In a world far away

Returning Home

Lily Wilson's POV

I tumbled downward through what felt like the physical manifestation of time and space, stars dazzling in every direction. Lady Gaia had gently patted my head before sending me off, and now I was surrounded by a breathtaking haze of deep blues and violets, blending like a celestial masterpiece. The beauty was overwhelming—so much so that for a moment, I forgot everything. But as I fell, my thoughts drifted to the life I'd left behind.

I was just a little girl once, broken and lost after I lost my mom—the only anchor I had in the world. The days after her death blurred into each other, each one an endless repetition of silence and cold. The orphanage was never a place that could replace her warmth or laughter. Every day I woke up to a reality where she wasn't there, and I was expected to live with that emptiness. I tried—desperately—to adjust, telling myself that she wouldn't want me to be sad forever. But it was never easy. How could it be when I knew I'd never hear her voice again? The bullying at the school didn't help either.

I felt like I was drowning in grief, in pain, with nothing left to hold onto. All I remember from those days was my desperate plea to the universe, the gods, and anyone who would listen: take me away. Take me far away, to a world where I wouldn't hurt so much. Never did I imagine that I'd be granted such a wish, that I'd get a second chance to live.

I still don't know why I was given this life, or why I was brought to Lady Gaia's world. But if there's one thing I do know, it's that I've got to make the most of it. I've got to be better, to stand up and be the kind of person I wish had been there for me. Someone reliable, someone kind—like Lady Gaia has been to me. Lillian has set a path for my career already I hope that radiant girl finds happiness in her world, just as I've found purpose in mine.

As I let these thoughts swirl in my mind, everything faded into darkness. The next thing I knew, I was sprawled on a couch. I blinked, heart pounding, as I scanned my surroundings, my gaze fell onto the words on the screen of a laptop nearby, a tab of a novel titled—'Lillian's Love' was staring back at me—and then the realisation hit me like a bolt of lightning. (Author's note- nah, that pun if there was any is all thanks to Chatgpt's suggestion)

 This must be the novel that Lillian and Lady Gaia were talking about, it seems that I came back at the exact moment Lily's soul left my body to later meet Lady Gaia and Lady Hestia. So, I'm officially back on earth and this time, I am not the same broken girl —I have something worth living for now.  And maybe if things went similarly for Lillian she'd wake up as a fifteen-year-old, I grimaced on her behalf at the thought of going through adolescence again.

Lillian's POV-

I woke up groggily to the silent mutterings of an extremely familiar voice, where was I again? That's a question, I'd love to know the answer to, I rubbed my eyes and that was when I was startled by the voice again."Lia, honey, you're awake? Oh thank the Moirai, I was so worried, do you not sleep enough that you'd have to scare me this way, huh?", mom? I'm back home? All signs of daze disappeared as I fluttered my eyes open hoping to see the familiar visage of my mom, and there she was in all her glory, gorgeous as always. I called her out a little uncertainly, "Mom?" She looked relieved for some reason and then turned angry, oh no, I've known that look for years, I feel ominous, Lady Gaia, this is that moment of necessity where I need you, saveee meeeee ohhh mother of all(Moirai: Dramatic much Lillian?), gosh, here it comes.....

"Lia, who do you think you're young lady, you've been unconscious for 3 days straight, your father has only ever been as restless as he's been in these few days when you were about to be born, and don't get me started about that brother of yours, he has been fussing around and marching around to the extent that he made me dizzy, the doctors had no idea of what put you in a coma a-and I thought you would never wake up ", she starts sobbing, I could no longer be my unserious self, I stumbled as I tried to stand, must've been the after-effects of the 'coma', I wobbled a little and wrapped my arms around her as I said, "I'm alright mom, there's no way I'd leave you behind, whom would I annoy and cause grey hairs to if not for you, huh? Then I cheekily said, "You're very privileged to receive the  exclusive services of 'being the subjects of Lillian's antics', you know?" I missed this, tears blurred my eyes as I remembered all those times I lived by myself in a world devoid of my family, maybe the water flow from my eyes was a little too much that it wet my mom's shoulders, and my mom broke the hug and wiped the tears rolling down my cheeks with those doting eyes. After a while when both of us calmed down, she guided me out of the room, into the familiar hallway where my father stood worn and haggard, my heart ached to look at the rigid and feared Lenox Winchester looking so tired and worn, and knowing that I was the cause of the worry hurt me even more. I walked towards him in long strides, the thud in my steps might have startled him out of his reverie, he sharply looked in my direction and his gaze immediately softened as he saw me. "Lillian?" he called out, his voice hoarse and broken. The tears spilled down my eyes once again, "Dad? Is that you?" I exaggeratingly squinted my eyes, " Where is that cold and aloof man whom the conniving aristocrats fear? I slept for 3 days, and you decided to age by 10 years, old man? What sort of assurance is this dad, huh? "His hearty laugh reverberated across the room leaving me smiling as well, he gently patted my head and beckoned me and Mom to sit. That's when my fussy brother decided to come in, if my dad and brother were competing in looking hopeless and lost, then it would be an unbreakable tie, he looked so disheveled, that his reputation as the lady killer(if looks could kill a person and that's what makes someone the lady killer than yeah, he totally is)might have a huge blow if the word got out about his present looks."Hey brotherrr of mine, are you and dad competing on who looks more worn out or what?" My voice brought him back to the world of living, what was it with these people walking around aimlessly, I'm supposed to be the youngest and reckless one in this family. He looks perplexed and then snapped his head so quickly in my direction that I silently sent my sympathy to his neck and vertebral system.

"Lillian? You! Mom!? I'm not hallucinating, am I?", I immediately replied, "Yeah me! Which non-living thing were you planning to collide with walking like that?" He glanced at me looking relieved and then put on a sarcastic look as he walked towards me and said, "And where were you? Having play-dates with dreams in the Morpheus realm, was it fun sister?" I wore a sarcastic look too and retorted, "Ah, there's that sarcasm I love to hate." And mom chose that moment to stand up and smack our heads at once as we fake grimaced. And that's how my sweet reunion with my lovely family transpired. But now that I'm reunited with them, I've got to tell them what's going to unfold to prevent the occurrence of that horrendous future as written in that stupid novel and what's apparently put me in a 3 day coma, or more like put my body in that state of rest.