As the years went by, Selena's family grew and changed around her. Her children, Ava, Aya, Molly, and Adam, grew into strong and capable adults, their faces reflecting the same golden glow that had become synonymous with their mother's presence. They had their own children.
But while her children aged and matured, Selena herself remained timeless. Her face, her body, her very essence seemed to be frozen in a state of perpetual youth and vitality. Her hair, once a rich brown, now shone with a golden light that seemed almost otherworldly. It was odd to be called Grandma. The early separation from her children did cause rifts, Adam was closer to Claire and Jonah. He visited, but the damage was done. The trade-off for sparing her daughter this was, of course, worth the pain. She could not imagine them handling this burden. She felt guilt for Liam; she had tried to send him home.
Her husband refused. He had not been spared the ravages of time or of the constant nomadic lifestyle she needed to sustain herself. His once-strong body was now frail and bent, his face lined with wrinkles and age spots. His eyes, once bright and full of life, had dimmed with the passing years, and his step had slowed to a gentle shuffle.
Despite the physical changes that had taken place, Liam's love for Selena had never wavered. He looked at her with the same adoration and wonder that he had felt on the day they married. As he sat by her side, holding her hand in his, Liam felt a sense of peace wash over him. He knew that his time on this earth was drawing to a close, but he was comforted by the knowledge that Selena would remain, a shining beacon of hope and light in a world that often seemed dark and unforgiving.
Liam's eyes narrowed as he gazed up at the stars, his mind racing with thoughts of the asteroid, Aquarius 4330. He had known its trajectory for years, and the fact that it was still on a collision course with Earth filled him with a sense of dread. How would she save the world? Would she restore the broken shell of the planet with her life?
The attempts to blow it off course had been a failure, and Liam couldn't help but wonder if it was even possible to stop it. The asteroid's composition and minimal visibility made it a difficult target, and Liam feared that they were running out of time.
But what really troubled Liam was the role that Dônn seemed to be playing in all of this. Why was the universe putting his wife, Selena, through this torture? Did Dônn want her to be sufficiently suicidal, to give up all hope and surrender to the inevitable?
Liam's heart ached at the thought of losing Selena, of watching her give up and succumb to the crushing weight of her responsibilities. He knew that she was strong, that she had always been a fighter, but he also knew that even the strongest among them had their limits.
As he looked at Selena, who sat quietly beside him, her eyes fixed on some distant point, Liam felt a surge of determination. He would not let her give up, not without a fight. He would stand by her, support her, and help her to find a way to stop the asteroid and save their planet.
Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, and they would emerge victorious. For Liam knew that as long as they had each other, they could overcome anything, even the seemingly insurmountable task of saving their world from destruction.
Selena's voice was laced with frustration and pain as she spoke of Dônn's cryptic message. "I don't know how Dônn expects me to stop it," she said, her eyes clouding over. "She's normally so clear. Every earthquake, every disaster, it's always been communicated straight up. But this...this is different."
"It hurts that she used my cradle name, Moon," Selena continued, her voice cracking with emotion. "It's like she's trying to remind me of something, but I don't know what."
Liam's gentle touch on her shoulder was a comforting presence. "We'll figure it out, Moon," he said, his voice soft and reassuring. "Together, we'll find a way to stop the asteroid and save our planet."
But then Liam's expression turned serious, and he looked at Selena with a deep concern. "I don't understand how you could stop it," he said. "You can't die. Please don't try again."
Selena frowned, taken aback by Liam's words. She knew what he was referring to - the time she had tried to drown herself, hoping to escape the weight of her responsibilities. But it didn't work. Instead, she had ended up restoring the coastline and floating back to shore.
Liam's eyes were filled with worry, and Selena knew that he was afraid of losing her. She reached out and took his hand, trying to reassure him. "I won't try again, Liam," she said. "I promise. But I have to find a way to stop this asteroid. I have to try. What does she even want me to do? I am just an ant to that asteroid."
Liam nodded, his expression still serious. " You know, Selena. I'll support you. I'd jump again into the loop if it meant living this all again. I'd gladly give my leg to the universe thousands of times over. Just don't try that again. I don't think Dônn wants you to die. Or you'd be back in the gold."
Selena smiled, feeling a deep love for Liam. "You won't lose me, Liam," she said. "I'll always come back to you."
As they hugged, Selena couldn't help but think about the time she had spent floating in the sea. It had been a strange, surreal experience, but it had also been...peaceful. The hunger had been briefly sated, and she had felt a sense of calm wash over her.
But now, as she walked with Liam, Selena knew that she couldn't afford to give in to that feeling. She had to stay focused, had to find a way to stop the asteroid and save their planet. The fate of humanity depended on it.
As Selena stood beside him, Liam couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. He had always known that Selena's connection to the universe was profound, but he had never seen her so lost and uncertain.
Liam's eyes narrowed as he observed Selena's posture, her shoulders slumped in defeat, her eyes cast downward as if searching for answers in the sand. He knew that look, had seen it before when Selena was struggling to come to terms with her abilities.
As they walked along the sand, Liam sat in an automated self-driving chair, slowly accompanying her. Selena's feet slowly walked across the sand and dead turf of the land they were restoring. The chair moved with a slow, deliberate pace.
Liam's thoughts were a jumble of emotions and concerns. He was worried about Selena, about the toll that her abilities were taking on her mental and physical health. He was frustrated by the lack of progress they had made in stopping the asteroid, and he was scared of what the future held.
"Why does it have to be so hard?" Liam muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on the chair as it slowly made its way across the beach. "Why can't we just have a normal life, without all this...this..." He waved his hand in frustration, unable to find the words to express his feelings. "I suppose you'd be in your very own chair trying to repair this yourself anyway." Liam stopped himself.
As he walked beside Selena, Liam couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the woman beside him. She was so strong, so resilient, and yet so vulnerable. He knew that she was struggling, that she was torn between her duty to the universe and her desire to live a normal life.
Liam's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the chair's engines humming as it came to a stop beside them. Selena looked up, her eyes meeting Liam's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.
"I'm sorry, Liam," Selena said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought I did enough before, but I didn't. We tried our best, but it apparently was not enough. I do not want this, I look younger than our grandchildren."
As Selena walked through the desert, she used her feet to restore the land. She dragged them slowly across the sand, leaving behind a trail of fertile earth and new life. She became more powerful when she was emotional. The sand swirled around her feet as she moved, like a vortex of transformation. Where her feet touched the ground, tiny shoots of green began to sprout, growing into small plants and shrubs.
Liam watched in awe as Selena worked her magic. Her feet seemed to be infused with a subtle, golden light, as if they were channels for the universe's energy. As they walked, the desert landscape around them began to change. The sand dunes grew smaller and more rounded, replaced by rolling hills and valleys. A small oasis began to take shape, complete with a tiny spring and a cluster of palm trees.
Selena's eyes shone with a soft, golden light as she worked her magic. Her hair, too, seemed to be infused with a subtle, ethereal glow. Liam felt a sense of wonder and reverence as he watched her, feeling grateful to be a part of her life. He could never tire of this view, the unending beauty that unfurled as she stepped across the landscape.
As the night wore on, the transformation of the desert landscape continued. Selena's feet seemed to be drawing life and vitality from the very earth itself, leaving behind a trail of beauty and wonder. Even after decades of watching her work her magic, he never tired of the process of renewal. There was something mesmerizing about the way Selena's feet seemed to draw life and vitality from the earth.
Liam felt a sense of awe and wonder as he watched Selena work. He had seen her restore entire ecosystems, bring life to barren landscapes, and heal the scars of human neglect. And yet, every time he watched her, he felt like he was seeing it for the first time.
Liam couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Selena. She had changed his life in ways he never thought possible. She had shown him the beauty and wonder of the natural world, and had given him a sense of purpose and meaning.
Finally, Selena stopped, her feet sinking into the cool, damp earth of the oasis. She smiled, looking around at the transformed landscape. "Let's go home," she said, her voice tired.
"This land is healed enough. We'll move further out tomorrow. You're exhausted." Selena looked at Liam. He was an old man now. She still loved him, it was just depressing to see the time fly. Their kids were parents. They turned.
As the night sky twinkled above, Liam's gaze drifted upwards, mesmerized by the majestic moon shining brightly in the Arabian sky. The newly transformed landscape, once a barren wasteland, now resembled a paradise of rolling hills and lush plants, bathed in the soft, silver light of the moon.
She was so beautiful. She wore a flowing white dress, its intricate embroidery shimmering in the moonlight. The dress was cinched at her waist, accentuating her slender figure.
He remembered back to the day of her change. She looked him right in the eyes and said "Sacrifice the moon," so matter of factly through his own wife's mouth. "What a minute?" Liam said and stopped his chair.
"Wait, what?" Selena stood beside him, her long, golden hair cascading down her back like a river of sunset hues. Her golden eyes sparkled with a mix of emotions as she listened to Liam's words.
"Sacrifice the Moon." Liam laughed. Liam, dressed in a simple yet elegant white tunic and pants, stood up quickly, his eyes shining with excitement. His gray hair was flecked with threads of silver, a testament to his age and wisdom. As he spoke, his hands gestured animatedly, emphasizing the importance of his words. He pointed up at the full moon and starry sky.
"Sacrifice the Moon!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with a sense of wonder. A mix of emotions swirled inside him - shock, amazement, and a hint of fear.
Selena's expression changed from curiosity to concern, her brow furrowed in worry. "What are you talking about, Liam?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of fear, wondering if the elderly man had finally succumbed to the weight of his years.
Liam's face was aglow with an otherworldly intensity, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "Dônn used both you and your mother to communicate with me that day. If she was telling you she'd give you a vision, a clear vision on what you needed to do." he explained, his words tumbling out in a rush.
"She couldn't talk to me directly, so she used you both as messengers. She was telling me something, but I didn't understand until now." Liam said, tears rolling out of his eyes.
As they stood there, the landscape around them transformed further with her intensified emotions. The rolling hills became more defined, the plants and trees growing taller and stronger. A small pond grew surrounded by reeds appeared in the distance, its palm trees swaying gently in the breeze.
"Dônn was not speaking to Amelia that day, you, or in fact to anyone you were not related to by blood, otherwise she would just show one of you the solution. She was speaking to the unrelated person in the room." Liam continued.
Selena's confusion deepened, her mind racing with questions. But as she looked into Liam's eyes, she saw something there that gave her hope. She saw a spark of determination, a glimmer of possibility. "She was speaking to you? Don't you have an A.A in you, can't you not see?" she asked.
"She tried in Gaelic first to reach the tissue inside of me, because the tissue in my brain came from Amelia Lowrie. She then reached out in english and literally told me the solution to the problem, it was just that cradle name, that nickname of yours that caused the confusion." Liam said.
Selena looked at Liam, hope welling in her chest. "So Dônn does not want me to die for the planet. Why is she keeping me here?" she asked.
"To do what you are doing, my love. What you are doing is important, but it also means we are not meant to be exterminated like bugs. She wants you to heal the world my love and she wants me to save it for you." Liam said.
Liam's hand pointed to the sky, his eyes locked onto the moon, his voice filled with a sense of wonder. "The moon is the protector of the earth, Selena. Dônn said it all along. If we can't destroy the asteroid, we can send it off course, slightly, into the moon. It's the earth's shield, our last line of defense."
"I just need to push it again, just a little bit more. It will still be pretty devastating, but it would not be like before, when we were stuck on that lifeless burning husk." Liam said. Tears of joy and relief streamed down Liam's face as he grasped the magnitude of his discovery. He felt a weight lift off his shoulders, a sense of purpose and direction.
Selena's face was a picture of emotions - shock, amazement, hope, and fear. She felt like she was standing on the edge of a precipice, staring into the unknown.
Liam turned and cupped Selena's face in his hands, planting a kiss on her forehead. His eyes shone with tears, his voice trembling with emotion. "She didn't want you to die, Selena, she loves you." he whispered. "Dônn was trying to tell me how to save you, how to save the earth. We can do this, Selena. We can save our planet."
Selena's golden eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Liam. She felt a sense of love and gratitude towards him, towards his determination and hope. She knew that they still had a long way to go, but for the first time in weeks, she felt a glimmer of hope.
As Selena reached into Liam's future, she saw a vision of the rockets, their fiery trails blazing across the sky as they desperately tried to push the asteroid off its catastrophic collision course with Earth.
The asteroid, its massive form looming large in the darkness, was mere hours away from impact. Its trajectory was unwavering, and the consequences of its collision would be apocalyptic.
But Liam's plan was to nudge the asteroid just enough to make it collide with the moon instead. Destruction and a full miss was not in the books to begin with. The moon's gravity would draw the asteroid in, and the impact would send thousands of tons of rock into space, crashing down to the planet in a spectacular but less deadly meteor shower.
Selena's golden eyes snapped back into focus, and she looked at Liam with a mix of emotions. "It's going to be close," she said, her voice laced with concern. "The rockets will have to be precise, and the asteroid will have to cooperate. But if it works...we might just save humanity."
Liam's face was set in a determined expression, his eyes shining with a fierce light. "It has to work," he said. "We can't just sit back and do nothing. We have to try and save as many lives as we can."
Selena nodded, her face set in a resolute expression. "Then let's do it," she said. "Let's save our planet, no matter the cost."
***
One year later..
As the rockets fired, their engines burning bright in the darkness of space, Liam and Selena stood on the rooftop of their makeshift command center, a hastily constructed bunker in the heart of the Arabian Desert. The cool night air carried the scent of sand and smoke, a reminder of the devastation that had ravaged the planet.
The rooftop offered a panoramic view of the desert landscape, the dunes stretching out like a sea of gold in the moonlight. The stars twinkled above, a celestial map guiding the rockets as they soared through the void.
Liam and Selena held their breaths, their eyes fixed on the horizon as the rockets' trajectory became clear. The asteroid, a massive and ancient rock, hung in the sky like a harbinger of doom.
The rockets' impact was immense, a colossal explosion of rock and dust that sent shockwaves through the asteroid's very core. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, the asteroid began to shift. Its trajectory, once fixed on a catastrophic collision with Earth, began to alter. Liam and Selena watched, their hearts pounding in their chests, as the asteroid's new path became clear. It was heading straight for the moon.
The impact was immense, a colossal explosion of rock and dust that sent shockwaves through the moon's crust. The debris, a hail of rocks and boulders, began to repel out into orbit or fall towards Earth according to whatever law of physics applied to it in the chaos and brutality of the collision.
But Liam and Selena didn't flinch. They knew that this was the only way to save humanity. The moon had become a shield, a sacrificial lamb that had saved the planet from destruction.
As the debris shower raged on, lighting up the night sky with a celestial display of fire and light, Liam turned to Selena. His eyes shone with tears, his voice trembling with emotion. The sky rumbled as the meteors fell, burning up mass in the atmosphere. They would be destructive.
"We did it," he whispered. "We saved the world."
Selena smiled, her golden eyes shining with pride. "We sure did," she said. "But our work is far from over. We have to rebuild, to start anew."
Liam nodded, his face set in a determined expression. "We'll do it," he said. "We'll rebuild, and we'll make sure that this never happens again."
Together, they stood there, watching as the meteor shower raged on, a reminder of the catastrophe that had been averted. The desert landscape stretched out before them, a vast expanse of sand and rock that seemed to stretch on forever. But in that moment, they knew that they had a new beginning, a chance to start anew and rebuild the world that had been shattered by the asteroid's threat.
As the debris shower raged on, Selena's expression changed from relief to despair. She felt a deep sense of grief wash over her, as if the weight of her immortality was crushing her. She looked at Liam, her eyes filled with tears.
"Why must I remain youthful and immortal, while those I love grow old and frail?" she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
Liam, sensing her distress, reached out and took her hand. "You are a gift, Selena," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "A gift to humanity, and to the planet itself." Selena's eyes locked onto Liam's, and she felt a surge of love and longing. She leaned forward, her lips brushing against Liam's in a tender kiss.
As they kissed, an ethereal golden light began to pulse through Liam's body. His wrinkles smoothed out, his gray hair darkening to its original mousy blond. His eyes, once clouded with age, shone bright and clear once more. And then, in a miraculous display of healing, Liam's leg began to regrow, the stump below his knee elongating, flesh and bone reforming in a matter of seconds.
As they broke apart from their kiss, Selena gasped in wonder, tears of joy streaming down her face. Liam stood before her, rejuvenated and youthful, his eyes shining with a newfound vitality.
Just then, a brilliant light appeared beside them. It was Dônn, a being of pure energy and light. Her presence was warm and comforting, and Selena felt a sense of peace wash over her.
"Selena, your sacrifice has not gone unnoticed," Dônn said, her voice sounding from her own body. "You have given so much to save this planet and its inhabitants. I have reversed the natural order for this man, Liam's youth and vitality will remain suspended until the day you both finish restoring the world back, a testament my appreciation for your work"
"Wait a minute, you did not ask him?" Selena interjected. She could not force Liam to live in this hell with her.
"I accept. I will never grow tired of you. Will I be able to help?" Liam said. Selena looked back in shock, after decades of her griping, he still accepted this gift.
"A volunteer?" Dônn said using her voice. Liam's hair and eyes changed with a flick.
"Thank you," Liam said as he looked at the deity. It was hell thinking she would be going it alone. Twice, the people meant she would have halved her burden, and that he did not have to agonize anymore. They would never live without each other.
Selena smiled, her eyes shining with tears. "Thank you, Dônn," she cried, full of relief, her voice filled with gratitude.
As Selena stood before Dônn, she felt a sense of determination and purpose wash over her. She knew that she had a long and difficult journey ahead of her, but she was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Dônn's light pulsed with an otherworldly energy as she spoke. "Selena, your mission is to restore the planet's health and species. You have the power to bring life back to the barren lands, to restore the oceans and the forests, and to revive the extinct species."
Selena nodded, her heart filled with a sense of purpose. "I will do it," she said, her voice firm and resolute. The will to keep on living was growing stronger.
Dônn's light dimmed slightly, and her voice took on a hint of sadness. "Once your work is done, the natural order will restart for you both," she said. "You will no longer feast from creation, and you will be subject to the same cycles of life and death as the rest of humanity. Like your ancestors"
Selena felt a pang of surprise, followed by a sense of relief. She had never thought about the possibility of her immortality coming to an end.
Dônn's light pulsed again, and her voice took on a hint of compassion. "Living for eternity is a painful gift.," she said. "It is a burden that few can bear. But you have shouldered it with courage and determination, and for that, I am grateful."
Selena felt a sense of gratitude wash over her, and she nodded her head in appreciation. She knew that she still had a long journey ahead of her, but she was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that she would eventually be able to rest and live out her life like a normal human being.
As the years passed, Selena and Liam traveled the world, using her gift to restore the planet's health and species. She brought life back to the barren lands, restored the oceans and the forests, and revived the extinct species.
And as she worked, she felt the weight of her immortality slowly lifting. She began to feel the effects of time, her body growing older and weaker as Liam's did.
But she didn't mind. She was tired of living forever, tired of watching as those she loved grew old and died. Finally, after centuries of work, Selena's mission was complete. The planet was healthy and thriving once more, and she had fulfilled her purpose.
As she stood on a hill overlooking a lush, green forest, back in Midtown, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that she had done something truly remarkable, something that would be remembered for generations to come, or would she be forgotten? It did not matter.
And as she looked out at the beauty of the natural world, she felt her body begin to weaken. She felt her heart slow, her breathing grow shallower. "Selena..we're done, aren't we?" Liam asked, feeling the strain and the urge to lie down.
She knew that her time was coming to an end. She was finally going to be able to rest, to live out her life like a normal human being. "Yes, my beloved," Selena said, gripping his hand, she lay beside him.
As the sun set over the forest, casting a warm, golden light over the landscape, Selena closed her eyes and smiled. She knew that she had lived a good life, a life filled with purpose and meaning. "I love you." Liam said.
And as she took her last breath, she felt a sense of peace and contentment wash over her. She knew that she had finally found what she had been searching for all these centuries: a sense of belonging, of being a part of something greater than herself.
As the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, Selena's body slowly turned into a rock formation with Liam's, becoming one with the natural world she had worked so hard to restore and the man she loved. She was finally at peace, her journey complete.
The warm embrace of the gold cradled her soul and cleansed it of it old fates. It rebirthed her somewhere else in the world. Unburdened the weight of her love and duty, like all of the universe's creatures.