off…before Cathal's arrival, but…I don't know, might step back into my normal fics. Away from true crime has done me wonders.

Thank you all again so, so much for believing in me. That means more than you know. Our mental health system is far from perfect, but, I have hope it can get better. It needs to. We need to care for one another now more than ever, even our online friends. It's not a game, it's not a joke. Although humor can help obviously. Look after one another and yourself. Ignore the trolls.

Notes:

Finally felt brave enough to share this story of mine. After some months of....a little crying about it, worrying what people would think of me, questioning after questioning. I hope it comes across tasteful. The joys of being a writer with high anxiety.... And if you see the tag 'inspired by Twilight Zone' it was heavily inspired, after watching several episodes of that series over the years. Highly recommend.

The episode was about a man who is sent back in time and tries to save Abraham Lincoln from his assassination, I can't remember the name of the episode, but it helped me gain ideas for this story.

https://www.crisistextline.org/Free Mental Health talk and text line

https://www.nami.org/advocacy/policy-priorities/responding-to-crises/national-hotline-for-mental-health-crises-and-suicide-prevention/

http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/

National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-825
National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673
General Mental Health Hotline 1-877-726-4727

Comments are welcomed! But keep it civil please.

I know that Ed Warren is pretty controversial of a figure, but I really like his quote despite being a fraud paranormal investigator. I felt it fitting.

Series this work belongs to: