Hi there, everyone! This is a one shot song fiction of A Thousand Years written by me. This was originally posted in wattpad but since I just recently made a blog, this is the first one I posted in here. I also have tons of other stories that you can check out. I will be blogging them soon. ^___^ Enjoy reading!
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A Thousand Years
by: Clovergiel ♣
I COULD STILL clearly remember my memories from that day. The day we first met. The day I first saw those sapphire-blue eyes melting me right where I stand as they stared back at me. The day everything I knew about love had changed -- my perspective, my beliefs, my fear.
I stood there frozen, unable to utter anything sensible from this once clever mouth of mine. I admit, this guy had got me tongue-tied.
I held my breath, as I saw him slowly walk towards me. I could hear every sound his footsteps made, and it just made my breathing uneven. I think my body just started malfunctioning. I couldn't even move a muscle. Let alone lift a finger!
But my mind reminded me, this couldn't be! It's not possible and. . .it's forbidden.
But. . .my heart knew better than that. It was as if it had its own mind functioning fully at that precious moment. Because right from the start, my heart already knew. And I knew, too.
I knew that I finally founda homefor my fragile heart.
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Year 1015 AD
I am Luna, born from the clan of the Onsterfliks, who held a big secret we wouldn't want to leak out to any Normalis, the ordinary humans. Like you.
But I will tell you, because I want you to help me find something -- or rather, someone.
And our secret. . .my secret is, we are ageless. Everlasting. Immortal.
Yes, I am immortal. That's what my surname means in the Afrikaan language, which was used by people of Namibia, where I was born. I had lived since 77 AD, so I pretty much haven't seen Jesus Christ--but my parents did. We'd been living in different places, and our surname changed from time to time, depending on that country's translation of immortal.
But I never changed mine. Not only because I didn't want to, but because I thought that that would be the only way for me to find him. And for him to recognize and remember me.
Because I needed to fix the broken pieces of my once fragile heart, and he was the only solution I've got. But I only have a thousand years left. Well, exactly 999 years from now to do that.
But before I proceed in my search for him, I would tell you first what happened when we met, and how my once eternal life had been cut off to a thousand years.
It all started 20 years ago. . .
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Philippines, 995 AD
It was by this year that we first moved in a land surrounded by bodies of water, an island in a country now popularly known as the Philippines. It was a whole new setting for me, so different from the Egyptian culture we followed where we last came from.
But despite the huge differences, we Onsterfliks are very excellent adapters to change. Given of course that we had to move from country to country, continent to continent just to conceal our identity and, mainly, to hide from the perpetrators who hunt us to execute every single Onsterflik living in the earthland. The Annormalis.
Even though we are immortal, we are vulnerable to death. We are timeless, we don't age, but we could be killed. That's our weakness, and the Annormalis knew that. I don't know if it's true but they believed that if they take the lives of all living Onsterfliks, they could gain our immortality.
And now, they are nearing their goal. There are only 3 Onsterfliks left known to existence. My mother, my father and I.
That's why we constantly moved for at most every 10 years. And now, we chose to live in the Philippines.
Out of all the places I'd been in, I could say that this place is paradise! They have a great culture, and most of their civilizations lived by the seaside. The air is so refreshing, and the sea breeze... well, it's just priceless.
And the day I first stepped on those soft-grained white sand, my whole world turned upside down. There he was, just emerging from the shallow vibrance of the sea as the saltwater clung perfectly to his deep-tanned skin, my true utopia. The Raja's son.
It's the first time I saw him since we got here, but he qualified for all the descriptions I'd been hearing. Practically every maiden in the archipelago had been blabbering nonstop about this handsome man. They said he's unwed, still up for grabs. But he wouldn't care less. And I wouldn't, too, when I first heard of it. But now seeing him up front is a different story.
Everyone around me seemed to giggle as he started walking out of the water, but I couldn't hear any of them. All that filled my ears were the fast rhythmic beating of my heart, and even faster when I realized that our eyes locked gazes for the first time.
I could feel butterflies in my stomach. I felt like I was surrounded by thousands of colors of different shades. I was a stranger to such a feeling. I had never felt it before. Getting nervous and excited all in the same second.
He walked towards my direction. "Hi," he said. "Are you new here? I think I haven't seen you around. My name is Aleph, by the way. And you are...?"
"L-Luna. Luna Onsterflik." He offered his hand and I gladly accepted it.
And that's how everything between us started.
But I couldn't love him. We Onsterfliks were not allowed to love any Normalis. We're very fragile, despite our immortality. It would break us to see people we love come and go.
And since we're the only Onsterfliks left, I would pretty much be alone for the rest of my life.
But still, as time passed by, I couldn't help my feelings for Aleph from getting deeper and deeper. My mind didn't like it, but my heart didn't listen. He felt like home, and my heart felt safe around him.
For almost 20 years, the two of us were inseparable. We already forgot the idea of moving every ten years, because this village felt like a safe place for an Onsterflik. Foreigners seldom come, and actually, we were the first ones to be their guest.
And then it happened. The fortuitous event that we thought would never befall us. The Annormalis came.
I saw how my parents got killed before my eyes. So that's what it's like to be killed. I wanted to join them. To give them what they want, because if my parents were dead, I would be left alone. I want to die with them too.
But there's still Aleph. He led me away from my parents' corpse. That's when I saw the whole scene. The scorching flames and ashes from the burning houses. Crying children and dead people. They didn't only target the Onsterfliks; they wanted to take out the whole civilization.
I was already losing my breath. We'd been running like there's no end. There were two people by my side: Aleph, and Hayah, my family's helper ever since we're in Egypt. She knew all the secrets of our family, and I also treated her as my second mother.
Hayah stopped at her tracks. She was already aging, so I guessed it was hard for her to keep up with us. "Are you alright? Can you still walk?" I asked worriedly.
"I'm fine, Lady Luna. Don't worry about me," she said, smiling weakly at me.
I looked back, and saw that we had run far enough from our village. But we didn't realize that we had come near the cliff. . . and that we're far from being safe.
An Annormalis stood before us, a victorious smile etched on his ugly face.
"Well, well, well. Looks like the princess didn't make it that far, huh? Too bad. I'll be the one getting that immortality," he said viciously.
I was astounded when Aleph gripped my arm. "Luna, get away from here. Go with Hayah. Be safe, please." He kissed my forehead then looked straight at my eyes. "I love you, forever and always. Be alive. For me, for your parents, and for everyone living in our village."
I couldn't help my tears from flowing. Aleph, what are you going to do? You sounded like you're leaving.
Then the next thing I knew, he bolted towards the Annormalis and pushed him towards the cliff. Both of them. . . fell.
I rushed towards the edge. "Noooooo!! Aleph!! W-Why??"
I cried over and over. This was too much pain. I could literally feel my heart breaking into pieces. Why did you have to die too? Why did you leave me? Why did you choose to sacrifice your life for me? Why. . .?
I could feel Hayah's comforting hands on my back. I hugged her. "I can't understand what I'm feeling. Why is it so painful? I feel like my heart is being torn apart."
"Lady Luna, I'm afraid I know what you're feeling and experiencing right now."
I looked up at her with a puzzled expression.
"Your mother knew that it would come to a time like this. Where your heart would be broken by the Raja's son. She saw how much you love him, and she's afraid how you would be once he died. And now I'm seeing it. Just as what she had said. Your fragile heart had been broken -- literally," Hayah said.
"Literally? What do you mean by that?" I asked, bewildered.
"Once an Onsterflik's heart has been broken, their immortality will cease. Your life will be cut off to a thousand years."
"You mean, I wouldn't be immortal anymore? That I only have a thousand years left?" I said.
"Precisely. But there is a way to restore your broken heart," she said.
"H-How? Please tell me, Hayah," I begged her.
She smiled before answering me. "According to your mother, you need to find the reincarnations of the person who broke your heart. Which means, you have to find Lord Aleph. A Normalis reincarnates every 250 years, which means you have four chances of finding him. But it won't be easy, for he would be born in different countries, all over the world. And you wouldn't know at what exact year he reincarnates, and when he would die. But I know you can do it, Lady Luna. I know you can find him. You are strong. I believe in you."
I smiled at her. I didn't care about my immortality anymore. I just wanted to find Aleph and see him once again. He's unfair. He didn't let me tell him that I love him too.
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We managed to escape the Annormalis and find a safe refuge at a neighboring country. Hayah didn't last long after that though. She's still a Normalis after all.
But I must not let my heart be broken any further. I had to be strong, just like what Hayah said.
And I must be alive, just like what Aleph said.
Wait for me, Aleph. And please find me too. Please let me know that you're out there somewhere.
I will find you, even to the ends of the earth.
Even if it takes me a thousand years to do so.
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Flight 270, Year 2014
Aleph Null's POV
I HAD LIVED for almost a thousand years. But I must tell you, I am not an immortal. I am a Normalis just like you. But I had died many times, and I could remember all of them. My memory was an extraordinary thing, but it was not perfect. My early lives tend to blur a bit.
And every single one of us undergoes this process -- reincarnation.
But my only difference was that I could remember my past lives. My memory stretched out as far as year 1257 in Peloponnese, Greece. By that time, I thought I was normal. I still didn't know that I could remember, but I already had vague visions I couldn't understand. Up until now.
I died and was born again in Dublin, Ireland, year 1521. And right then, I knew I was special. Everything I did and had become before, I remembered-every single one of them.
I could even remember how to speak in Greek, even better than the Irish English I was learning at that time.
However, I still keep seeing those random blurry visions that I'm sure hadn't happened before in my past lives. Maybe I had lived earlier than the 12th century, I couldn't really say for sure. I told you, my memory was not perfect. Maybe I had, but I preferred to believe that my first life was in Greece.
By the 18th century, I had my third life in Minnesota. Nothing much happened there, but I should say that the western culture was amazing. However, my life there was short-lived. I died by the age of 14, still enjoying my adolescence when that awful part of my life happened. Too short, I know.
But by this time, the generations were moving fast. Too fast that by my recent reincarnation, many things had been invented. Too many minds were moving. Some were foolish, some were clever. But either way, they had changed the whole world in just a snap.
And now, I'm boarding a flight to Manila, Philippines. I wasn't born there. My current life was in Korea, my first time being born in an Asian country. I'm going to the Philippines for a special performance. As strange as it may sound, something urged me to try becoming famous. I became a popular singer not just in Korea but worldwide.
And now, Philippines had invited me to sing for them. It would be a special performance for a masquerade ball. Pretty mysterious because they wanted it to be a surprise, so I was required to wear a mask.
But what was most appalling was that I wouldn't sing alone.
It would be a duet.
With a lady named Luna Onsterflik.
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Philippines, Year 2014
I stood there in the middle of the dance hall, unsure of what to do next. Truly, no one recognized me behind my mask as the popular Aleph Null, but a lot recognized my great physique. But I was still not in the mood to dance. I just wanted to finish that duet then end this day fast.
I headed outside towards the garden to get some fresh air. Here lies an abundant collection of almost every kind of flower you knew. Name it, they have it. They shone and reflected the bright moonlight. I looked above.
The moon was beautiful. I loved looking at its elegance , and it was one of the habits that remained in me in all of my reincarnations. I loved the feeling of bathing in its cool light. It had always felt. . . nostalgic.
I closed my eyes for a few seconds, then slowly opened them, only to find a figure of a lady, beautiful as the elegance of the moon. She had her back to me, and I didn't think she was aware of my presence.
I stealthily strode towards her spot, unable to take my gaze away from her. As I was about a few inches away from her, I spoke my first word for this night, "H-Hi."
She seemed surprised by my sudden greeting, but calmed herself as she turned to face me. And for the first time, I saw her face. Now I regret thinking she was as elegant as the moon. That would be an understatement. She didn't resemble the moon. . . the moon resembled her.
But something didn't seem right here. She wasn't wearing any mask, so I could freely see her. . . tears?
"A-Are you crying? What's the matter? Is something wrong?" I asked her. She seemed so fragile. It felt as if I needed to protect her.
Unconsciously, I used my right thumb to wipe away the tears from her cheeks. The contact made a slight tug on my heart, and from then, my heartbeat was speeding up in every second. If looking in the moon felt nostalgic, looking at this lady would be the very definition of nostalgia.
I wasn't prepared for what she did next. She hugged me and burrowed her face deep in my chest. This stranger. . .this beautiful stranger just hugged me and cried in my arms. And I, being unknown to my own self, enveloped her wholeness with mine.
In between her sobs, I heard her utter a few words, "I-I'm n-nearing my end. I-I wouldn't last long. Why is he so hard to find? I had been dying everyday waiting for our chance to meet again. A-Are our souls not destined to be together? Am I not deserving enough to be loved? To feel loved? And. . .to love?"
She broke the hug and wiped the tears from her face as she looked down the ground. "My once fragile heart had been broken. And it's too late to be restored now. I have loved him for a thousand years. And even if I don't know where I would be after this, I would still love him for a thousand more."
Those were her last words before she started running away. I placed a hand above my chest. Right where my heart is. Why did I feel like she was directing her words right through me?
I was still dazed and was barely sane when I walked back to the dance hall. A few moments and my performance would already start. I should get a grip of myself.
The light suddenly went off and the stage shone with a circle of light. There she was, the girl I met earlier, composed, as if she hadn't just cried. Then I heard the instrumental of a song playing. The song I was supposed to be singing in a duet.
Then that means. . .she was Luna Onsterflik? I looked at her intently, savoring her whole being. Then, my eyes widened as the fragments finally pieced back together before me.
The blurry visions I kept seeing ever since my first life--a lovely girl in a seashore, under the light of the moon. The killings. The burning houses. The Annormalis.
♪The day we met
Frozen I held my breath
Right from the start
I knew that I found a home for my. . .♪
She started the song. Her voice was the most beautiful melody I've ever heard.
So I really had a life before Greece. Why did I forget that? Why hadn't I remembered you? The first time we met. The past we shared. Your special existence. Your immortality.
♪Heartbeats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall♪
You were so fragile. And I was the one who broke you. But that was to protect you. If I had not done that, we wouldn't have the chance to meet again tonight. But what did you mean when you said that you're nearing your end? You're immortal, right?
♪But watching you stand alone
All of my doubts
Suddenly goes away somehow♪
But I wouldn't care less. I would cherish every moment now that I'm finally with you. I wouldn't let you be alone again.
I took a step closer towards her. I could feel the crowd giving way for me.
♪One step closer♪
I took off my mask and started singing the chorus with her. She stopped midway as her eyes widened when she saw me. But I continued singing. Do you recognize me, Luna?
♪I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more♪
Even if my mind didn't remember you, my heart did. All those years, it had not loved anyone, because it knew that it should be waiting for someone. Even if it took a thousand years.
She was still dazed when I got on stage. I looked at her straight in the eyes. Then she mouthed, I found yah, finally.
I continued singing.
♪Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this♪
Nothing's ever going to take you away from me now. I would hold you and cherish you for dear life. You had waited for this moment. My heart waited, too.
We took a step closer to each other and held our hands together. Everything around us seemed magical. And it was as if we were the only people in here.
♪One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid
I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more♪
I could feel the intensity of every word you sang. It was as if this song was made for us, and only us could truly use this song. I'm sorry if it took me a thousand years to remember you. But I would still love you for a thousand more. That's for sure.
♪I'll love you for a thousand more♪
The clock ticked, signaling 12 midnight. Luna faintly smiled at me as she inched closer and whispered in my ear. "I'm very glad we finally met. But. . . it's too late now. The clock already ticked. Too late to restore my broken heart. But even if that's the case I would still love you, even for a thousand years more."
She drew back and smiled sadly at me. Why, Luna? Isn't it enough that I'm already here?
In a split second, her lips were on mine. It was pure bliss. I couldn't describe what I was feeling right now, I just knew that I love her so much. I kissed her back and embraced her fragile body, putting my hands on her back. I deepened the kiss as she put her arms around my neck. Oh, how I love this girl! Moments after, we finaly broke the kiss.
"I love you, Aleph Null," she said with deep sincerity in her eyes.
I smiled. "I love you too--"
My words were cut off and my smile faded when I saw her falling right in front of me. I caught her on time but. . .
I checked her pulse. No! Don't do this to me Luna! You've waited for me, right? I'm already here! Don't leave me, please.
"Luna, come on. Wake up! This is not your end, right? Hey, stop playing with me. Get up now, please! No no no, Luna!"
I didn't know what to do. I could feel hot fluid flowing down on my cheeks. I just cried and cried there. It's so painful! I felt my heart being torn apart. She was right here with me at last, in my arms, but why did fate have to be so cruel? Of all times, fate chose to take her away tonight.
Why did you have to die right now? Why were we not given a longer time for each other?
Is this how you felt? When I died in front of you? No wonder your heart was broken into pieces! And mine is breaking right now. . .
I held her lifeless body. If I had been quicker, faster to remember, to find you, maybe we've had our fair share of chance. Maybe we would have our time to show our great love for each other. But not all stories get their best end. And ours was one of them.
Will we have a life after this? I hope so. Even if it takes another thousand years for us to meet, I'd still continue loving you.
My heart will always remember and I know that yours will do too. Not only for a thousand years but to infinity and beyond.
Oh. And you didn't let me finish earlier. "I love you too, Luna Onsterflik."
------------------ A Thousand Years End -------------------
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"True love lasts for more than one lifetime."
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