Chapter 21

As I slowly woke up, I was inside Mama's arms. Her embrace was warm, comforting, and steady—the one place in this strange world that made me feel safe.

"Mama..." I mumbled softly, my voice barely audible.

She noticed I was awake and brushed my hair gently. The light touch felt divine, like the God of Creation Himself reaching out to comfort me.

"So, little Aleena is awake?" she asked with a calm smile.

"Hmmm..." I murmured, the soothing warmth pulling me back toward sleep. For a moment, I let myself drift away in her embrace, surrendering to the only peace I had felt in a long time.

When I was fully asleep again, she gently laid me back down on the bed and knelt beside me, whispering softly, "Sleep well, Death. Stay safe... We are always with you."

Her words stirred something deep inside me. I opened my eyes, startled, and found myself staring not at Mama but at the God of Creation Himself. He stood tall, his presence overwhelming yet familiar.

I scrambled to my feet, standing on the bed so that I could look directly at him. Without hesitation, I threw myself into his arms and began to cry.

He stroked my back gently, his touch as warm and reassuring as it had always been. Slowly, I began to calm down.

When he pulled back, our foreheads touched briefly before we kissed each other's cheeks. The moment felt perfect, a fleeting fragment of the eternity we had once shared.

But then, as if aware of my thoughts, he stepped back, his expression soft but resolute. "I need to go, Death... I mean, Aleena. I can't stay here for long. But remember, we three are always with you."

"No! Please!" I cried, my voice cracking as I reached out to him, tears streaming down my face. But he only smiled.

He turned and began walking away. To my shock, I saw Fate and Time waiting for him in the distance. They were together again, their bond as unshakable as ever.

As they started to vanish, the God of Creation glanced back at me and said, "Aleena, huh? What a pretty name! I'm embarrassed I didn't come up with that earlier!"

And then, they disappeared into golden sparkles of light, leaving me standing alone, tears blurring my vision as the darkness swallowed me whole.

---

I jolted awake, gasping for breath. My eyes darted around the classroom. Everything was as it had been—the teacher was still reading the story, and the students were just as restless.

But something felt different. The story wasn't over, yet I could hear the words repeating, looping in my mind like an echo. Was this Time's doing? Had they truly come to meet me?

A single tear slipped from my eye as I wrestled with these thoughts.

---

The day passed in a blur. I boarded the bus home, silent and calm on the outside but a storm of emotions on the inside. My classmates laughed and chattered, but their voices felt distant, like echoes from another world.

When I finally returned home, I greeted my parents cheerfully, recounting the day's events with a smile. They seemed satisfied, and I soon retreated to my room.

Lying on my bed, I stared at the ceiling, motionless. I summoned a small ball of light, tossing it into the air. At first, it floated gently, but soon it grew faster and stronger, shooting upward with such force that it shattered the ceiling and disappeared into the sky.

The silence that followed was deafening. I buried my face in my pillow, my hands trembling uncontrollably.

I felt too many emotions at once, a whirlwind I couldn't untangle. Was it fear? Anger? Sadness? I didn't know. I just wanted it to stop. I wanted to rip this feeling from my chest and throw it away.

Should I destroy everything? Become a monster? Stay human? Stay a goddess? Cry? Smile? Scream?

I didn't have an answer. All I could do was press my face deeper into the pillow, letting its softness muffle the chaos inside me.

---

A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Aleena? Can I come in?" Mama's voice called gently.

I didn't answer, but she entered anyway, walking quietly toward my bed. She sat beside me, her presence warm and steady.

Without a word, she wrapped her arms around me.

For a moment, I froze. Who was this woman? Why wasn't she scared of me? Did she not fear Death itself?

But as her warmth seeped into me, I began to understand.

That's right... It's because she's my Mama.

A small, genuine smile spread across my face as I let her hold me, the chaos inside me finally quieting. Slowly, I drifted off to sleep, safe in her embrace.