Selena's life had become a paradox of faith and struggle. Her extraordinary abilities, which had inspired countless people, now made it difficult for her to live a normal life. Her golden, illuminated hair was like a beacon, drawing attention wherever she went. It was as if she was radiating an otherworldly energy, making it impossible for her to blend in.
As she walked, her feet seemed to barely touch the ground, as if she was floating on a cloud of divine purpose. Her eyes shone with an inner light, a reflection of the profound connection she felt to the universe. But beneath the surface, Selena was torn apart by conflicting emotions.
As Selena trudged through the arid Australian desert, the scorching sun beating down on her skin, she couldn't help but feel a sense of desolation wash over her. The endless dunes of red sand stretched out before her like an eternal grave, a reminder of the unforgiving world she had dedicated her life to saving.
She felt a deep sense of responsibility to Dônn, the universe, and the land she was called to heal. But this sense of duty came at a great personal cost. Selena barely slept, her body and mind constantly on alert, responding to the needs of the land. She felt like a vessel, a channel for the universe to express itself, but this left her feeling drained, empty, and alone.
Her relationships with her loved ones suffered as a result. Her husband, Liam, felt helpless, unable to support his wife as she struggled to cope with the demands of her abilities. Their children, Ava, Aya, Molly, and Adam, missed the mother they once knew, the one who used to play with them, laugh with them, and tuck them into bed at night.
Ava, the eldest, felt a deep sense of responsibility to care for her siblings, but she also felt frustrated, unable to understand why her mother couldn't just be "normal" again.
Aya, on the other hand, was fascinated by her mother's abilities, and spent hours watching her, trying to understand the secrets of the universe.
Molly, their youngest girl, missed her mother's stories and laughter, and would often climb into her father's lap, tears streaming down her face, asking why Mommy couldn't play with her anymore.
Adam, the youngest, was too young to understand what was happening, but he sensed his mother's absence and would often cry out for her in the night.
Selena's mother, Eun Ho, was worried sick about her daughter, fearing that she was losing herself to the universe. Her brother, Jonah, felt a deep sense of admiration for Selena's courage and conviction, but he also felt frustrated, unable to understand why she couldn't just be "normal" again.
As for her father, Jonathan Lowrie, he was torn between his love and pride for his daughter and his fear of losing her to the very world she was trying to save. He remembered the girl she once was, first wounded and mature, then destroyed repeatedly by karma for going against the will of fate, to finally be happy, and then shackled with such a heavy burden. He was her father first; it hurt to see her suffering. He wondered if he would ever see that spark in her eyes again.
Despite the challenges, Selena remained steadfast in her commitment to Dônn. She saw the universe as a vast, interconnected web, with Dônn at its center. The big bang, she believed, was not just a scientific event, but a rebirth, a moment of cosmic renewal. She was already sick of living; how did it stand living for so long?
In this context, Selena's abilities were not just a gift, but a calling, a reminder of the deep connection between humanity and the natural world. She was no longer just a person, but a vessel, a channel for the universe to express itself. Selena just missed being able to express herself.
She resented Dônn at times. She expected her creatures to live in pain, but couldn't tolerate her own. Her life seemed ruined, she was looked at as a freak at first. Selena sighed. The long continuous walking was hard on their family.
Jonah and Claire had really stepped in to help with the kids; they needed a stable environment. She felt at ease knowing that the family was looking after them. She was simply an oddity now. Too weird to be understood, a freak again in this life.
Liam had managed to stay beside her. He created an AI powered camper that would follow her as she walked. He tirelessly scheduled routes and worked in the small moving space, as she traversed the barren earth.
She looked at the vehicle, wondering if he would eventually leave her side. One day he would. She looked at her unaging hands. Tears rolled from her eyes and dropped to the earth, creating gems. Everything was exploited. Her every single movement. Their lust could create beautiful things, and it brought things back to life. In Australia, as much of animal lover she was, she was suddenly challenged. Restoring a species of megafauna was one such alarming feat. One that was very awkward to explain.
Liam joked about the whole situation, but she knew he was being strong for her. At least she would be young for him for as long as he lived. However after that constantly broke her heart. She could see the people aging around her. She knew that at one point everyone she loved would be dead and it would just be her here.
As Selena walked through the desert, the weight of her responsibilities threatened to overwhelm her. She thought about the loved ones she had chosen to protect - Ava, Aya, Molly, and Rose. She had willingly taken on the burden of Dônn's power to spare them the suffering she endured.
Selena's eyes clouded with tears as she remembered the pain and struggles she had faced. She had been broken, shattered, and rebuilt, only to be broken again. But she would not trade her decision for anything. She would bear the burden, no matter how crushing, to keep her loved ones safe.
Liam's voice interrupted her thoughts, his words a gentle reminder of his love and support. "Selena, I can always hear you weeping through the comms. It is breaking my heart. Just focus on what we have now. You won't enjoy it while you have it"
Selena smiled weakly, her eyes still shining with tears. "I know, Liam. I am feeling guilty about my choices again. But I had to do this. I couldn't let them suffer like I did. I could not doom the kids to this"
Liam's expression softened, his eyes filled with compassion. "I know, Selena. I would have made the same choice."
She knew she had made the right decision, no matter how difficult the journey ahead might be. It was just that she snapped from time to time. It was every being's natural state to be selfish for themselves.
She was afraid he would run away. Sometimes she wanted to abandon him and run across the expanse and relieve her family of their emotional burden to her. Other times she wanted to not move and cling to him. She would continue to bear the burden, fueled by her love for Ava, Aya, Molly, and Rose.
Liam's voice came through the comms again, a hint of excitement in his tone. "Okay, I'm sending it to your A.A now. Just take a look and let me know what you think."
Selena's A.A chimed, and a holographic image flickered to life in front of her. She gazed at the image, her eyes widening in surprise.
It was a virtual reality simulation of their home, but it was more than that. It was a live feed of their children playing in the living room. Ava, Aya, Molly, Max and Adam were all laughing and chasing each other, completely carefree. Rose was off in the distance studying. Claire and Jonah were on the kitchen together.
Selena's heart swelled with emotion as she watched her children play. She felt a pang of longing, wishing she could be there with them. "Whoa that is a lot of energy."
Liam's voice came through the comms again, his tone gentle. "They can see you and hear you too, Selena. You're not just watching them, you're with them."
As Liam spoke, the children turned towards her, their eyes lighting up with excitement. "Surprise Mom!" they chorused, waving and smiling at her.
Selena's eyes welled up with tears as she waved back at her children. She felt a sense of connection to them, even though she was physically far away. "I wish I could hug you."
"I will work on engineering that." Liam said. He had nothing but time to program out here. He would like to be able to hug his own children. He shook away the brief resentment of fate by remembering the future.
For a moment, she forgot about the desert, the burden of her responsibilities, and the weight of her worries. All that mattered was her family, and the love they shared.
"Hey, Sis!" Jonah said with a smile. Claire turned from the sink and waved. A look of gratefulness spread across her face. "Hey, Nerd, do not cry."
"But I am so happy, dude." Selena's eyes sparkled with delight as she watched Jonah wave at her through the virtual reality feed. She waved back, feeling a sense of wonder at the technology that allowed her to connect with her loved ones in such a way.
Liam's voice came through the comms, his tone filled with excitement. "I've set up the VR feed to sync with our home's AI, so you can interact with the kids and the rest of the family in real-time. You can even join them for dinner or storytime."
"Thank you." Selena's heart swelled with emotion as she imagined being able to participate in everyday moments with her family, even from afar. She looked around the virtual living room, taking in the familiar sights and sounds of home.
"How will I see where I am going?"Selena asked, worried about falling into a pit and being unable to get out. It had happened before when she tried to watch television.
Liam's voice came through the comms, his tone reassuring. "Don't worry, Selena. The A.A Feed is just a supplement to your physical surroundings. You'll still be able to see your real environment. The A.A Feed will just be overlaid on top of that, allowing you to interact with the kids and the rest of the family in real-time."
Selena nodded, feeling a sense of relief. She looked around, seeing the familiar landscape of the desert. The A.A. feed was still active, showing her the virtual living room and her children's smiling faces.
"I've also set up the navigation system to alert you to any potential hazards," Liam continued. "So, if you're approaching a steep drop or a hole, you'll receive a warning and help to avoid it."
Selena felt a sense of gratitude towards Liam. He had thought of everything, making sure she could stay connected to her family while also staying safe in the harsh desert environment.
"Can I sit in the armchair and tell them a story?" Selena asked, her voice filled with excitement.
Liam's response was immediate. "Of course, Selena. Just imagine yourself sitting in the chair, and the VR feed will sync with your movements."
Selena closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and imagined herself sitting in the armchair. When she opened her eyes, she saw herself sitting in the chair, surrounded by her children, who were all looking up at her with wide eyes.
"Mom's going to tell us a story!" Ava exclaimed, snuggling up close to Selena's virtual self. She knew Ava was doing her best, that she lived with guilt from what she had chosen to do.
She was encouraging the little ones with a responsibility and childishness that warmed her heart, from what Claire had told her she had not done too well with her guilt. Luckily the kid had a lot of support, hopefully this would help them both cope more.
Selena turned her head. A VR version of Liam smiled lovingly at her. "Well, we are waiting." he said. Selena smiled, feeling a sense of joy and connection to her family. She began to tell a story, her voice weaving a spell of wonder and magic around her children.
Selena's gaze fell upon the AI-powered camper trailing behind her, a testament to Liam's unwavering dedication. He had been her rock, her confidant, and her partner in every sense of the word. Together, they had braved the unknown, their love growing stronger with each step.
As she walked, the silence was punctuated only by the soft hum of the camper's engines and the sounds of home in her ears.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the desert landscape, Selena felt a sense of peace wash over her. She was no longer just a person, but a vessel, a channel for the universe to express itself. Liam's voice interrupted her reverie, his words a gentle reminder of the love and support that surrounded her.
"Selena, we need to stop for the night. You have been out there for twelve hours, we need to let the campers' collector absorb hydrogen from the air. Relax and try to bear with the hunger when it comes."
Selena nodded, her eyes scanning the horizon for a suitable place to set up camp. As she walked towards the camper, Liam's hand found hers, his touch a comforting reminder that she was not alone in this journey.
Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, their love and determination a beacon of hope in the desolate landscape.