17. The End

Stella_S

by Stella_S

Story

A happy ending could have many forms. A passionate kiss accompanied by swelling music. A couple taking a stroll on the beach, their silhouettes wavering in front of the brilliant, setting sun. A wedding, with laughter and drinks and a radiant bride in an orchard that could have come out of a storybook. A family, young and old, gathered in remembrance and mischief, a hint of the future generation while honouring the old one. 

Madeline was fortunate to experience them all in her lifetime. And even when it was truly the end, when her eyes closed a final time and a last breath left her lips, her story was not yet over. 

For her life had been tied to that of a god, a god at home where she was going. 

Elysium was busy on a good day. This was an even better one, which meant it was bursting at the seams with well-wishers welcoming their youngest Prince back in the Underworld, the royal couple holding court underneath a Greek pavilion, the white stone decorated with grape vines. Madeline spotted a trio of women, their hair elaborately styled. One of them caught her gaze and winked, a pair of golden scissors tucked into her glittering toga belt.  

“We should have drunk the ambrosia,” Athan mumbled. “Eternal life is surely less torment than this.”

“And survive not only all of my family, but also our children? I think not. I like this, it’s lively. Weren’t you always complaining about how morose the underworld is?”

“I think a bit of morosity would not have been amiss. Why are you so elated? You just died.”

“Well, yes.” Madeline smiled and looked around. Her neck moved smoothly, her body young once more and unburdened by any worldly worries. A landscape out of an ancient myth unfolded around her, gurgling springs, deep forests, high mountains that shyly peeked above gold-rimmed clouds. Her eyes alighted on Athan, once more a youth as well, not a stray grey curl or wrinkle to be found. Madeline somehow missed them. 

“This is simply the next adventure. Surely I’ll find a way to make this interesting.”

“You already have.”

“And you’ll be there to watch out for me.”

Athan smiled and took her hand. “Always.”


© Stella_S 2024-08-29

Genres
Novels & Stories
Moods
Emotional, Hoffnungsvoll, Unbeschwert
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