Infinity: The Witch's Granddaughter

Universe

The next few days, while the funeral was being set up, everything felt like a blur.

As the days went by, I felt drained of every single drop of energy.

The nights seemed endless.

I spent most of them looking at the night sky, hoping Grams was there, watching over me.

I would fall asleep with the sunrise, praying the day would fly by, leaving me alone.

It was unfair, but I had to put this burden on mom's shoulders.

Deep within I felt such an emptiness, like something was supposed to happen, but didn't, and now it never can.

The day of the funeral was also a blur.

Relatives and friends came over, offered their condolences, but I couldn't connect with them, so I just offered classic platitudes in hopes of being left alone.

After the service was over, people slowly left the chapel and either started making small talk or just simply left in silence.

I felt somewhat grateful, and I really wanted to be there for my mother, but I just didn't feel up for the task in any way.

That's why I made up some bullshit excuse and left the cemetery.

On my way home, all I kept thinking about was the white room where something strange happened.

I was trying to force my brain into remembering what exactly happened, but there wasn't any clue, no cooperation from my brain's part on this, it's just a blank canvas my mind refused to paint on.

When I got home, I made my way from the front of the house to the back, on the porch swing, and did the one thing I always told myself I wouldn't do.

I opened my mom's pack of smokes and lit one up.

As the smoke penetrated my lungs, my head felt so light, as if all the burden on my shoulders was lifted.

Even if for just a few seconds.

Then I felt a warm gust of wind gather up my hair.

I didn't even realize my eyes were closed until I had to force them to open.

And when I finally did it, the most handsome man I ever had the drooling pleasure of seeing was right in front of me.

This man was absolute perfection and, based on his superior smirk, it was obvious he knew it too.

His raven black hair was draping past his shoulders, his impossibly square jaw was tensed, but it didn't reach his smile, nor his eyes.

And, speaking of, his eyes were a bright display of the Universe.

I'm serious.

His eyes weren't black, weren't blue, it was a depiction of the Universe as if seen from afar, shrouded in beautiful shades of blue and purple.

Stars and planets are seen from afar.

How is it that this was somehow giving me a sense of deja-vu?

The most beautiful and - in all honesty - scary depiction of god-sent I have ever seen.

He was leaning on the porch's white railing, looking at me like I was one of the modern world's wonders.

He was sharply dressed, in a snow-like white button-up, and impossibly black dress pants.

Something in my chest came back to life, my stomach twisted and turned - and let's not go to the disrespectful aspect of getting so horny right after coming from my grandmother's funeral that it almost took my breath away.

He seemed to be very aware of his effect on me, so when he straightened his back, then got up, having him tower over me, he made me jump up and plant my feet firmly on the ground.

Whoever the f**k this guy was, he was about to become my punching bag for all the pent-up feelings I had for the past few weeks.

"You'd better have a damn good explanation as to why you're here-"

I didn't even have time to finish my sentence and he spoke.

His voice was the sweetest tune.

His eyes became once again the most wonderful scene to lose yourself in.

"My precious Star... I wanted to express how sorry I am for your loss. Sheila was a dear friend of mine..."

He left his words hanging in the space between us.

Suddenly, I was once again a spectator in my own body.

"She's not ready!" I heard my voice. "I didn't have time to teach her. Please, my Lord, I beg of you!"

He was so surprised, he took half a step back.

My eyes were itching and goosebumps erupted all over my body.

"Sheila, my Star, what are you doing here?"

Too late, I was back in charge of myself again.

"Sheila's dead. And if all you wanted to do was offer your sympathy, consider it offered." I spat.

Chills ran down my spine and a hostility unlike anything I have ever felt took over me.

"I see."

He sighed.

A heavy sigh.

Then he shook his head.

When he looked back at me, the calming Universe in his eyes was now at war.

The peaceful dark blue and light purple were replaced by all shades of red and orange.

I was still deeply fascinated with this man.

I didn't even flinch at the change.

This made him act in a way that wasn't on the list of things I expected him to do.

In one quick step, he was inches away from me.

He lowered his face as he was lifting mine with his right index by the chin.

When he was so close to my face that I could feel his breath on my cheek, he whispered "Remember", then his lips touched mine and I felt an explosion inside of me with the full force of the Big Bang, leaving me at the same time breathless and hungry for more.

When our lips parted, I was panting.

But as soon as my rationality took over again, I felt my mind at ease.

The blank canvas was now full.

I remembered.

And once I realized who this man was, I instinctively dropped to my knees.

I bowed my head and waited for him to speak.

It could have been a few seconds or a few hours, but the pressure in the air was so much for me, words refused to leave my tongue.

"Rise, my Star."

His words hit me like a ton of bricks.

His voice is still the sweetest tune my ears have ever heard.

"You... I mean, you were there..."

"Correction, my Star, it was you who was there. It was Sheila who tried to show you what is to come."

"So, do I now leave my home and follow you?"

"Yes, my child. Sheila promised you Infinity. Now that she is gone, the only one that can give you knowledge of Infinity is me."

He became more sober and talkative now that I knew who I was talking to.

"What about my family?"

"You will soon be introduced to a new family."

"Yes, my Lord..."

I gave up. Something told me I should not argue with this man.

I was still on my knees.

He was still so close.

And he knelt before me.

I looked into his eyes, that beautiful combination I saw the first time I laid eyes on him.

And as if on queue, my mom opened the back door and stepped outside.

With one look at what was going on, she was furious.

"Hell no, you're not taking my daughter. Take your celestial ass out of my house."