When Ed and Lorraine Warren closed a case, they usually felt a wave of relief that they had not only helped someone in need but assisted with vanquishing evil. This time around, however, was different. While evil had been conquered, it had come with a price, and that cost was a person now resting in a morgue.
The Warrens had done all they could, but the man's body wasn't strong enough to resist the evil within. Now, hours after the young man's death and speaking with both the police and Catholic church on the matter, the couple was finally arriving back home.
"You go clean up first," Ed said as he unlocked the door, Lorraine nodding in response as she entered.
Walking into their bathroom, Lorraine gave a start when she saw herself in the mirror. The last session of the case had been particularly violent, as the blood stains on both her blouse and skirt could attest. At least their daughter Judy was staying overnight at Lorraine's mother's house and wouldn't see any of this, Lorraine decided as she turned on the lights.
Not bothering to remove her clothes ("I'll have to soak them anyway," she thought), Lorraine entered the shower and turned the water on. The droplets felt good on her face, but the moment she closed her eyes her thoughts returned to the house they had just left.
The man lying on the floor, eyes open but unseeing as his wife called his name over and over while she wept over his body. How utterly powerless Lorraine felt in that moment, knowing that she and Ed had done all they could but were still unable to save the person who'd pleaded for help. How Lorraine had put herself in the young wife's shoes and imagined it had been the other way around with herself mourning Ed.
Overcome with emotion Lorraine began to cry, her tears mixing with the water droplets as she sank to the floor. It always took a toll when they couldn't save a life. But this…this case seemed more personal.
"Lorraine!" Ed pulled the curtain aside, not bothering to take the time to turn off the water as he bent down next to his wife. Still overcome with emotion, Lorraine cried into his shoulder as he stepped into the shower and wrapped his arms around her. She hadn't heard him enter the bathroom, but she was glad he had.
"Shh," Ed brushed Lorraine's wet hair aside and kissed her cheek. "It's okay, you're going to be okay,"
"That couple…" Lorraine managed to say between tears.
"I know," Ed said as he gently rocked her back and forth. "I know,"
They sat in stillness for a few minutes as the water soaked their clothes. Finally, Lorraine broke the silence. "That should never have happened to them,"
"No," Ed agreed, his voice soft. "It shouldn't have,"
Taking a shaky breath, Lorraine took Ed's hand in hers. "I can't imagine what she's going through right now. If that had been you I'd just lost…" She rubbed the wedding ring on his finger. "…I don't know what I'd be doing,"
Ed took his free hand and placed it on top of Lorraine's. "We'll help her in whatever way we can, starting with praying for the couple tonight. As for losing me…" Ed brought her hands to his face and gave them a gentle kiss. "…I'm right here,"
Lorraine leaned inwards and pressed her forehead against Ed's. She was still distraught, but there was a certain strength to be found in a loved one's- Ed's- presence.
"We can't save everyone who asks for our help," Ed reminded her, "But we can do our best, and sometimes our best has to be enough,"
[Thank you for reading! Yes, I had the shower scene from Casino Royale in mind while working on this story.]