I cannot begin to describe how badly I wanted to be accepted into the Elect.

    Owen's mother, whose name was Ivy, had welcomed me with open arms. We spent all afternoon together -- at least, I think it was afternoon. I quickly learned that there was no time, for there could be no limits on immortals. They never felt hunger, and never worried about being threatened in any way. Somehow, they all just knew their needs would be taken care of.

    Ivy explained all of this to me when my stomach growled loud enough for her to notice.

    "Though we're not hungry, that doesn't stop us from enjoying all the goodness of life. That's what our sanctuary is, the fullness of life!" she declared, raising her eyes to the large skylight in the ceiling.

    Then, she had proceeded to our task, which was finding something for me to wear. My jeans, boots, and wet jacket weren't going to cut it here. While I wasn't uncomfortable with the temperature, I did feel a little out of place among the flawless beings who ruled the place.

    Ivy, wanting to give me a proper welcome, understood this before I voiced it. When she learned that Owen had chosen me, she had set her mind to my coming. So, she made me the ring as well as a variety of dresses. I would change in her room, then proceed to the hallway and show her what they looked like. Each one was beautiful, and each had their own little details that I liked about them.

    I was enjoying myself, even if I hardly knew this woman and was still trying to process where I actually was. Ivy's attitude was just like that of a child: genuine, innocent, hopeful. Being with her brought an ease to my mind. If she wasn't worried, I didn't have to be either. Owen's expression of concern must've just been from mortal exhaustion. I couldn't think of another reason.

    We were going to be immortal together.

    The very thought thrilled me, and I tried to hide it. I didn't want to disrupt the friendship that Owen and I had, but having him back brought me so much inexplicable joy. There was hardly a way to keep my excitement at bay. My best friend was alive, and came from a place just as beautiful as his soul.

    It made sense to me.

    I mulled over these thoughts in my mind as we walked down the path toward the main road. My cheeks were pushed back into a smile. I couldn't help but continue noticing the small details I had missed earlier; all the flowers, the butterflies, how the sun was warm and the night was refreshing.

    Ivy led the way, walking with one of her friends. Both of them were chatting excitedly while Owen and I trailed behind quietly. The dress I had chosen reached just above my knees. It was simple and elegant. What I liked most about it was that it made me feel like I belonged.

    "Where's your dad?" I asked as we strolled along.

    "He's on the Council of the Elect. My mother is too, but dad is the head of it. Which is just a title for the immortals older than the rest of us," Owen replied.

    "What do you mean?"

    "So, when the immortal world was first created, leaders were selected to keep peace between us and mortals. They're the older ones. At seventeen, that's the year when we are given a choice, and that's the rule. But my parents and a group of others were made immortal at an older age to establish authority and stuff," Owen explained. "They aren't that much older. I think the oldest one is, in mortal years, forty-something. All the immortals who were brought in within the past two-hundred years or so are stuck at seventeen. The age rule has changed a couple times."

    "Well, how old is the oldest immortal?"

    "The Council was all selected and appointed at the same time. So, if you wanted to know how old they really are... Hey Mom!"

    "Yes?" Ivy called, spinning around to face us. Her steps were full of grace and excitement.

    "How old are you?" Owen asked.

    "If the mortals ask, I'm thirty-seven." She paused and winked at me. "But secretly, I've been here for now nine-hundred twenty-eight years."

    "You don't look a day over four-hundred!" Ivy's friend exclaimed, which caused her to spin back around in a fit of laughter.

    "One day you'll be that old," I said to Owen, bumping his shoulder.

    "One day we'll be that old," he corrected me, elbowing me back.

    "I sure do hope so," I replied. "These tests have to be hard. There don't seem to be that many people here, so maybe a lot don't pass."

    "You'd be surprised by how many do. Don't freak yourself out, you'll do great," Owen assured me.

    I opened my mouth to reply, but was cut off by a girl my age dancing up to me. We were just outside of the square now, and I registered how loud the singing and music was. Cheering echoed throughout the hills, bringing the beauty of the joyous celebration.

    "You are part of our group of mortals, no?" she asked, falling in step with Owen and I. Her accent sounded British.

    "Yep, both of us," Owen answered.

    "Great!" she exclaimed. She took a flower crown that was dangling from her elbow and placed them on both of our heads. "The celebration is for you, to send you off on a good journey!"

    Then she skipped away, and suddenly, my vision was full of immortal celebration. It was nothing like I had ever witnessed before. Everything was more glorious, more elegant, more joyous. It was like a concert and a formal dinner at the same time. People were dancing and eating snacks and singing with the music. The fountain was full of flowers and crystal clear water. Already, I had lost Ivy in the crowd.

    Thankfully, Owen was still by my side.

    "Some party," he mumbled, eyes wide as he took it in.

    "I'd say," I muttered, trying to see everything as once.

    The crowd dancing in the streets paused for a moment, clapping and cheering. After a few seconds, another song began, and everyone was spinning, leaping, and laughing. I smiled at the sight of them. The scene was beautiful. My heart began to beat fast in my chest, which filled with their contagious happiness.

    "Do you want to join them?" Owen asked suddenly, inclining his head toward the crowd.

    "I don't know how to dance like that!" I exclaimed, embarrassed to be the fool dancing among the eternal souls.

    "I don't either!" he replied before grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the dancers.

    I didn't have time to protest, and honestly, I didn't know if I wanted to. The year with Owen gone had crushed me, and these moments with him were precious. I couldn't look away in fear that he would leave me again. I couldn't afford that.

    The pair of us paused just inside the circle of dancers. No one was judging; everyone was having their own celebration.

    When I turned back to Owen, he was doing his own little jig. Immediately, I bursted out laughing.

    "What?!" he exclaimed, raising his eyebrows with a grin.

    "You look--"

    "Astounding? Professional? Graceful?"

    "I was going to say ridiculous, but those work too," I laughed.

    "Come on, Ad! Don't be so stiff and uptight! Whatever in the world happened to my carefree friend?" The statement started out teasing and light, but by the end, we both fell into silence.

    "She is stuck somewhere in the mortal world trying to find a way to her best friend," I said quietly, staring at my feet.

    Owen stepped closer to me, taking me by the shoulders gently.

    "I'm... sorry," he admitted, biting his lip. "I just... Well, I couldn't bring you here without knowing for myself. What if I had drown or lead you to do the same?"

    I looked up at him, finding solace in his eyes.

    "I couldn't blindly bring you here. Not you, Adaliah."

    I nodded, unsure of what to say.

    Owen took my hand, and spun me around, surprising me. When I faced him again, he was grinning broadly.

    "But we're here now! Together!" he exclaimed. He began pulling at my arms, getting me started on dancing. I let a grin spread across my face.

    Owen was right. We were together now, and the mortal world was thousands of suns away. He had his reasons, and some things he couldn't help. I had to trust him.

    "And Ad," he began, brining me out of my thoughts, "if you think I'd ever want to hurt you like that, just know that wasn't my intention. I wanted to protect you--"

    "Thank you," I interrupted, wanting the troubled expression to be gone from his face. He smiled sympathetically.

    "I promise I won't do anything like that again. Leave you, lie to you like that," he stated.

    I squeezed his hands, smiling.

    "And I promise the same," I replied.

    He sighed, looking around him. His brown irises examined the world surrounding us, analyzing who we were and how we would fit. I could see the wheels turning in his head about foreseen concerns. He didn't need to think about that, just like I didn't need to think about the past. The present was our greatest gift.

    "Come on, Owen! Don't be so uptight!" I exclaimed, spinning around. "We are in this beautiful place! All your worries are back in mortality, and this is the beginning of the end of that!"

    He beamed down at me while I tried out his version of "elegant" and "graceful" dancing.

    Even though he rolled his eyes at me, he still joined in, laughing at our momentarily happy ridiculousness.

<<<<<<<<<

{September 10, 2017}

(PC: kellansworld || instagram)