In Nova Edenis

Nova

I was doing a painting when I heard a scream from the forest. I dropped everything and ran all the way to the forest where I knew the noise was coming from.

And when I followed the blood, I saw a banshee, an ugly creature straight from a fairy-tale. It was holding Eden. I was so angry, the whole forest burst into flames in reaction to my feelings. The banshee was so terrified, it dropped Eden and ran. I took Eden in my arms. She was cold to the touch, as if the banshee had sucked everything out of her. I cried. But then, I realized that I still had my phoenix feathers left. I took one of my silvery feathers and placed it on Eden, trading my remaining lives for her one life. Now, I would grow older. Eden woke up, opening her eyes.

"Nova?"

"Yes. I'm here."

"Why did you show up? Why have you been ignoring me?"

"I needed you to separate from me. I'm a phoenix after all, I'm hundreds of years older than you. You need to live your life. I'm living mine, going to college for the first time. I had a hundred year hibernation period before this life."

"I told you I'd wait. Being a phoenix doesn't change anything."

"I'm not a phoenix anymore, I traded those lives for yours."

"I'm so sorry. You should have lived with those remaining lives. You don't even love me."

"...I never said that."

"Really? Because I thought it was pretty clear you weren't into me."

"I am into you, it's just that now is not the right time to be together."

"Again, I told you I'd wait."

"You shouldn't have to do that."

"Tell you what. In eight years time, meet me here, in this forest, and we'll get married. This is if I still love you, and you love me, Nova."

I smiled. It was perfect.

"That sounds perfect."