epoch: a particular period of time in history or a person's life

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On October 31, 1981, lives were destroyed.

He yelled for her to run out of desperation, hoping that in his death, he could buy them a few more seconds.

He bought her long enough to whisper a goodbye as tears streamed down her face.

The light she swore no one would ever destroy was snuffed out in a single second when she saw their bodies on the ground.

Overcome with grief and anger, he ran through the streets for the last time for twelve years.

He fled, the words look what you did haunting him as someone he used to call his brother cursed his name.

He screamed until his voice was raw, because the universe seemed bent on taking everyone he cared about away from him.

And a baby was placed on the doorstep of Number Four, Privet Drive, a lightning-shaped scar cutting across his forehead, far away from those who loved him most.

In the first Wizarding War, there were no winners. Only survivors.

Everyone celebrated.

Everyone except them.

Their world fell apart in a single day. It was a terrifyingly beautiful world, full of laughter and fear and dancing and youth and reunions and love.

Their world ended on October 31, 1981.

Before October 31, 1981, they lived.