"It can't be... Is this real? Are you seeing them too, Jiminie?" My voice was breathlessly quiet as I stared at the sight in front of Jimin and me. There were too many different emotions blending together inside me—I wasn't able to identify each one.

"You mean the old curving stone staircase that leads to nowhere? Yeah, I see it too," he replied. Jimin's tone held wonder and disbelief, with a hint of contempt.

Unlike the set of stairs that had brought me here, this one was covered in leaves from the trees above. It looked like it blended in with the forest instead of standing out like the other one had.  

I felt a magnetic pull emanating from the stairs—something I hadn't realised I'd also felt in Costa Rica until I was met with the sensation again. It was kind of like the buzzing that Claire Fraser could hear coming from the stones in Outlander. However, instead of a noise being emitted from the stairs, this one was like a gravitational pull that was trying to bring me closer. It felt as if it was trying to lure me into another universe again.

But which one?

A million thoughts ran through my head as we stood in front of the stairs. Our hands were clasped together tight as if Jimin was the only thing keeping me tethered here.

Should I go up the stairs and see what happens?

Should I turn around, just forget about them and live my life with Jimin?

Will I regret whatever decision I make?

What does Jimin think and will he forgive me if I go up the stairs?

Or will he resent me for turning my back on a potentially safer life if I stay?

But there was one big question that loomed over the rest: if I go, will I ever be able to come back to the man I love with my entire being?

"What are you thinking of My Love?" Jimin whispered, breaking me from my spiralling thoughts. His voice was not stable. This led me to see that, like me, he was not handling the possible idea of my leaving well.

"I... I don't know," I replied with a heavy sigh. "I don't know what to do because whichever decision I make—whether to climb the stairs or not—someone is going to get hurt. Either my family will never see me again if I stay here, or I may lose you forever if I go."

Jimin pulled me into his embrace. His strong arms cradled me as I sobbed into his neck. It felt like I was being pulled in three different directions with my body, heart and soul each wanting to do something different. My body was eager to climb up and see my family again, whereas my heart was breaking just at the thought of not ever seeing Jimin again. But it was my soul that was indecisive as it was wanting to go but also to stay here.

"What should I do? Tell me what I should do, Jiminie."

I felt Jimin sigh, his chest trembled through his exhalation. "I can't do that, Baby. Only you can decide because even I don't know what you should do."

It comforted me in a way to see him as conflicted as I was. Hearing that he couldn't help me decide made my heart blossom with love and heavy with frustration. I understood his view. It was my decision since it was my life on the line.

"Oh good. You found them," a voice said above the crinkling of leaves under heavy footsteps. Jimin's arms slipped down. One draped across my hip to keep me close to him as we turned towards the newcomer. I was not only shocked to see someone else here, but the figure was of a person I didn't expect—the Oracle.

Bang Si-Hyuk smiled warmly at Jimin and me. He bowed his head in greeting after we bent at 90 degrees to show respect for our elders. Instead of his usual garb of a traditional hanbok, today he was dressed to keep warm. A long brown woollen trench coat covered a sweater and a pair of tan pants. A warm beanie made the Oracle look more like a cool uncle compared to someone of high standing.

"What do you mean?" I asked. I was still in shock from his appearance and the hinting words he spoke that I forgot to address him formally.

"The universe has sent you a gift, Elenor," he replied, closing the gap between the three of us. "You are destined for great things in both universes. However, because you were brought here prematurely, you have been granted the opportunity to return to your world if you would like."

The questions began swirling once again. What did he mean I am destined for great things? I doubted that seeing as the universes hated me. If I went home, would that mean I couldn't come back here?

"If she goes, will it be permanent?" Jimin voiced the question that was looming in my head.

"I have been instructed that she can stay there—if that is what is Nell's heart's, desire that is." With that riddled statement, the Oracle reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a familiar item. With two hands, he handed over a white card. Like the one I received in Daegu, this card was thick and had the same sheen and sparkle to it. I looked over at Jimin and saw that his eyes were fixated on the card. He was just as mesmerised as I was when I'd first seen a card like this.

When I turned it over, the letters swirled like magic was powering the effect. This time, though, the words were in Korean instead of English. "Your heart's desire will set you free to be in the place you call home," I read aloud.

"If you decide to climb the stairs, Elenor, you will have 25 days in your universe. During that time, you will need to decide what your heart's deepest desire is. I must point out that the portal will close on the 25th day."

I had to admit, it was terrifying to learn that I had 25 days to decide on my future. The number both seemed too long to be away from Jimin, yet not nearly long enough to make the right decision.

Sensing that I was not paying attention, the Oracle cleared his throat to bring me back to the here and now. "On the 25th day, you can decide not to return to the stairs. But like I said before, the universe will close the portal for you indefinitely. If you choose that you would like to return here, you need to return to the stairs before the sun sets over the horizon. Once you speak your heart's truth at the top of the stairs, the universes will either open the portal to bring you here or close it. There is no guarantee that you will return here, only the universes can decide that."

"So, there's a chance that I'll never see Jimin again?" I asked and my throat constricted at the thought. Jimin was the love of my life, my soulmate if you believed in such a thing. While I hoped that I would be able to come back here, hearing that there was a chance that the universe would close the portal—thus trapping me in my world—was terrifying.

"I have not been given the vision of what will come," Si-Hyuk said with a sympathetic tone. But, from what I have seen before, I know that you two will face many challenges if you are brought back here. I need you to know one thing. As much as I like you both, unless there is a baby that has a blend of both of your genes, there is nothing I can do for you, Elenor, at the Dissolution Ceremony. My hands are tied by the law. My advice is this: should you go, spend your days back thinking with both sides of your brain."

"How long do I have to decide on whether to go or not?" I hoped that I would be lucky enough to have a bit of time up my sleeve.

"The portal will close once the sun dips below those trees," he replied, pointing to the large ginkgo trees that surrounded us. As I looked up, I noticed the sun was close to the trees. When I tried to get a more definitive answer, the Oracle was already walking away.

"Baby, I know you are stressing over what to do," Jimin said as he brought me into his chest again. His arms settled onto my hips and my hands slid under his shirt so I could feel his warm skin under my fingers. I was too stressed about what I should do to giggle as he shivered from my cold hands. I breathed in his scent, and I felt myself relax a tiny bit. Jimin always smelled so good.

"I don't want to choose for you. But I will tell you that I am so in love with you, Nell. You're the love of my life. If we only have this short time together, then I will cherish our days together for the rest of my life.

"I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me, Baby. You showed me what it felt like to love and be loved in return. Having you as my assigned female set me free and for the first time in my life, you saw me as the man I am instead of the colour of my hair.

"Nell, you're the most beautiful woman I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. The women in this kingdom are very attractive, although you leave them for dead. Your beauty is not just in your appearance, but also in your heart. I want you to remember that you are stunning to me. You're perfectly imperfect, which makes you the perfect woman for me. You're so strong to survive everything you have. But most of all, I want you to remember that you are loved with every part of my heart, mind, soul and body. Elenor Bennett, I love you now, forever and into eternity."

My heart felt like it was both soaring and breaking simultaneously. This wasn't like a normal goodbye. Neither of us knew if this was 'goodbye', 'see you later' or just a declaration of love before we headed back to the palace. I kind of wished that I had a magic 8 ball here to tell me what to do; although, knowing my luck, it would say, 'Ask again later'.

There were so many things I wanted to say to Jimin but none would come out. Instead, I proclaimed, "Park Jimin, I love you, too. Now, forever and into eternity."

I crashed my lips into his for a bruising kiss. I poured all my love from my body into his. I hoped that Jimin could feel how much I cherished, desired and loved him for who he was. My kiss told him that he was the most beautiful person I'd ever seen, both inside and out. It confirmed that my heart also thought we were soulmates. It hadn't been me who set him free, we had set ourselves free together.

I knew what I had to do, and I pulled away from our kiss with tears streaming down my cheeks. I knew that I would forever regret if I walked back to the palace with Jimin without seeing my family again. I knew he wouldn't resent me if I stayed and died because I couldn't give him a child. But, I would never forgive myself for not saying goodbye to my family. Even if I might only have 7% of a year with them.

Jimin nodded at me with his own cheeks wet. He knew what I had chosen to do. "Don't be sad, My Love," he whispered as he dried my tears with his sleeve. "Sometimes loving someone means you have to let them go. You might not be here beside me, but you will be in my thoughts, heart and soul each day until I die."

I sobbed into his chest. I could feel myself starting to miss him even though I hadn't left yet. His hands gently cupped my cheeks as his thumbs dried my tears again as best as he could. After one last soft press of his lips to mine, Jimin took my hand in his and led me to the stairs. While he stood still on the ground, my feet began the climb. Our arms were stretching as neither wanted to let go. Our fingers couldn't keep holding each other forever. When they separated, it felt like my heart broke in two.

"I love you, Elenor Bennett. Now, forever and into eternity. Do what makes you happiest, Baby," was the last thing I heard before I took the last step onto the top landing.

"I love you, Park Jimin. Now, forever and into eternity."