Once the sun set, the lake came alive. Tranquil, its soft ripples gleamed like crystals as a cool breeze gently stirred the surface.
A young, slender lady stepped out from behind a small rock on the shore, naked, and walked towards the water. Her dress and shoes lay neatly on the stone.
She smiled up at the stars before gently dipping her feet into the lake. The cold water made her shiver as she waded in, oblivious of the quiet conversation taking place on the shore. She was the subject.
Fate stood tall and regal in a grey tunic and trousers, arms folded across his chest. His lips curved slightly into a smile as he watched Gladys swim, enjoying her solitude.
To the unseeing eyes, she appeared doe-eyed and harmless but she had turned the tide of destiny to save the one she loved. Such sacrifice was rare and it left Fate in awe.
His smile faded when the air shifted beside him, turning icy. His lips thinned. He wasn't ready to have this conversation yet.
“She wants some time to herself after the turbulence,” Fate said. “Have you come to collect now, not then?” He turned to face the being that most feared.
Not him, though. They were both an extension of each other, their threads running through existence from the world's origin into eternity.
Death's black, glacial eyes swept over him. If Fate could shiver, he would have. Those obsidian pits were his most fearsome feature, a mirror of every being's inevitable end.
“Not yet, brother,” he whispered, his voice low and dark. “She only delayed the inevitable. In the end, I will still have him.” Ice crept along the edges of the lake in response.
They watched as Gladys hurried out of the water, swearing, her arms wrapped around herself. She sat on the rock and put on her dress. Despite the freezing air, her tears flowed down her cheeks as she stared into the distance.
“She did what she had to,” Fate murmured in her defence.
Death smirked and shook his head. “It's unlike you to care for them. That makes you partial.”
“Not care, brother. Curiosity.” Fate's gaze clouded for a moment as he glimpsed multiple versions of Gladys' end. “Just when I think I've seen it all, humans surprise me. She does. Very much.”
Death inclined his head. “I'll let her have this brief victory.”
The air shifted again and he was gone. The cold receded and Fate sighed. He remained until Gladys picked up her shoes and walked home, back to the one she loved.
I hope you enjoyed reading this short piece. It's inspired by the Freewrite #dailyprompt phrase "now, not then".
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Image credit: 被嫌弃的唐唐的一生
