Eternity

The old photos made her conscious of her age, of how much time had passed – and of what an interesting life she’d had. The world would know Micha Kirabo as the crazy one, who gave up her immortality. While most people on the earth were thriving still and living life to the fullest. Jumping out of planes without a care in the world because they knew that they would not die. Though that reality was starting to shatter as more people were beginning to disappear from their crazy antics.

“Did you hear?” Sonia let out a breath as she walked past Micha. The hair salon that she had been going to for centuries had picked up another aspiring worker. “Yesterday, Vincenzo Figueroa the governor? Disappeared after they were said to be climbing Mt. Everest.”

Micha nodded her head, “I had heard.” She looked in the mirror that she was sitting in front of as Sonia walked behind her. “People need to be more careful, time of old will be upon us soon.” Micha looked to be in her 20s just as everyone else did around her.

“No way, we’ve been living for centuries now. There is no way that it’s changing now.” Sonia had been at the hair salon for only a few days, but she had spirit. That’s for sure. “If you are asking me, I think the government is picking and choosing who lives and dies.”

“I doubt that, Sonia.” Micha shook her head at the poor girl, “That would take too much time from them.” She watched as Sonia began to mix together the brown dye that she wanted for her final time dying her hair. “I’m telling you, the old days are upon us.”

Sonia shook her head as she began to apply the dye, not knowing whom she was talking to. That Micha was the original origin of immortality, and that Eternity was ending. By Micha’s own free will.

Micha Kirabo would not only be known as the one who was the first to give up the ability to live forever, but after her death, the truth would come to light. What the others didn’t come to realize is that once Micha gave her ability up that theirs would soon follow, and they would no longer be able to live the long life that they were given.

“I’ll take a Sticky Honey Roast, please.” Micha placed the menu back into the robot’s arms as it brought her order to the kitchen, the seat across from her was empty. A small smile formed on her face as she thought about her best friend from her imagination. For she had never found the one she had dreamed about.

Not even a few moments later, the robots came back out with a plate of food; the restaurant was quiet. For most people no longer ate out inside them, and they would become worn down. The windows dirty, the floor tiles slippery. Why eat in safety when they can go eat on a mountain? Where they can eat mushrooms that have not been studied?

“Soon. All of this will be gone, and I will be at peace.”

It was time. She had fought against it for so long. Micha had done all that a person could do in a lifetime, she ran a casino, became the CEO of a top business, and she was even the leader of a mob at one point. While other people are so apparent on staying alive and doing everything the world has to offer, after thousands of years, Micha had given up on living. She no longer had the desire to keep going, through all the joy, pain, and loss she had felt it was finally time for the life on earth for her to disappear.

“Ms. Kirabo?” a ‘young’ lady in a black suit approached Micha on the street,

Micha turned to see Marissa Howard, an employee from the large business she had owned. “Ah, Marissa? What can I help you with?” she turned to face her former worker with a smile, placing her hands behind her back.

“Well, we were wondering if you had any interest in taking back the company,” Marissa exclaimed as she walked closer to Micha. This confused her as she knew the person, she left the company to her, and she was thriving with it.

“And what of the current owner?” Micha questioned with a small head tilt, “Has Chas gone missing as well?”

“Yes, he disappeared yesterday.” Marissa sighed, “From what we know, he went to a dinosaur-themed park, we have not heard from him since.”

Micha nodded; she had no intention of taking the company back. As in a few mere hours, she would be leaving this world. “I see, most unfortunate.” She turned to look up at the sky, “I’m afraid I cannot take the spot. You shall find someone else.”

Marissa was a little confused by this, so she walked towards her. “But Ms. Micha, you are the only one alive that knows of the company’s running!”, her hands reaching out for Micha, “You were the one who implanted them for the business to run correctly and safely!”

“At some point Marissa, each person has to move on.” Micha grabbed the hand that Marissa had put out towards her, “The future is ever-changing. And the time is coming to a close.” She smiled. “I have no desire to work anymore, and that’s the problem with eternity.”

“I don’t understand Ms. Micha.” Marissa grabbed her hands tightly, “Isn’t living for an eternity a gift? That we never have to worry about dying?”

Micha shook her head, “No. Living for eternity takes away the true joy of living.” She started to walk away from the poor girl, “The loss and grief keep us human. Keeps us working. Prepare.”

It was the trip of a lifetime, literally. The sights that Micha was able to see, the number of eclipses she saw, the northern lights, and so much more. The never-ending ability to explore without a care in the world, knowing that if she got lost, she would live. That Eternity would be by her side till the end, and today was finally that day. She had to talk to one last person to free herself and the people of the world from this curse that she had brought upon the world.

“Micha Kirabo as I live and breathe.” A soft chuckle filled the air as Micha entered an old stone building that had been forgotten by the world, for if you did not know where to look for it, you would not find it.

“Monroe Pratt, looking the same as always.” Micha smiled as she approached an old man dressed in dark blue robes.

Monroe laughed as he opened his arms for his old friend, “Is it finally time dearest?” The look in his eyes was full of contentment and happiness.

“Finally, time to rest, both of us.” Micha nodded, “Where we can finally be together. Forever.” She stood a few feet from the man in front of her. “I’m sorry I took so long, darling.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Monroe put his arms to his side seeing her hesitate, “You know I will wait until you are ready.” A smile forming on his lips, “with people slowly disappearing I think subconsciously, you are ready.”

“I am. Is it so wrong that I just want to experience this moment, staring at you?” Micha brushed some hair behind her ear, “It’s been a few centuries since I’ve seen you. And once we touch….”

“Yes, yes, the unknown is scary.” Monroe walked to a window nearby, “Our curse was a blessing to everyone else. But soon we can be happy Micha, whenever you are ready.”

Micha walked towards Monroe, she stood next to him. “I’ve missed you since the day I left, Monroe.” She sighed as she watched the sun start to set on the ocean in front of the old stone building, “It’s time for us to get our happy ending.”

Monroe turned to face his past and present lover that he had never forgotten about. He opened his arms for her. “Then let’s take our ending dearest.”

Micha Kirabo had waited for this moment for a long time, she stared at Monroe. During their teenage years, they had made a deal with a demon that cursed the whole world to live for eternity. While they were the only two who truly suffered, as they could not touch each other before they would die instantly passing on from this world; It was time. She had worried about facing the man she loved for millennia unsure of how he would react to her running and making the world suffer, but in the end, nothing changed.

“Goodbye, Monroe.” Micha finally fell into her lover’s arms, her body felt at peace.

Monroe quickly tightened his arms around Micha, to hold her for the first and last time in centuries. “Goodbye, dearest.” He engulfed Micha in his embrace, the air grew silent before a soft whistle passed them. Their bodies became bright little stars, as tears fell from their cheeks. They had let go of each other for so long for the benefit of others, and out of fear. The light from their bodies slowly grew as they danced up toward the night sky, as they claimed their spots in the sky as the stars Arcturus and Rigel.