4.17 Shine

ELIZABETH

Since then, the house was rebuilt. Scars faded. Old secrets buried. Everything slowly settled into a new normal. Far too slowly, in my anxious mind. It took a long, long time for Deneb to show her genuine smile again. 

“Give her time,” Altair had said. “It won’t last forever.” He was right, of course.

In the years that followed, I watched her bloom into someone different to who she was before, but with the same light, the same spirit. I had always thought she would shine the brightest when she was in love. Perhaps the person who needed her love most was herself. Now, I see how she flourishes under the new name she has been given.

Gemini, a name meant for two.

Some nights the guilt overcomes me and I sob into my hands until daylight breaks. I visit and revisit those decisions I made over and over, trying to solve a riddle with no answer, wondering if there was ever a chance of unblemished happiness. 

But when morning comes I see Deneb and she shines bright, like I have always known she would. 

And I am at peace.

—

And that ends Gen 4!

Afterword to come soon, but while I’m here, an author’s aside:

In Greek mythology, Gemini is named after the twin brothers Castor and Pollux. Pollux was immortal but Castor was not. When Castor died, Pollux asked to share his immortality by turning them into stars, so they can be kept together.

Interestingly enough, Castor is designated as the alpha star (i.e. the brightest star of the constellation) yet it is Pollux, the beta star, that is actually the brightest one. Some people think this may be because the brightness of the stars have changed since they were named, but this is scientifically unlikely. Either way, I like the tragic irony of this fact – even in death, Pollux is destined to outshine Castor.

I think about it a lot.

Anyway. Thank you all so much for reading, see you all again soon!

<Previous 4.16 || Next Gen 4 Afterword>