Lifetime of Love

Things went wrong somewhere between the creation of the universe and myself, though I can’t be completely sure. I have much more important things to focus on, such as preventing the impending war the elders speak of. The sun was barely starting to set, but it was dark enough to see the faint outline of the moon and a few stars. Placing my book to the side, I laid on the soft grass and closed my eyes.

I needed to get home soon. I was supposed to catch the train tomorrow, and I wanted to check on something first. Gathering my things, I started to make my way back. It was dark by the time I had gotten back home. Instead of going straight to bed, I went to the library. Rows and rows of books and parchment rolls lined the walls. It took a little searching, but I finally found the book I was looking for. A book bound in deep brown leather held together with a gold clasp.

On the other side of the library was the map I had been studying. Trying my best to be quiet, I pushed the furniture towards the walls and laid out the map. The second I sat down, I heard soft footsteps behind me.

Assuming it was Damien, I didn’t turn around. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

A different voice answered.

“I wasn’t sleeping.”

This time I turned around.”Hello Faery,”

Faery stared at my map. I scooted over so she could have a better look.

“It’s the Everalm,” I told her. “ Watch this.”

I lifted one of the loose floorboards and pulled out a wand. Faery gasped. Even she knew I wasn’t supposed to use one of these. In fact, it wasn’t mine, it was Damien's. I just needed to borrow it.

Grabbing my book from earlier, I flipped through until I found the right spell. If no one wanted to teach me magi, I would have to learn myself. Taking a deep breath and making sure I was holding the wand correctly, I pointed it at the map.

“Pi’i mauna!”

At first, nothing happened. Then the map started glowing, and slowly things began to rise. Tress pitch black from the dark forest. The desserts, sands golden brown, and small waves I the kingdom of Wai. About a minute late, the map was a three-dimensional moving object.

Faery watched with curiosity. She gingerly reached her hand towards the dessers and was shocked when she came back with a handful of sand. She smiled, flapping her free hand about.

“See how things are getting darker.” I pointed to the edge of the realms. I had been tracking the map, and over the course of several months, the edges of certain realms had gotten darker as if they were dying. It shouldn’t have been possible; barriers were in place so that relams couldn’t intersect each other. Yet they were doing just that.

Faery kept me company while I took notes of the map. Well, technically, she played with the map while I took notes, but it was good to have company.

We sat there practically all night. When I had finished my notes, the library, which was on the east wing, was fully illuminated in the morning light.

There should have been just enough time to pack my things and get to the train station.

“Faery, could you-“ I turned around and found I was talking to myself. Like a true friend, Feary had abandoned me when I needed her most.

Quickly grabbing the wand, I wordlessly flicked it. The map flattened itself up and the book floated back to the shelf where I had gotten it from. While the map still had me confused, I was right about one thing. I barely had enough time to pack my things. I slipped on the train just as the doors closed.

I found an empty seat and put my things down before heading to the dining car. I ordered some exploding bonbons, candied phoenix feathers, and crystallized icecles to snack on. I flipped through my journal to the page of my drawing. For months, I had been dreaming of this person. After waking up, I could only remember bits and pieces of their face. I almost had a completed picture except for the eyes.

I was walking back to my seat when the train must have hit a bump or taken a corner too hard or something because suddenly I went flying forward, and my books spilled out of my bag.

“Whoa, you okay?” I looked up and could feel my eyes widen. The boy offered his hand to help me up, but I was still focused on his face.

He looked at me, a bit confused. “Are you hurt?”

What was he waiting for? Oh right.

I shook my head, taking his hand. I reached down to pick up one of my books at the same time he did, and we bumped heads. I hoped he didn’t hear how hollow mine sounded.

“I am so sorry,” he stammered. He started gathering up my other books and offered them to me before standing and offering his hand again.

“Promise I won’t try and give you a concussion again this time,” he laughed nervously.

I smiled and took his hand again, this time without the head injury. As if in a dream, everything flashed forward. I saw an older version of myself, maybe fifteen, sitting on a couch with him next to me. We were talking and laughing. He pulled me in closer and kissed me on my temple.

Just as he did, the scene flashed forward again. This time, we appeared to be in our early twenties. We were walking together, coffee cups in hand. I was wearing his clearly oversized hoodie. He took my free hand, spinning me around before kissing me on my cheek.

Once again, everything flashed forward. Us now at our wedding. Every time we kissed, it flashed forward. Our first house, first job, first kid. Family vacations, vow renewals, us old and gray sitting on a porch swing. Suddenly, I was snapped back to reality as if an entire lifetime our lifetime hadn't flashed before my eyes.

“I’m Nicholas,” he said. His cheeks and ears were slightly tinged pink, contrasting his hazel brown eyes, almost identical to mine. Was he blushing?

“Cecelia Miller,” I responded.

“Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Cecelia Miller. Can I walk you back to your cabin? I mean, it’s the least I could.”

I nodded to let him accompany me back to my cabin. Olly was in the middle of applying eyeshadow to Ophelia's face, and Sannah was looking through lip glosses.

Olly watched Nickolas tell me goodbye from the corner of her eye.

“He’s cute,” she said once he had left.

I nodded, grabbed my journal, and finished drawing the eyes on my no longer mystery person. I finished just as the train pulled into the station. Hazel brown eyes staring right back into mine.