Epilogue #2
“You wondered weeks ago if I’d ever had to remake myself.
I said no, but that wasn’t quite the full truth.
” Athens wove in a hint of seriousness as his laughter died down, addressing Dariel—John.
“I did, choosing a new name, a new way to live. Becoming Athens was a rebirth, and whilst I always knew who I was, I was able to start again, entirely from scratch, as the man I am now.”
‘It’s an honour to meet you, Athens.’
“To life! And living in this palace of a home with two delightful men for company. Forever.” Athens raised his glass, winking at them both.
“To life.” They both joined in, clinking glasses.
The body of Dariel Hale, or what was officially confirmed as his body, washed up in the Thames a week later.
(No living humans were harmed in the process, they promised Godwin.) The wildest thing about the story was the fact it was front page news.
It wasn’t hard to forge, Athens helped with the plan—immortal manipulation goes a long way.
But everyone now knew he was dead, which was the main thing.
Such a tragic affair. Alcohol, they said.
Such a shame. A true talent, gone too soon.
“Oh now they want my jackets, look at the price of that,” he said, reading the news from Godwin’s computer.
In slightly quieter news, a small obituary appeared in the paper for a woman who never really existed. It should have been recorded a long time ago. Long awaited closure for the 1997 case.
Frost coated the lawn the first morning in February; winter birds in the sky. John found Athens at the front of the house, cross legged on the bench, nursing a cup of blood; his gaze distant.
At the sound of the crunching gravel, Athens turned his head to look at John, whatever he was thinking about fleeting away at the recognition of his company.
“Come sit,” he welcomed John with a pat on the wooden seat beside him, stretching out his legs. John turned up his collar—Godwin’s coat—and joined him, the wind twirling his now light brown hair.
“Thought I’d find you here,” John said, fixing his eyes to where Athens had been staring moments ago.
Athens hummed to himself, taking a sip before offering the cup to John, who accepted. Fox blood. Interesting.
“Having second thoughts on staying?” John felt it important to ask, despite the humour in his tone. He would probably be asking Athens this for a while, as well as himself. The answer was yet to change though.
Athens laughed distantly, “I didn’t really have a choice.”
John understood the man a lot more now though, and he read between the lines, grinning. They could do whatever they wanted, and they both knew that. “One day we’ll visit a vineyard, I think Godwin would enjoy that.”
Athens dipped his head, chewing his mouth slightly. “He’d be in his element.”
“Well, one day he’ll get himself a passport, that might be the first step.”
They both laughed an aged laugh, one of lifelong friendship, then silence fell. John cleared his throat and passed the mug back, offering his gloved hand out as well.
Athens looked puzzled for a brief second, then he took it, his face softening. “There’s something you came here to ask, isn’t there?”
John’s lungs seized, eyes widening a tad. “Was it really that obvious?”
As a reply, Athens raised their clasped hands up in the air and John smiled.
Ask him, John. It’s time.
John squeezed their hands then let go, dropping his arm to his side and looking up to the sky.
Go on.
“Do you want me to start?” Athens said, leaning forward to catch John’s face.
Live, John, live.
“Godwin was never looking for romance.” John got his words in first, not letting himself guess what Athens was about to say instead.
“Yes,” Athens responded, matter-of-factly.
“And we agreed we didn’t mind, we wanted him in whatever way he desired.”
“Yes.”
‘I can’t read you.’
‘Try.’
John closed his eyes. “I tried to make myself believe that would be what I wanted too. And I do want that, I want to stay with him, to help him with the house and take him on trips, but with you, I…”
My beloved, it’s time to let me go.
“I want you romantically too.” It was Athens, taking the words right out of John’s mouth.
“What?” John startled, breathless.
Athens only smiled with his eyes. “What? Was that not what you were going to say? It’s what I was going to say.
I want to be with Godwin sexually. I want to be with you sexually and romantically.
I want to learn how to love you in all forms of the word.
” He spoke as if it had been obvious right from the start.
Has it always been obvious?
“Will he mind?” John finally said after he let out all the breath from his lungs, brows tight.
Athens stayed cheery. “I shouldn’t think so, but all we need to do is talk to him. It’s probably already obvious to him.”
“You think?”
“I do. I really thought we’d already made that clear, to be honest.” Athens downed the rest of the blood, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.
John leaned in to kiss him, lifting Athens’ chin. The other man melted into the touch as their breaths mingled.
A bird flew close past their faces, distracting John, causing him to pull away, startled. He turned to follow the direction it flew, then he saw it. Perched on the rim of a plant pot in front of them, twisting its curious head at them. At John.
A sparrow.
Sparrow.
‘Your shadows, I’ve not seen them in days.’ Athens rubbed a comforting hand over John’s thigh. Was he seeing what John was?
I know. He thought to himself. Sparrow.
Goodbye, John. My beloved husband. Live well.
The wind kissed his cheek as the front door creaked open.
“Athens, John, it’s freezing, please come inside, breakfast will go cold!” Godwin appeared at the front door, wrapped in John’s white-feather coat—clearly the closest thing he could find for warmth.
“Oh, you look beautiful darling. Really brings out the tones in your beard.” Athens said sarcastically, John already on his feet.
“Eggs again?” John asked cheerfully.
“With a fresh loaf from the market.”
“You went to the market?” Athens piped up, confused.
“John took me yesterday, you said you had something important to do.”
Athens beamed as he stood to join them. “Ahh yes, that I did. Come on then, breakfast awaits.”