Tragic Love.
When Aoife O'Sullivan and Finlay Duffy met, neither had intentions of entering into a relationship, so focused on their careers, a relationship wasn't something they had time for. Over the next few weeks, Aoife found herself daydreaming about a life with Finlay; Finlay was finding himself unable to focus on tasks at work, with thoughts of spending every day with Aoife.
Aoife tried to distance herself, yelling at herself 'I don't have time for this right now! I have deadlines and important meetings to prepare for.' Aoife put Finlay out of her mind, she was the queen of pushing people away, by necessity, not by choice. Every time Finlay would enter her thoughts, she would remind herself of the pain she endured from the last relationship she was in - the controlling, abusive nature was not something she was going to put herself through again. She stopped returning text messages, emails, and didn't listen to the numerous voicemails he left for her.
Finlay kept persisting, though. He felt a connection like never before, and he didn't want to lose it. He knew some of Aoife's story, the hardships she endured. He finally backed off when she sent him a text message that said 'I know you think we are meant to be together, but I need time to see who I am outside of a relationship', so gave her the space she asked for.
Several months passed, with no connection or contact. Finlay's friends have been telling him to forget about Aoife and to move on. Finlay finally gave in and went out to the local pub one Friday night with his friends. His best friend, Declan, was pointing out every beautiful red-head in the room, but Finlay found himself comparing them all to Aoife. They did this for a few more weeks, when one Friday night, much to his surprise, as he was waiting for his lager at the bar, he heard a familiar voice behind him, with soft hands covering his eyes, saying 'Guess Who!!??' Finlay turned around to see Aoife's gorgeous smile and sparkling eyes looking at him.
They took their drinks out to the patio where Aoife told him that she has not been able to shake the feeling of the connection she felt with Finlay. She apologized for the way she abruptly ended their budding relationship. Finlay didn't care, he was so smitten by her, he simply said 'Bygones be bygones.' They sat on the patio for hours, catching up and laughing, when Declan came out exclaiming 'I've been looking all over for y.... oh... I see.' Aoife smiled and greeted Declan with a soft 'Hey'. Declan, clearly disapproving of what he was seeing, said 'Let's get going, I've got to be up early tomorrow for work.' Finlay looked at Declan and with a roll of the eyes, Declan stormed out. 'I guess he's not my biggest fan,' Aoife said. 'Don't worry about him,' said Finlay.
They left the pub shortly thereafter. They spent the next several weeks getting to know more about each other, meeting family, and talking about their future. One day, Finlay was talking to his grandfather about this lovely woman, Aoife, that he was going to marry one day. "Oh, grandpa, she is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen! She is sweet, compassionate, family-oriented, career-minded ... she is everything I could ever hope for. We have such a connection! I've never felt like this with anyone."
Finlay's grandfather kept quiet about a truth he knew would destroy his grandson. He was hoping a new budding love would bury the hatchet of a long-standing feud between the Duffy's and O'Sullivan's. A feud that began because of the forbidden love shared between Finnegan Duffy and Teagan Ryan. A feud of religion and murder, Finnegan Duffy being Protestant, and Teagan Ryan being Catholic. A feud that ended their relationship; but not their love for each other. Although Finnegan married Aileen Campbell and Teagan Ryan married Conner O'Sullivan, they always held each other very close to their hearts. Teagan was an avid writer, she kept many journals where she wrote of her love for Finnegan. Teagan died during childbirth to her only child, a son, Seamus O'Sullivan, Finlay's great grandfather. Conner found Teagan's journals while cleaning the sitting room, where she once sat, vigorously writing. Conner never asked Teagan what she wrote about, he didn't want to invade her private thoughts. He sat down and opened the first journal ... it began with the sentence "I will love you until I take my last dying breath, Finnegan Duffy." He turned the page and a photo of Teagan and Finnegan fell into Conner's lap, he picked it up, with tears in his eyes, having never seen a smile so bright on his wife. As he read on, Conner became filled with rage so strong, he set out to find the only man that his dead wife had truly loved. Conner headed to the pub where Teagan wrote about meeting Finnegan, certain he would found find him there. Conner entered the pub, where Finnegan sat at the bar, mourning the loss of Teagan, a man so sad, wishing he would die. Conner confronted Finnegan, an argument erupted; Conner filling with more rage, found himself beating Finnegan, unable to stop. The police were called, although, they arrived too late. Conner had killed Finnegan.
Conner was sentenced to life in a mental institute, as it was deemed he was not in a normal state of mind when this occurred. Seamus O'Sullivan, barely a few months old, had lost his mother and father. Times being what they were, Seamus went to live with his aunt Ena, Teagan's sister. Seamus grew up not really knowing the whole story, truth be told, the only two people who knew the whole story were dead. Seamus found a box of old journals, written by his mother. He took comfort in reading her words describing how she felt carrying him in her womb. Teagan wrote that the child she was carrying was her heart, her life, her one true love. Ena had tried to hide the ones that sent Finnegan into a murderous rage, but one day, after Ena had passed away, Seamus was cleaning their house out and found the journals. He sat down and cried as he read them. He read about the love his mother had before she and his father married. It all started to make sense to Seamus, the rage his father must have felt reading those journals. All Seamus felt was sadness, because his mother was never able to have the true love she craved.
Seamus set out to find Aileen Duffy. She was in a nursing home, and when Seamus entered the room, Aileen knew exactly who he was. Seamus was a spitting image of his mother. He greeted Aileen with a kind smile and asked if they could talk. Of course, Aileen said yes. She said 'I suppose you want to know about your mom and Finnegan Duffy?" He nodded yes. As he sat down next to her, she began to tell him of the love Teagan and Finnegan shared, and how it tragically ended. When Aileen finished the story, Seamus, choking back the tears, asked if Finnegan had shared that story with her. She wiped a tear away from her eye and said, "Sweetie, you don't enter into a marriage contract without knowing what is behind all of the doors," she continued, "your mother was the love of my husband's life. I knew that. But I had enough love for Finne to make up for what he couldn't give me. We have 6 beautiful children and had a lovely life together, well, until your father," she paused. Seamus continued "murdered your husband in a fit of rage?" She looked up and just nodded, then said "I'm surprised you know about that. The story around town is Conner went crazy from losing his wife and took it out on the first person he came into contact with. No one knows the history and no one really cares. But all anyone can talk about is the feud between the Duffy's and O'Sullivan's. So many different stories, most of them wrong, some of them close to the truth, but none of them are what really happened." Seamus and Aileen sat talking for a long time until a couple of her children came for a visit, and upon learning who he was, demanded him to leave and to never return. Aileen tried to reason with them, but her children would not listen. Seamus thanked Aileen for the insightful conversation and quickly left. He didn't want any more blood to spill between the two families.
Seamus felt very uneasy about the feud between the Duffy's and O'Sullivan's. He wanted to try to mend things, but every time he tried, the feud only became stronger. Seamus finally decided to leave well enough alone and left the past behind him. Seamus went on to get married and have some children of his own, sharing the story of the feud between families with them, when they were old enough. Seamus' youngest child, Aiden, Finlays' grandfather, was the most curious and wanted to try to pick up where his father left off, with trying to mend things between the families. He would dig up old newspaper articles relating to the feud, gathering information, and showing them to his father, until one day, on his deathbed, Seamus said to his son, Aiden, "Son, leave the feud in the past, live your life, promise me you will just leave this alone." Of course, Aiden agreed.
Aiden never put another thought of the feud in his mind, until Finlay came to him, declaring his love for Aoife O'Sullivan. Aiden never mentioned the feud to his grandson. He gave Finlay his blessing, the ring he proposed to Finley's grandmother with, and sent him on his way. He kept wondering if he should mention the feud. He thought "what if the Duffy's left the feud in the past too?", he didn't want to destroy a lovely relationship, so he decided not to bring it up.
Finlay planned the most romantic proposal for Aoife. He took her to their favorite park, under their favorite tree, overlooking the pond where frolicking ducks make Aoife laugh. This was a regular Sunday morning for them, so Aoife didn't expect what was about to happen. As they were getting ready to leave, Finlay pulled out a little box, got down on one knee, and told her he can't imaging spending his life with anyone but her, and it would make him the happiest man on earth if she would be his wife. Aoife began crying tears of joy and as she screamed "Yes! I will marry you!"
They planned a huge wedding, invited all of their families to celebrate their love and the rest of their life together. What happened next was most surprising. Aoife and Finlay just said "I do" and were walking down the aisle together for the first time as Mr. & Mrs. Duffy, when Eion, an uncle to Aoife, walks in and declares their love as blasphemy and says that he must avenge the memory of his great grandfather, Finnegan Duffy. Shocked and confused, Aoife steps in front of her uncle, blocking Finlay from him, through tears asks "What is this about Uncle Eion?" Eion turns to Aiden, "You want to tell them, or should I, you coward?" Finlay, still confused, turns to his grandfather, eager for an explanation. Aiden pulls Aoife and Finlay aside and tells them the tragic story of the family feud. Finlay, filled with rage, yells "You knew the whole time, and never said anything to me? Grandfather, of everyone in my life, YOU are the one person I have always known to be truthful and open." Aiden tried to explain, but Finlay stormed off, pushing his grandfather away. Aoife went running after Finlay, proclaiming she doesn't care about some stupid family feud, all she cares about is their love. Finlay snapped back with a comment about it all being a lie, and as he turned to walk away, Eion stood before him, just as he was pulling the trigger, Aoife stepped in front of Finlay, was shot, just missing her heart.
Aoife was rushed to the hospital, Finlay following behind. It was at that moment he realized he didn't care about anything other than his feelings for Finlay. They took vows, on this very day, to love each other, to be with each other, through good times and bad; nothing is worse than what happened on their wedding day.
Aoife was in surgery for a long time, they nearly lost her several times, but she held on. When she woke up afterward, she was not expecting to see Finlay there next to her. He said "I love you, and nothing will ever change that. I don't want to end up like Teagan and Finnegan. Loving someone other than you would kill me." Aoife smiled and reached her hand out, they embraced knowing their love was strong enough to conquer anything that life throws at them.
2020 Christine M. Pilarski
Aoife tried to distance herself, yelling at herself 'I don't have time for this right now! I have deadlines and important meetings to prepare for.' Aoife put Finlay out of her mind, she was the queen of pushing people away, by necessity, not by choice. Every time Finlay would enter her thoughts, she would remind herself of the pain she endured from the last relationship she was in - the controlling, abusive nature was not something she was going to put herself through again. She stopped returning text messages, emails, and didn't listen to the numerous voicemails he left for her.
Finlay kept persisting, though. He felt a connection like never before, and he didn't want to lose it. He knew some of Aoife's story, the hardships she endured. He finally backed off when she sent him a text message that said 'I know you think we are meant to be together, but I need time to see who I am outside of a relationship', so gave her the space she asked for.
Several months passed, with no connection or contact. Finlay's friends have been telling him to forget about Aoife and to move on. Finlay finally gave in and went out to the local pub one Friday night with his friends. His best friend, Declan, was pointing out every beautiful red-head in the room, but Finlay found himself comparing them all to Aoife. They did this for a few more weeks, when one Friday night, much to his surprise, as he was waiting for his lager at the bar, he heard a familiar voice behind him, with soft hands covering his eyes, saying 'Guess Who!!??' Finlay turned around to see Aoife's gorgeous smile and sparkling eyes looking at him.
They took their drinks out to the patio where Aoife told him that she has not been able to shake the feeling of the connection she felt with Finlay. She apologized for the way she abruptly ended their budding relationship. Finlay didn't care, he was so smitten by her, he simply said 'Bygones be bygones.' They sat on the patio for hours, catching up and laughing, when Declan came out exclaiming 'I've been looking all over for y.... oh... I see.' Aoife smiled and greeted Declan with a soft 'Hey'. Declan, clearly disapproving of what he was seeing, said 'Let's get going, I've got to be up early tomorrow for work.' Finlay looked at Declan and with a roll of the eyes, Declan stormed out. 'I guess he's not my biggest fan,' Aoife said. 'Don't worry about him,' said Finlay.
They left the pub shortly thereafter. They spent the next several weeks getting to know more about each other, meeting family, and talking about their future. One day, Finlay was talking to his grandfather about this lovely woman, Aoife, that he was going to marry one day. "Oh, grandpa, she is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen! She is sweet, compassionate, family-oriented, career-minded ... she is everything I could ever hope for. We have such a connection! I've never felt like this with anyone."
Finlay's grandfather kept quiet about a truth he knew would destroy his grandson. He was hoping a new budding love would bury the hatchet of a long-standing feud between the Duffy's and O'Sullivan's. A feud that began because of the forbidden love shared between Finnegan Duffy and Teagan Ryan. A feud of religion and murder, Finnegan Duffy being Protestant, and Teagan Ryan being Catholic. A feud that ended their relationship; but not their love for each other. Although Finnegan married Aileen Campbell and Teagan Ryan married Conner O'Sullivan, they always held each other very close to their hearts. Teagan was an avid writer, she kept many journals where she wrote of her love for Finnegan. Teagan died during childbirth to her only child, a son, Seamus O'Sullivan, Finlay's great grandfather. Conner found Teagan's journals while cleaning the sitting room, where she once sat, vigorously writing. Conner never asked Teagan what she wrote about, he didn't want to invade her private thoughts. He sat down and opened the first journal ... it began with the sentence "I will love you until I take my last dying breath, Finnegan Duffy." He turned the page and a photo of Teagan and Finnegan fell into Conner's lap, he picked it up, with tears in his eyes, having never seen a smile so bright on his wife. As he read on, Conner became filled with rage so strong, he set out to find the only man that his dead wife had truly loved. Conner headed to the pub where Teagan wrote about meeting Finnegan, certain he would found find him there. Conner entered the pub, where Finnegan sat at the bar, mourning the loss of Teagan, a man so sad, wishing he would die. Conner confronted Finnegan, an argument erupted; Conner filling with more rage, found himself beating Finnegan, unable to stop. The police were called, although, they arrived too late. Conner had killed Finnegan.
Conner was sentenced to life in a mental institute, as it was deemed he was not in a normal state of mind when this occurred. Seamus O'Sullivan, barely a few months old, had lost his mother and father. Times being what they were, Seamus went to live with his aunt Ena, Teagan's sister. Seamus grew up not really knowing the whole story, truth be told, the only two people who knew the whole story were dead. Seamus found a box of old journals, written by his mother. He took comfort in reading her words describing how she felt carrying him in her womb. Teagan wrote that the child she was carrying was her heart, her life, her one true love. Ena had tried to hide the ones that sent Finnegan into a murderous rage, but one day, after Ena had passed away, Seamus was cleaning their house out and found the journals. He sat down and cried as he read them. He read about the love his mother had before she and his father married. It all started to make sense to Seamus, the rage his father must have felt reading those journals. All Seamus felt was sadness, because his mother was never able to have the true love she craved.
Seamus set out to find Aileen Duffy. She was in a nursing home, and when Seamus entered the room, Aileen knew exactly who he was. Seamus was a spitting image of his mother. He greeted Aileen with a kind smile and asked if they could talk. Of course, Aileen said yes. She said 'I suppose you want to know about your mom and Finnegan Duffy?" He nodded yes. As he sat down next to her, she began to tell him of the love Teagan and Finnegan shared, and how it tragically ended. When Aileen finished the story, Seamus, choking back the tears, asked if Finnegan had shared that story with her. She wiped a tear away from her eye and said, "Sweetie, you don't enter into a marriage contract without knowing what is behind all of the doors," she continued, "your mother was the love of my husband's life. I knew that. But I had enough love for Finne to make up for what he couldn't give me. We have 6 beautiful children and had a lovely life together, well, until your father," she paused. Seamus continued "murdered your husband in a fit of rage?" She looked up and just nodded, then said "I'm surprised you know about that. The story around town is Conner went crazy from losing his wife and took it out on the first person he came into contact with. No one knows the history and no one really cares. But all anyone can talk about is the feud between the Duffy's and O'Sullivan's. So many different stories, most of them wrong, some of them close to the truth, but none of them are what really happened." Seamus and Aileen sat talking for a long time until a couple of her children came for a visit, and upon learning who he was, demanded him to leave and to never return. Aileen tried to reason with them, but her children would not listen. Seamus thanked Aileen for the insightful conversation and quickly left. He didn't want any more blood to spill between the two families.
Seamus felt very uneasy about the feud between the Duffy's and O'Sullivan's. He wanted to try to mend things, but every time he tried, the feud only became stronger. Seamus finally decided to leave well enough alone and left the past behind him. Seamus went on to get married and have some children of his own, sharing the story of the feud between families with them, when they were old enough. Seamus' youngest child, Aiden, Finlays' grandfather, was the most curious and wanted to try to pick up where his father left off, with trying to mend things between the families. He would dig up old newspaper articles relating to the feud, gathering information, and showing them to his father, until one day, on his deathbed, Seamus said to his son, Aiden, "Son, leave the feud in the past, live your life, promise me you will just leave this alone." Of course, Aiden agreed.
Aiden never put another thought of the feud in his mind, until Finlay came to him, declaring his love for Aoife O'Sullivan. Aiden never mentioned the feud to his grandson. He gave Finlay his blessing, the ring he proposed to Finley's grandmother with, and sent him on his way. He kept wondering if he should mention the feud. He thought "what if the Duffy's left the feud in the past too?", he didn't want to destroy a lovely relationship, so he decided not to bring it up.
Finlay planned the most romantic proposal for Aoife. He took her to their favorite park, under their favorite tree, overlooking the pond where frolicking ducks make Aoife laugh. This was a regular Sunday morning for them, so Aoife didn't expect what was about to happen. As they were getting ready to leave, Finlay pulled out a little box, got down on one knee, and told her he can't imaging spending his life with anyone but her, and it would make him the happiest man on earth if she would be his wife. Aoife began crying tears of joy and as she screamed "Yes! I will marry you!"
They planned a huge wedding, invited all of their families to celebrate their love and the rest of their life together. What happened next was most surprising. Aoife and Finlay just said "I do" and were walking down the aisle together for the first time as Mr. & Mrs. Duffy, when Eion, an uncle to Aoife, walks in and declares their love as blasphemy and says that he must avenge the memory of his great grandfather, Finnegan Duffy. Shocked and confused, Aoife steps in front of her uncle, blocking Finlay from him, through tears asks "What is this about Uncle Eion?" Eion turns to Aiden, "You want to tell them, or should I, you coward?" Finlay, still confused, turns to his grandfather, eager for an explanation. Aiden pulls Aoife and Finlay aside and tells them the tragic story of the family feud. Finlay, filled with rage, yells "You knew the whole time, and never said anything to me? Grandfather, of everyone in my life, YOU are the one person I have always known to be truthful and open." Aiden tried to explain, but Finlay stormed off, pushing his grandfather away. Aoife went running after Finlay, proclaiming she doesn't care about some stupid family feud, all she cares about is their love. Finlay snapped back with a comment about it all being a lie, and as he turned to walk away, Eion stood before him, just as he was pulling the trigger, Aoife stepped in front of Finlay, was shot, just missing her heart.
Aoife was rushed to the hospital, Finlay following behind. It was at that moment he realized he didn't care about anything other than his feelings for Finlay. They took vows, on this very day, to love each other, to be with each other, through good times and bad; nothing is worse than what happened on their wedding day.
Aoife was in surgery for a long time, they nearly lost her several times, but she held on. When she woke up afterward, she was not expecting to see Finlay there next to her. He said "I love you, and nothing will ever change that. I don't want to end up like Teagan and Finnegan. Loving someone other than you would kill me." Aoife smiled and reached her hand out, they embraced knowing their love was strong enough to conquer anything that life throws at them.
2020 Christine M. Pilarski
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