Epilogue
“In five, four, three, two …”
It had been more than two years since Naomi had been on a studio stage, surrounded by an army of cameras, lights gleaming from every angle, and shadows of crew moving somewhere behind the equipment.
She had expected to find herself a bundle of nerves, the way she had the first few times she’d been in front of the cameras, but was amazed at how familiar it felt.
However brief her time in the public eye had been, her body had acclimated to the experience, and she slipped back into the familiar performance without hesitation.
She looked at Will, seated beside her on the plush gray sofa, dressed in a cobalt blue T-shirt, soft and worn, with a tiny watercolor TARDIS at its center.
The style was unmistakably his, but the color had been chosen to match the deep blue of her silk-and-lace dress.
She scanned his face to see if he was feeling the same way as her, and his smile, now hidden underneath a thick but trim beard, told her he was.
In front of her, a red light appeared on one of the cameras.
The man seated across from her leaned forward, looking intimately into the camera as it began slowly moving towards him as if he were about to divulge a secret to his best friend.
“From the heartwarming engagement that captured America’s heart to the despair of being left at the altar,” he began, “The Wilomi story has had it all.
Add in a secret past, a harrowing attack, and a dramatic reunion, and you've got a season of television that's kept us all on the edge of our seats.
“After two years away from the public eye, healing and growing stronger together, Will and Naomi are back for a special episode to answer your burning questions and give us a glimpse into their journey of love, resilience, and redemption. I’m Andy, and this is Wilomi: The Tell-All. Let's dive in.”
At those magic words, the camera he had been talking into swooped back, and another one came to life, sliding across the floor to capture the full stage.
Andy leaned back in his chair and turned to face the sofa.
Naomi shifted, crossing her legs and placing her hands on her knees.
She might be used to the cameras, but she would never get used to hearing her life talked about as if it were a scripted drama.
“Naomi, Will,” Andy said. “Thanks for sitting down with me today. I know a lot of people around the world are excited to hear from you, and I’d like to jump right in by addressing that—what made you decide to come forward and agree to this interview?”
While they had been warned that there was no guarantee a Tell-All would go as planned (and she suspected that they hoped it wouldn’t), they had received a list of questions Andy would try to ask.
Including this one, which Naomi was prepared to answer.
“While Will and I are both so incredibly grateful to all the people who have watched us and supported us, this whole experience was not one we went looking for. I mean, who thinks they’ll get engaged on the news and their proposal will go viral and turn into a globally televised wedding that leads to the whole world watching you face your demons and then find your way back to each other?
Okay, maybe some people do, but believe it or not, neither of us are limelight kind of people.
And when it was over, we were both ready to go back to our old, normally-lit lives.
“But whether or not we wanted to tell our stories so publicly, we did. And in the process, it turns out, we impacted people. Over the last two years, we’ve received thousands of messages from folks telling us how something they saw us go through helped them in some way.
It has been really incredible. Living out your mistakes in public isn’t easy but that definitely helped make it all worth it.
And what’s even more incredible is that the messages keep coming.
Even after all this time, not a day goes by that we don’t hear from people who want to share their own stories and how ours played a part in that.
So,” she clapped Will on the knee and looked up at him, “eventually we got to talking. We agreed that even though the spotlight isn’t something we were looking for, we've been given this platform that's reached people in amazing ways.
And with that comes a sort of responsibility, doesn't it?
To keep speaking, to keep sharing because if our journey can help even one person, then stepping back into that light is something we're willing to do.
It's about more than us now; it's about all the lives touching ours and the stories intertwining with our own.”
“Wow. That’s beautiful,” Andy said, glancing down at a stack of cards in their hand. “Now, moving on. I think the first thing we need to do is address the elephant in the room. Or should I say … the baby in the room.”
Will reached across his body and placed his hand on Naomi’s stomach, a watermelon-sized bump that was no longer able to be disguised by loose clothing. “Yep! Coming this winter!”
“Congratulations to you both! Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl? Or do you want to be surprised?”
“I’ve had enough surprises for one lifetime,” Naomi said with a laugh. “It’s a girl.”
“Any names picked out?”
“A few,” she answered vaguely.
“Any you care to share?”
Will shook his head. “We’ve decided to keep her information private. She’s not part of the Wilomi story, and she doesn’t have any responsibility to anyone. She’s Naomi and Will’s daughter, and so we’re going to do our best to let her enjoy life without being part of all this.” He gestured around.
“Makes sense. Well, mazel to you both. I’m so happy for you, and I know everyone out there is thrilled for you as well,” Andy told them, his hand motioning outwards, apparently indicating their global fanbase.
“Thank you,” Naomi said, not sure that everyone was thrilled. She knew quite well by now that she would never, ever please everyone.
“Now, I want to bring things down for a second and address another burning question.” Andy tapped his cards and the armrest of his chair, a serious look settling on his face. Naomi didn’t have to think hard to guess what he was about to say next. “Simon.”
She nodded, indicating she was ready for him to go there.
“Two years ago, he was arrested for assaulting you and Abby at your apartment. Since then, he was charged and found guilty of a whole host of crimes, including violating a restraining order, unlawful possession of a firearm, and assault with a deadly weapon, and he was sentenced to prison. But only a few years, right?”
“Three, but after time served and, apparently, good behavior, he’s up for parole next month.”
“That doesn’t seem like a very long time, given everything he put you through. What has your experience been going through this, and how do you feel knowing he could be back on the streets so soon? Naomi, you first and then Will.”
This was another question she’d come prepared for.
“I think this outcome, his short sentence and quick release, is only astonishing to those who haven’t navigated our justice system before.
We’ve made some great strides over the years, but we still have a long way to go as a society when it comes to having the support system to help people in situations like mine.
I’m beyond lucky. Being in the media meant there was pressure to act instead of brushing it under the rug.
And now he’ll be hard pressed to go anywhere that people don’t know his face.
While it doesn’t insulate me from having run-ins with him in the future, it definitely cuts down on the chances.
But most people in my situation don’t have those things.
I didn’t, for years, and it was nearly impossible to get any help.
In fact, I felt like I was safer not saying anything because I didn’t know who would actually believe me or if it would end up making things worse.
My hope is that by continuing to speak out, we can move towards a future where anyone, regardless of their situation, has access to the help and protection they deserve. ”
Andy’s head bobbed as he absorbed, or at least pretended to absorb, her statement. As soon as she finished, his eyes flicked to her left. “Will?”
Will pulled both his arms away from Naomi and leaned his elbows onto his knees.
“I’ll be honest, it’s infuriating. Yes, the fact that he got a slap on the wrist. But it’s more than that.
None of this should have happened—not the light sentence, and certainly not Naomi being unable to get help.
But it’s all one and the same. Sure, it’s not fair that his sentence was minimal, but Simon never faced consequences before, so why would things change now?
They won't unless we as a society stop turning a blind eye to these issues.
" He paused, looking contemplative. “And I include myself in that ‘we.’ My privilege allowed me to be completely unaware of what is happening to so many people.
But this has been a wake-up call for me, and I hope it can be for others too.
So yeah, like Naomi, I'm hoping that by talking about this we can move towards a world where no one else has to go through what Naomi did and where everyone feels supported and believed.”
“I think it’s noble what you two are trying to do, and I thank you for it.
” Andy slipped the card at the front of the pack to the end and skimmed the new set of words in front of him.
His solemnity disappeared and was replaced by a smile.
“Now, we want to talk about life after the cameras, but not only yours. During your time on television, viewers weren’t only following your lives but the lives of your wedding party.
In fact, your best woman and maid of honor almost stole the show from you there at the end. Let’s hear about all of it now.”