I inhaled, then exhaled; never had I felt this lightweight and relieved.

Even after seeing Owen alive and understanding his purpose for coming back, my chest was finally free from the pressure of fear. I couldn't be hallucinating now, the water felt too real. As I breathed in the water, the world seemed sharper, like I had been blind all my life, but now I finally had the glasses to see.

All I had to do was breathe, and I could see clearly.

Owen was grinning from ear to ear as he watched my face go from panic to joy. I was still alive, and he was too. This could only mean one thing: he was right. His world did exist, and it always did.

I wanted to squeal in relief. Already, they journey to immortality was astounding. If I could breathe underwater by merely believing, what would being part of their society grant?

Still, while I felt bliss, there was an underlying worry that this wasn't the only thing required of me. It couldn't be this easy.

Owen nodded his head toward the interior of the archway, a tunnel of sorts. I peered in as he effortlessly swam through. The darkness welcomed him, then swallowed his figure whole. With him absent from my side, I unwillingly became nervous. Sure, I was breathing now, but what was in the tunnel?

I had to trust Owen. I already followed him this far, and there wasn't really a way for me to make it home safely on my own. I sighed, causing bubbles to escape my mouth. Then, I pushed my way through the water after him.

My fingers dragged along the walls, clumsily feeling out the path I needed to take. The water dropped a few degrees, causing me to shiver. In certain places, the rock would angle upward or downward, which resulted in me hitting my knees and head. Quickly, I decided I was completely over the idea of traveling through this tunnel.

Even after a few moments within entering, the dark was overbearing. I could hardly see my hand in front of me, let alone make out the path. Owen was already long gone, probably out of the tunnel minutes before I was.

The water became lighter as I neared the end of the obstacle. This small detail only made me more eager to finish the course.

With one final shove, I was floating in the open ocean. I looked down and saw that there was no floor in sight, only endless water. The rock wall, which held the tunnel's exit, extended as far down and up as I could see. There was a hand print in the wall similar to the one at the entrance.

Owen wasn't in sight. I spun around once again before finally directing my eyes upward. While I didn't expect the water to be full of light, I was surprised by how dark it was. When I directed my gaze toward the direction of the surface, I saw why.

Hovering just above my head, were roots. Huge tree roots that were stationary in the still water. I glanced out, and saw how far they extended, like a ceiling. They wove together, creating a tightly knit structure. Hardly any sunlight was peeking through their bond, which was driven all the way into the rock.

Where in the world was Owen? How was I suppose to know what to do?

I couldn't go down, there was nothing for me there. Up and through the roots? That seemed to be the only way. I wasn't sure if I could break through the wood, though. Who knew how far below sea level I was. At least I couldn't drown.

I reached up closely, somewhat afraid. What was I going to do?

The wood was rough and smooth all at once. As soon as my fingertips brushed the surface of it, the roots began moving. My eyes grew wide as an opening was made for my hand. I yawned my hand back and the roots immediately filled the gap. It seemed as if their only goal was to be whole; if part of them wasn't there, then something was. No empty holes were allowed in the structure.

I inhaled and exhaled again, marveling once more that I had the ability to do that. I pushed my fingers to the roots. At my touch, their bond unraveled and granted me entry. My hand was engulfed in the space behind their blockade when something grabbed it suddenly. If I could've screamed, I would've.

My entire body was yanked through the wooden wall. The thing wrapped around my hand felt like another root, but I couldn't be sure. As I was pulled in, the roots descending to create the wall pushed me up and prodded me, grabbing at my clothes, arms, legs, and hair. They seemed to be their own creatures, almost like tentacles.

Maybe someone in the universe would find it cool to be surrounded by thousands of roots, but I found it absolutely terrifying. Sure, I'll attempt to breathe underwater and swim through a dark tunnel, but I don't want roots to grab me. It's a little too peculiar.

The water became lighter as I squinted at the fast approached sunlight. I didn't look down, taking the precaution so I wouldn't get hit in the face by a root. Gradually, the wooden limbs became thicker, and not as entangled. I was continually yanked up toward the air. After experiencing the living sticks, I was ready to be out of the water.

My face broke the surface, and cool air met my skin. I was shoved onto a branch, where I clung to the trunk of the tree and retched up salt water. The roots wrapped around my torso and wrists let me free, and slithered back into the water. After I expelled all the water from my body, I breathed heavily and sat against the trunk, feet dangling a couple meters above the sea. For a moment, I closed my eyes, then reopened them.

Before me was the ocean. Calm, peaceful ocean. The branches above me swayed with a slight breeze, their green leaves dancing in the wind. I breathed in the clean air. There was no storm, and no monster waves.

"Freaky, isn't it?"

I turned to see Owen watching me, and grinning. He gestured toward the roots below, which were clearly visible in the crystal-clear ripples.

"Yeah, that was really weird," I laughed. He nodded in agreement.

I turned back toward the ocean, contemplating what I should be thinking. We made it to the immortal world... Now what?

"Are you ready to meet my parents and everyone?" he asked timidly.

I nodded without looking at him, stealing one last glance at the serene horizon. I stood on the branch, clinging to the nearby branches for support as I approached Owen. He smiled and began leading the way.

The tree itself seemed to know where we were going and created its own path to lead us. The branches below us supported our footsteps by creating a bridge over the water, while the ones above moved out of our way respectively. I marveled at how intelligent it was. My short grudge about the roots melted away. The tree was its own creature, gentle and knowing. For some odd reason, that comforted me.

We stepped out of the tree's shelter and onto a sandy shore when I looked up. I gasped, taken aback. I don't know what I expected. Maybe I thought I would turn around and see the shore of South Carolina. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. As soon as I laid eyes on the immortals' community, all thoughts of home flew out of my mind.

The sky was vivid. Directly ahead, the sunlight crashed into the dark. Stars mixed with bright rays, causing explosions of reflection. Absentmindedly, I turned around, gawking at how beautiful the heavens were. On my right, deep, expansive night took over, showing off distant moons, stars, and even planets. Directly behind, the seam between day and night was once again exquisite, but different from the one I first spotted. On my left, daylight shown as bright as I had ever seen it. I could physically feel the rays reaching toward me and showing off their brilliance.

That was before I laid my eyes on the sanctuary itself.

The beaches seemed to extend forever, sloping into clear waters. I could spot figures dancing in the dark as well as rejoicing in the light. The gentle waves brought in flowers from the endless ocean, but the beauty continued to the middle of the island.

First, there were grasslands, that eventually lead to vegetation of all kinds. From cactuses to palm trees to great redwoods to pines, the variety of plants were too many to name. Fruit hung elegantly from the branches and flowers swayed happily in the breeze. The tree which we just stepped off of stretched high into the sky, its green leaves longing for both the cool of the night and heat of day. It was constantly moving, constantly watching, being gentle when a bird landed or a butterfly took a rest.

The trees stretched into hills, then great mountains, which seemed too close yet too far. Gorgeous white buildings rose from the hills. Colorful flowers were grown in the windows as curtains fluttered in the breeze.

Not only that, but the animals. Every beast or pet I could name was there, plus some. Turtles and starfish crawled on the beaches, while sloths hung in trees and birds flew through the air playfully.

Nothing was out of place. Everything was individual, but whole. Each detail felt endless, but planned. My eyes yearned for more, only to be met with another detail I missed at first glance. It was all too much and just enough at the same time. My heart trembled in my chest as I constantly stared and spun in circles, unsure how to process such a gorgeous world.

It was absolutely perfect. There was no other way to describe it.

I looked at Owen, whose face was glowing. His eyes reflected how content he felt, and I couldn't help but feel the same. Why would I ask for more than this? The whole world was practically at my fingertips.

"Want to see it?" he asked softly, gesturing toward his home.

An effortless smile fell on my face and nodded eagerly.

He stepped in front of me, leading the way into the grasses and toward the tree line. I wanted to run and take each step slowly at the same time. The setting was overwhelming, but I longed to see it all.

People on the beach looked to be my age or older. Their bliss was evident on their faces, even if I wasn't next to them to see it. I could practically feel the ease and welcome coming from every individual of the community. My fingers brushed the grasses, while my eyes observed everything in sight. The soil was dark and rich until it mixed with the sand. Bees buzzed happily, going about their carefree jobs.

Rabbits, turtles, monkeys, kangaroos, lizards, and even lions went about their own business, seeming satisfied with their lives. I spotted tigers laying lazily in trees and elephants taking a drink out of the pristine water. They all had their own roles. I couldn't help but smile when walking through the field. Some gazed at me curiously and would follow us. An excited dog came up to my side eagerly, its tongue hanging out of its mouth as he trailed along.

Purity. Another word to describe it. The scene was innocent.

We were about to enter the trees when I looked up. A giraffe was staring at me, its eyes transfixed on my face as it chewed its leaves delicately. I couldn't look away, and ended up freezing in my tracks. Our party stopped too, waiting for the next move.

After it swallowed, the creature studied me for one long moment. Then, it bent its neck to look at me closer, taking in every ounce of me in the moment as I was studying it in the same manner. We were so close, it was unreal. Carefully, I reached up and touched it with my fingertips. I could've promised you that giraffe smiled at me, seeming to relish in my attention.

I laughed as it nudged me in the shoulder, prodding me on to the rest of the world. It was sending me off after welcoming me. My chest was so full of life, I couldn't imagine feeling any better than I did.

Owen lead through the gorgeous trees and up various hills, but I hardly felt tired. There wasn't a reason to feel exhausted with all the life encircling me. I attempted to memorize everything presented to me. I could hardly process it all; I could almost promise I was dreaming.

As we were walking, I couldn't help but think of how all this made sense. Of course Owen would come from here: he made me feel all of the things I felt. Whenever he grinned in my direction or would even speak, he was just full of life and ease. I couldn't help it, I caught his feelings of contentment, and now I knew why.

At this realization, I nearly stumbled over my own feet. In fact, I did, crashing into Owen, who managed to keep his balance.

"Whoa Ad," he laughed, spinning around to make sure I was upright.

"Sorry!" I blurted, trying to keep the hysterical giggle out of my voice. I couldn't help it, everything was joyfully overwhelming.

He smiled and shrugged, then continued leading. As we drew closer to the residents of the island, I could hear something. Pleasant humming, which soon turned into singing. Eventually the notes rang through the air, light and wonderful. Never had I heard songs so beautiful.

The trees continued to stretch to the sky and the animals kept watching, as if they knew who I was and what was happening. The dog that came to our side earlier was still with us, and continued by me until we reached the village.

A huge, gold archway greeted us. It was as if the beautiful singing originated from it. I reached out and ran my fingers over its smooth surface. My heart skipped a beat from the pure beauty and passion radiated from the architecture. I pulled my hand away, trembling. The gate was exquisite, beckoning me inside, begging me to lay my eyes on the town it guarded.

Owen, who was in front of me, turned to face me. He was beaming. He held out his arms, presenting his home, not able to speak.

I stepped onto the smooth, stone streets and gawked at the tall, gorgeous, white buildings. The street was wide and extended back toward the mountains as far as I could see. There were no cars, only people dancing barefoot in the streets, laughing and skipping wherever they went.

If I lived here, I would laugh and skip all the time, too.

I gazed at the small restaurants and gathering places. A huge fountain was in the middle of every intersection, welcoming residents from all directions. Smaller houses were nestled in nearby hills. Colorful rugs decorated the windows as well as chains of flowers and lights. The buildings before me were simple, yet elegant. I instantly fell in love with the idea of calling this place home.

We continued into the square. I tried not to stare, because I knew it was rude, but I couldn't help it. All of the people... It didn't matter who they were or what their body type was, no blemishes were found on any of them. No matter the shade of their skin, they glowed. Their eyes were bright, joyful, intelligent. They were flawless, but not the world's definition. Whoever they were, they played their role perfectly.

I looked at my own dirty hands and sudden felt self-conscious. Yet, I kept following Owen, unable to tear my eyes away from the people. None of them seemed to mind me, in fact, they even came up and said hello before dancing away.

I realized how Owen and I compared to them. We didn't glow and we certainly weren't flawless. Both of us were soaked. Our clothes clung to us and were wrinkled. I smelled like the salt water back home. Oh, that's another thing; the beach, the forest, the village-- everything smelled pure and clean. I reeked (which is probably why none of them held a conversation with me).

Owen took a turn to the left and I fell in step behind him, inching closer. Moments ago, I had been carefree. Then, I realized how inferior I was and how badly I wanted to match their elegance.

What did they think of me? Did I look like a dirty, average mortal?

I took a deep breath and focused on the small neighborhood instead. Paths lead from the main road up to a hut or house, hidden in the trees. Every structure was clean. I admired the glass walls and raving gardens. People laid out on their roofs, carrying on conversations or dozing. Time didn't exist. Limits didn't exist.

We reached the end of the street and Owen entered a dirt path lined with palm trees and splendid flower bushes. Hummingbirds buzzed along in harmony with the other creatures.

The path lead to a porch, made out of white wood. This house was decorated with flower vines and glowing lights. Colorful curtains hung in open windows. I caught sight of a small hedgehog scurrying to my side as the dog moved to be with Owen, who was approaching a bright blue door. The animal gazed at me, examining my features.

I crouched down, amazed. They certainly didn't want us to feel lonely. I smiled.

"I know I'm not as pretty as half the people here, but thanks for coming to me anyway," I whispered to it, holding out my hand. Its tiny nose sniffed, then climbed into my palm.

I grinned, holding the little creature to my chest.

Out of the corner of my eye, the door swung open. I saw Owen standing and waiting for me. I lifted my gaze from the creature to his face. His eyes flickered to the inside of the house and I moved toward him, suddenly nervous.

"Ladies first," he joked, grinning.

I faced the interior of the house, once again overtaken by its simple details and magnificent color. I stepped onto the wooden floors and gazed around at the kitchen, family room, and the loft overhead. Everything was bright and alive. Unlike the outside of the house, the inside was painted in beautiful yellows and reds and blues.

"Mom?!" Owen called, shutting the door softly behind him and his canine companion.

Immediately following his words were a series of footsteps and the sound of joyful squealing. From the stairs by the back door, a woman descended gracefully, practically floating toward us.

She wore the broadest smile on her face. Her dress was simple and complimented her green eyes well. Even though her hair had streaks of gray, she was absolutely stunning. I couldn't help but beam back as she looked at me with an excited expression. She hurried to Owen and swept him up in her arms, kissing his cheek. They exchanged quick greetings before parting and looking to me at the same time.

"You must be Adaliah, then," she said gently. I nodded, unsure how I was expected to act. She glided toward me, pressing a hand to my cheek. She was about half of a foot shorter than me, but her composure radiated wisdom and love. "You are a gorgeous young lady."

I was stunned. No one had ever said that to me before, especially after only speaking a sentence to me. My eyes searched for answers from Owen's expression. He was grinning at me, but when I met his gaze, he looked away.

"T-Thank you," I stuttered. "I should be saying the same about you."

I felt myself relax a little as I spoke in the perfect setting.

She giggled, letting her hand fall from my face.

"Such a beautiful soul too, I can already see it," she sang, petting my hedgehog friend who was nestled in my arms.

There was no way I could measure up to her, though. I had only spent a minute with this woman -- Owen's mother -- and already she was the most content, kind person I knew. The room was filled with her own light and peace. I was so caught up in who she was that I wasn't watching what she was doing. In the split second I was thinking, she had danced away, then came back with something in her hand.

"I made this for you," she stated, presenting the small ring to me. A flower made of rich stones was weaved onto wire shaped like vines. Carefully, I took it from her and admired it. Her generosity was so evident and wonderful. I glanced at Owen who was watching me.

I parted my lips to say something, but she cut me off.

"This is only the beginning, lovely. I have so much more to give you!" she declared, excitedly. Her joy compared to that of a child waiting for their dream to come true. I couldn't help but laugh with her as she took my arm and led me into the house.

As we ascended the stairs, I turned to exchange a smile with Owen. But he was already on his knees in front of the dog, his face fallen, and his eyes worried. 

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{August 26, 2017}

(PC: georgiarosehardy || Instagram)