The Immortals by Mary Hallberg (chrysanthemum read aloud txt) 📗

I got here late. There was this big traffic jam outside, probably from all the reporters. Geez, it’s beautiful in here. I haven’t been in a church in...well, I don’t know how long.”

“I guess when you’re immortal you don’t have to worry about your immortal soul,” I said.

He didn’t respond but approached the piano. “So this is it? No turning back? Nothing’s changed after today?”

I shook my head. “No turning back. Have I sufficiently shocked everyone?”

He nodded. “Oh yeah. You know those Immortals. They can drive their cars 200 miles an hour but when their neighbors move away they freak.” He laughed.

I smiled too but I had other thoughts. “I’ve thought about this a lot. I mean, if we don’t die, isn’t that sort of like...cheating?”

He ran a hand along the top of the piano. “This piano is really dusty. You should get them to hire a maid or something.” He snickered. “Yeah Kenzie, I think you’re right. We’re supposed to die. Isn’t death just a natural part of life?”

“Gage, what are you saying? You know, a minute ago you referred to The Immortals as ‘they,’ not ‘us.’ What gives?”

He shrugged. “Are you happy?”

“Yeah, I am. I’ll miss you though.”

“Nah.” He shook his head. “You won’t.”

“Yeah, I will. Just because you’ve...”

“Stopped taking the TNV.”

I nodded and smiled, but then turned back to him. “Please don’t tell me you did it just for me.”

“I did it for me,” he said. “And for everyone else that has to put up with me. Remember our first date, in that coffee shop? I said I didn’t know if I could give all of this up and still be okay. I don’t want material things to be the most important...thing in my life. You know that saying money can’t buy happiness? I think it might be true.” He nudged my shoulder. “Guess you’re rubbing off on me.”

“Gage...I know you. You can’t just give up everything. And you really do have everything.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Please tell me you’re not going to say something cheesy like ‘I have nothing if I don’t have you.’”

He grinned but said nothing.

There was no room between our bodies now. I felt his breath on my neck.

“What about your family?” I said. “What are they going to think? You not being Immortal and all.”

“They get it. Well, they don’t get it...but they’ve accepted it. My mom hasn’t even taken TNV in weeks. I wouldn’t be surprised if they stop taking it altogether eventually too. I don’t think my parents especially want me to see them...well, outlive them.”

I nodded, my eyes brimming with tears for what felt like the millionth time that day. I hadn’t even thought about that.

He scooted closer to me. “Heard you playing earlier. Mom made me take lessons for a couple months as a kid. Let me see if I can remember the bass clef.” He stood up and sat on the other side of me, with our legs still touching. When he gave me a facial cue, I started the melody and he went along with the harmony. When I started to mumble the lyrics along on the second go round, so did he.

God rest yet merry gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

Remember Christ our savior was born on Christmas Day

To save us all from Satan’s power when we had gone astray

Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy

Oh tidings of comfort and joy

We finished the song two stanzas later with one final chord.

Gage smiled. “We make a great team, don’t we?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the emerald bracelet I had left in Matt’s cupholder in May. “I thought you might want this back.”

I reached out and let the bracelet fall into my open palm. Gage folded my hand over it and didn’t let go. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him dip his head down and then his lips were on mine. I reached out my hand and pulled him in closer. It was a short kiss, but one of the best we’d had.

“Do you really think we can make this work?” I said as we broke apart.

“I don’t know. Does any couple know if their relationship is going to work? But we have to try. I love you too much to not try.”

I still wasn’t sure if he was doing all of this for the right reasons. But he was willing to work for me, and on us, and so was I. We may not end up back in the church two years later saying our vows or anything, but I had to at least attempt on a relationship with the one person I thought was worth my time, at least for this moment in time. After all, we weren’t going to live forever.

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Happy reading!

- Mary

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