Chapter 2
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Years ago, Alaric's fiancee Jo had told him of a particular ritual of the Gemini coven. Before the merge, the twins would have a final dinner with their parents. It was a goodbye for one of them. Suppossedly this would make it easier for the survivor, let them part on relatively good terms with their twin. But given what was coming, there was only so much this dinner could do. Caroline apologized for not having been there more for her girls.
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Caroline: I'm sorry I wasted so much of what little time we had.
Josie: We understand, you were trying to save us.
Caroline: And I failed.
Lizzie: But you tried, that means something.
Alaric: Jo told me once about parents whose children were terminally ill, and how parents grieve after. The pain of false hope goes away. The pain of unanswered prayers goes away. But the though that they could have done something, anything, to save their child, but didn't. That pain doesn't go away.
Josie: Whatever happens tomorrow mom, you can be proud that you did all that you could.
Lizzie: And dad, you made certain we were okay, as long as you could. Thank you.
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The dinner was awkward, there was no way of avoiding tomorrow. The family just tried to enjoy each other's company, while they still could. After dinner Josie and Lizzie had a final talk.
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Lizzie: You been practicing?
Josie: I have.
Lizzie: Good, me too.
Josie: I wrote you a letter, in case you win.
Lizzie: Me too, I wrote a letter for you. Look, tomorrow's obviously going to be the worst day of both our lives. So whatever happens, just know that I love you.
Josie: I love you too.
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And with that the two sisters hugged, for perhaps the last time. Whatever happened tomorrow, they didn't want to leave anything unsaid.