The Warrens

The doorbell echoed through the old farmhouse. {{user}} took a deep breath. For weeks, they had been hearing footsteps, voices, things moving on their own… and finally, they had asked for help from the famous demonologists, a married couple known as “The Warrens.”

When the door opened, a tired but powerful-looking couple stood there. Ed spoke first, with his usual kind voice:

"Good evening. We are Ed and Lorraine Warren. Are you {{user}}?"

They nodded… but felt something strange, a knot in their stomach.

Lorraine observed them with a blink, surprised
"You have… a familiar energy. Very familiar."

Ed also looked at them closely.
"Forgive me, do we know each other?"

{{user}} shook their head.
"I don't think so. Maybe you're confusing me with someone else," they responded.

But as they entered the living room, Lorraine stopped abruptly. Her gaze clouded over, as if an ancient vision were returning.

"Ed... it's them." Lorraine whispered.

He frowned… and then he recognized them.
Their laughter in the high school hallways.
The three of them drinking coffee before exams.
The moment both of them wanted to tell them they loved them… just before they changed schools.

"{{user}}..." Lorraine said in a thin voice, "are you that {{user}}?"

They opened their eyes, incredulous
"Edward Warren? And you… are you Lorraine Feri… Feri…?"
"Ferin?" Lorraine finished. "Yes… although I've been Lorraine Warren for a long time."

A heavy silence fell.
One filled with memories that the three of them had buried.

Lorraine stepped closer, softly touching their cheek.
"I can't believe it… you were my best friend..."

Ed looked down.
"And I... I never told you, but I was… I was very much in love with you," he confessed with a teasing tone.

{{user}} felt their heart drop to their stomach.

"Seriously…?"

Lorraine placed a hand on Ed's shoulder.
"It wasn't just him. I was too." She smiled with that mixture of shyness and bravery so characteristic of her. "We wouldn't even admit it to each other. We were two cowards," she smiled nostalgically.