The Greatest Showman #1130 - Soul Power

This is not a love scene. To be precise, the entire "Gravity" has nothing to do with love, friendship, or family. It's simply the story of two living beings, caught in the cycle of reincarnation and the vast trajectory of the universe, who, after overcoming countless dangers and obstacles, manage to find the meaning of life.

In fact, to achieve this, they intentionally strip away the gender attributes of the characters. From the character development to the plot design, everything revolves around the core theme.

Alfonso knew this all too well—better than anyone else.

But in this moment, as Alfonso watched the projections in Renly and Rooney's eyes, he saw a soul resonance at the intersection of life and death. It was so graceful, so grand that words seemed inadequate. Even the vast star map faded into the background. This was love, but it was more than love; it was a soul exchange that transcended love, an incredible chemical reaction igniting a spark beyond imagination.

There was a long distance between the two characters, and they could only communicate through their eyes. Yet, this eye contact felt more intimate than a hug, more intense than a kiss. The heartbeats and blood surging between them, gently pulsing in the space between their brows.

"Oh, God," Alfonso thought to himself in awe. He heard Alex whisper, "You know, maybe they should approve the prototype experiment because of your eyes." The words were sad yet helpless, happy yet bitter.

Alfonso stood still, allowing himself to immerse in the nothingness of that moment.

The power of time, the meaning of life, the weight of the soul—all of it condensed into that instant: about confidants, about empathy, about sacrifice, about choice, about survival, about desire… a reflection on existence, on philosophy, on the depths and vastness of life—all bursting forth in that moment.

What is more important than life itself? It is the soul. Even time, space, and the universe become insignificant in comparison to the spiritual power of the soul. More advanced than love is blending—an exchange that doesn't require physical touch, nor even eye contact. The resonance and call from the depths of the soul can be felt, and in this exchange, time and space lose all meaning.

Perhaps life is just a drop in the ocean, or perhaps time is an endless winding river. But the soul exists beyond the dimensions of time, turning a moment into eternity.

Humans are not great because of our tools or our ability to conquer nature, but because we can think—think deeply and expansively enough to encompass the universe and all of time.

At this critical moment, Alex chose to give up, or to choose survival. In different forms, the fire of life continued, and in Ryan, the meaning of life was interpreted anew. In this instant, they were the same pure life form, and the same pure soul.

A thousand years in a glance.

Time seemed to stretch, like a dream in which ten thousand years passed in an instant. Alfonso couldn't help but feel humbled, ready to kneel and surrender, recognizing his own insignificance and offering admiration for the grandeur of the universe and the wonder of life.

...

The voice of Alex came through the earphones, and Ryan felt the panic rise within him. His control shattered, and he tried to speak, but could only shake his head, then shake it again. He tried to do something, but found himself helpless—his mind was a blank. That sense of helplessness made his pupils tremble violently.

He opened his mouth, shaking his head gently, his eyes filled with despair. Language couldn't express even a fraction of the soul's emotions. All he could do was watch, deeply.

Alex understood immediately. He already knew what Ryan was feeling. Before Ryan spoke, Alex had already anticipated it, because if the roles had been reversed, Alex would have made the same choice. In that moment, she was almost thankful it was her making the decision to give up, because holding on was much more difficult.

She wasn't sure she could have held on.

It was unfair to Ryan—he was the one who had to bear the burden of life, the one who had to face the guilt of sacrificing teammates for his own survival.

But in this moment, Alex no longer cared. She was choosing selfishly, following her inner instincts and the law of probability.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. Then, with a bright smile, she looked at Ryan and said, "You know what? You're still more handsome when you smile."

Her eyes were shimmering with unshed tears, but they didn't fall. She smiled brightly, despite the pain.

"You should shut up and save your energy," Ryan muttered gruffly, his voice a mix of urgency and helplessness. He couldn't wait to act, but in this place, all his survival instincts seemed useless. Reality weighed down on him, and he repeated weakly, "I will pull you over, now! Now!"

"Hey, Doctor!" Alex tried to interrupt, but time was running out, and in the corner of her eye, she saw the parachute line beginning to fray.

"Shut up! I'm trying!" Ryan snapped, his words sharp. He realized his rudeness and closed his eyes to steady himself, his voice softening as he added, "Hold on… just hold on. I'll pull you back. I will."

Ryan clenched his teeth, fighting to keep his voice steady, hiding his vulnerability and fear.

But it didn't help.

Alex raised her left hand to her harness, "Ryan, listen to me. You have to let go."

"No! No, no!" Ryan vehemently rejected her.

Alex remained resolute, "The rope is too weak. I'll drag you along. You have to let go, or both of us will die."

"I said, I won't let go!" Ryan growled through gritted teeth, his voice full of defiance. "Damn it! We can do it! Alex, we can!"

As he shouted, he began to retract his hand, attempting to pull Alex back to him by the rope. But his efforts were in vain. With minimal force, he didn't pull Alex toward him; instead, he pulled himself closer, the parachute rope loosening again around his left ankle.

Then, Alex pulled him once more, dragging him away, leaving them both stranded in the endless void of space. Their survival hung by the thinnest of threads. A single moment of added strain could shatter everything.

"Ryan, let go." Alex said softly, her smile still present, but her voice calm once more.

Ryan remained silent, staring at her with unwavering determination in his eyes. His grip on the rope tightened, refusing to let go.

Behind his resolve, there was a quiet sadness, a profound sense of loneliness and loss, that surged within him.

On Earth, he was alone—no family, no friends. Now, in the vastness of space, he refused to be alone again. He would not give up. He wouldn't let Alex go. He refused to stay in this cold, empty universe by himself.

He refused.

His dark brown eyes hardened with resolve, and Alex's eyes began to redden once more.

Alex recalled their earlier conversation when Ryan spoke of his brother and family, and the vulnerability in his words cut through her. She understood the fragility behind his tough exterior, and it only made her heartache more.

"I once had a daughter," Alex said, her voice soft but laden with sorrow. "She was playing hide-and-seek at kindergarten, slipped, and hit her head. She passed away."

She met Ryan's gaze, and despite the distance between them, their eyes locked. There was a shared understanding, a silent exchange of loneliness that passed between them, and the reflection of sadness rippled through their souls.

For just a moment, Alex allowed herself to remember, to face the reality that on Earth, no one would look up at the stars waiting for her return. No one would call her back, no one would guide her home.

Home seemed like a distant memory.