Aftermath and Letter

Despite the success of their mission, Carrie felt like a failure, the only one she could confide in is still healing in Canada and she can't bear to burden him right now. She never slept after that mission. Sitting in her chambers, her woven hands pressed against her mouth as she stared at the tabletop. Silence filled the room as she sat there stewing in her losses.

June silently entered the bedroom with some breakfast in her hands. She frowned when she saw the leader of the resistance mulling over last night. When the Saint met up with the buses, June asked her about Esther. All Carrie told her was how she went with Purgatory. She never said anything else.

June closed the door behind her, "Carrie, I have breakfast." She said as she came to the table.

"I'm not hungry." Carrie responded, her eyes still fixated on the spot in front of her.

June sighed as she gently placed the tray down in front of Carrie sat diagonal to her. Her fingers tapped on the steel table, pursing her lips before she faced her leader.

"I talked to some of the Handmaids from last night." June began, "They and Wrath's men were beating up this Aunt...but it was Esther who killed her by cutting out her tongue. They also said how you and Wrath fought."

Carrie closed her eyes and lowered her head until her forehead touched her knuckles. "There's more to that story."

June stared at her leader, "I'm listening."

...

Carrie finished her recount of the events that lead to Esther joining Wrath.

June stared, her eyes wide as she imagined the girl who looked to her for parental guidance and protection, a way to escape hell.

"Fuck." June whispered as she shook her head and stared at the table.

"The pain Gilead caused her was so deep...I couldn't stop her...I couldn't save her." Carrie let out a long sigh, "If I had gotten to her sooner..."

"The pain would still be there." June told her then faced Carrie again, "This is not on you." She let out a sigh, "I myself gave her a knife and let her kill one of her rapists. We Salvaged him the way Gilead trained us to. I'm the last person to say what she did is wrong."

"It's not just Esther. My sister... I don't think I can trust her anymore." Carrie shook her head, her eyes closed in disbelief, "Her sadism is a disease. It infects everyone who comes near her. Prolonged exposure can damage the soul beyond repair."

June was silent for a moment before she spoke, "That's what Gilead does, it brings out the worst in us. It turns us into monsters."

Carrie let out another sigh, "Despite our differences and the distance between us, I had hoped that we could still be close to each other, build a relationship and be a family. If only to let her know she won't be alone when this is all over."

Those words struck something within June, it's been a month since she got Luke's letter, but she never opened it. She's afraid of how he would see her, how much his words would hurt her, whether it is forgiveness or not, it's going to hurt. It has been so many years since she saw her husband The woman he married died in the woods. The person she is now s completely different and has seen and done so much in the last few years to survive, to find their daughter.

"Maybe there's still hope." June said after a while, "Maybe when Gilead is destroyed, she will want to move on. The reason she fights is because of Gilead's existence. But once it's gone, there could be a chance for all of us to start over." She said as she thought of Luke, how much hope he held onto in the six years of their separation.

Carrie let out a breath and ran a hand down her face, "It is going to take multiple generations for us to fully heal from this nightmare."

"We'll all be dead by then. History will remember though. I can already see our pictures on display at the museums." June said with a wry smile.

Carrie laughed softly, "That'll be something."

June stood and placed a comforting hand on Carrie's shoulder, "Hey, try and take it easy, okay? No one's asking you to be perfect. You've already done enough as it is."

Carrie smiled up at the woman whom she has grown close to in the last month. Aside from letters and documents, Carrie would sometimes write poems and June would listen. Being an editor and an avid reader, June is happy to help her out and listen.

"Thank you."

June clapped her shoulder twice, "Try eating just a little bit, then get some sleep. God praises our labors, but he loves us in good health."

Carrie breathed out a chuckle as June left her chambers and returned to her room.

June sat in her bed with the envelope in her hand. It was crinkled from the numerous times she held it but never opened. She let out a long sigh as she stared at the name of her husband. Looking up at the ceiling, she prayed to God for strength before her fingers tore open the envelope. then pulled the letter out. Tosse the envelope aside, she carefully unfolded the paper before she began to read its contents. Shuddering breaths escaped her as she struggled not to cry. Every word she saw held love, fear, regret, and understanding. Her husband spoke of Nicole and how she's growing up. What her favorite toys are, how she hates the peas, the songs that make her bounce around in a silly dance, and what helps her sleep at night. Enfolded between the paper was the recent picture of her baby held by Luke, bright and smiling as they stared at the camera.

Seeing her husband and child broke her as tears fell from her eyes, Luke's loving and compassionate heart has never been poisoned by Gilead the way it has done to her. It gave her hope for a better future, that Hannah can still remember the happy times before Gilead. Even if she can't recognize her own mother, there is some part of Hannah that knows who her family is. And Luke may be the only one who can reach her.

After she finished crying, she stood up from the bed and went over to the desk where blank sheets of paper were stacked. She took one and picked up a pen and began to write.

One week later

Up in Canada, Luke was busy making Nicole and Charlotte giggle by making two stuffed animals talk to each other in funny voices. In the kitchen, Moira, Janine, and Rita were preparing dinner. They smiled while shaking their heads at the childish man.

Ever since Janine arrived in Canada, she was interviewed by Mark Tuello and she answered truthfully about her time in Gilead, from losing her son, her eye, the Colonies, letting her only daughter be spirited to Canada, Angel's flight, hiding from Gilead, and working as the Saint's caretaker and companion. The video of her reuniting with her daughter brought media attention to her, considering her a celebrity for surviving the worst place on Earth and never breaking.

Janine and Charlotte lived with Rita who was welcoming to the girls. They helped each other significantly and enjoyed the company. Janine would also come over to Luke and Moira's for playdates between Charlotte and Nicole or when she needed a babysitter to watch her daughter. while she went to work at a diner. Luke and Moira were more than happy to help.

Emily, and her wife Sylvia took their son on a family trip, their first in so many years. Sylvia hoped that some time away will help her wife heal from the pain that haunts her.

A knock on the door pulled their attention from their tasks.

"I got it!" Janine announced as she left the kitchen to answer the door. She blinked her only eye at the visitor and smiled, "Mr. Tuello, it's good to see you. Come in?"

Mark entered after giving Janine a kind smile. For someone who was abused constantly, she seems to carry that aura of positivity and hope around her.

"Thank you, Ms. Lindo." Mark responded as Janine closed the door around her then turned to the living room to see Luke with two babies in his lap.

Luke's smile waned as Charlotte touched his cheek, seeing the man who represent the US Government in his house normally means something happened to his wife.

Mark smiled as he held up a letter with June's name on it, "I came to deliver this personally."

Luke's heart soared; his wife has finally responded after a month of waiting.

Janine took Charlotte from his arms as she sat next to him on the couch with Nicole on his lap.

Mark gave Luke the envelope who carefully tore to open and pulled the letter out. He unfolded it as Moira and Rita looked over his shoulder in anticipation.

'Luke, I'm sorry I took so long to write back. I was hesitant to read the letter you sent me because I was afraid of what was inside. I was afraid of never having your forgiveness because I can never forgive myself. You've been a good and kind husband to me, and there have been times these last six years I felt I never deserved you. Being in Gilead can bring out the worst in people, there are rarely good things in this place. But knowing that you have not been corrupted by Gilead helps me believe that tomorrow will be better. Seeing you with Nicole, hearing everything you've done to provide for her has given me strength to keep fighting. Hannah is still out there, and I'll make sure our baby is back in your arms again. Even if she can't remember me, I know in my heart that she remembers her real father. I know I've kept you waiting, and I'm sorry for making you wait longer. But I'm not giving up. I will save our baby. Saint White has been most kind to me, as have members of the Rebellion, and she's helping me find Hannah with everything they have. Everyone here is fighting to save their families. I'm not sure when I'll write to you again, but I'm going to try. I love you. Please give Nicole a kiss from me and tell the whole gang that I miss them and how proud I am of all of you. June Osborne.'

Luke's eyes filled with tears as a smile came onto his face.

Moira and Rita's faces were both sad and relieved as they finished reading their friend's letter. Her love for her eldest daughter has been her driving force, her reason to keep fighting Gilead.

Janine held her daughter tenderly after reading June's message. A tear left her eye as she stroked her baby's head.

Mark watched Luke with a stoic yet understanding expression. June has been one of the pivotal characters that helped the US Government without realizing it. Powers or not, she had enough charisma and leadership to bring people together. And she works side-by-side to one of the most powerful and dangerous creations God gave this world. He has enough respect for the woman who organized Angel's Flight and got the stolen children away from Gilead.

Luke lowered the letter and stared at Mark with tear-filled eyes, "Thank you for bringing this to me."

Mark nodded, "It's the least I can do. We owe a lot to your wife."

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Rita offered the man.

"That's very kind of you Ms. Blue, but I fear I must return. I will see myself out." Mark bowed his head before he left the house.