Chapter 2 — Afterlife


    <span ss="userText">Alex couldn''t figure out how he ended up here or where he was going. He aimlessly wandered through the thick fog, feeling lost and confused. Alex didn''t know how much time had passed. It felt like he''d been in this strange ce forever, but his memories were nk. His movements were sluggish, and his thoughts were muddled— a weird, dreamlike state.


    <span ss="userText">The mist twisted and merged as he moved; strange, unfamiliar sounds filled the air with each step. It wasn''t until he paused that he realized the sounds wereing from the grass beneath his feet, rustling softly in the silence. The atmosphere was heavy, and every breath tasted metallic and foreign.


    <span ss="userText">The fog got thicker with each step, sticking to him like a second skin. He couldn''t shake the feeling of being watched. Unseen eyes hidden in the mist seemed to follow his every move. He couldn''t help but wonder how he ended up in this strange, surreal world.


    <span ss="userText">After what felt like forever, the fog cleared, revealing more of the gloomyndscape. It was just endless, dull grass stretching out in all directions. The sky above was a cloudless gray, and the never-ending fog seemed to swallow the world, hiding the horizon.


    <span ss="userText">Looking down at his body, he noticed he was wearing the same clothes Alex had on the day he died. His skin was pale, and his veins were barely visible. Checking his pulse confirmed his worst fear: he was no longer alive.


    <span ss="userText">''Is this what happens after death?'' Alex thought, looking around at the endless sea of gray. He felt a pang of sadness but also a strange sense of eptance. He had epted his fate a long time ago. At least it doesn''t hurt anymore.


    <span ss="userText">With a heavy sigh, Alex ran his hand through his hair, disheveling the dark strands. ''There''s no going back,'' he thought. Alex closed his eyes and tried to rx, taking a deep breath. Standing there, he thought about his life and its good and bad parts.


    <span ss="aiText">Alex''s mind shed back to his final moments in the hospital. He remembered how painful it was, how difficult <span ss="editText">it was <span ss="aiText">to breathe, the feeling of the life slowly fading from his body. <span ss="userText">And the kiss. <span ss="userText">He touched his lips<span ss="aiText">, a ghost of a smile gracing his face.


    <span ss="userText">The next thing he thought about was how boring <span ss="editText">and lonely his life was, incredibly so. <span ss="userText">All his life was nothing but music and<span ss="aiText"> art. <span ss="userText">How he never<span ss="aiText"> had a friend, a girlfriend, or anyone, for that matter.<span ss="userText"> Except for his grandfather, no<span ss="aiText"> one was there. Even his mother... She was his mother, yet he didn''t feel anything towards her<span ss="userText">. <span ss="aiText">''<span ss="userText">Just... art?<span ss="aiText"> Nothing but art, huh... <span ss="userText">It sounds boring, but I guess that''s what it is.<span ss="aiText">''


    <span ss="userText">''Though<span ss="aiText">... I<span ss="userText"> did like drawing and<span ss="aiText"> music<span ss="userText">,''<span ss="aiText"> he admitted. ''<span ss="editText">It was<span ss="aiText"> always been my passion<span ss="userText">, and I put my heart and soul into my art and music<span ss="editText">. <span ss="aiText">Even if it was just me, alone in a room, drawing orposing. It was something I enjoyed doing.''


    <span ss="userText">He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ''Well, I guess it could''ve been worse. At least I wasn''t mean to anyone or anything like that. <span ss="userText">I don''t think anyone hated<span ss="aiText"> me<span ss="userText">. So<span ss="aiText">, that''s good, I guess...''


    <span ss="userText">''I wonder what if I had done things differently, though,'' Alex asked himself. ''What if I had made friends or, at least, talked with other kids my age? What if I hadn''t given up on my life?'' he<span ss="aiText"> thought, frowning.


    <span ss="aiText">He shook his head and sighed again. "I guess it doesn''t matter now," he mumbled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It''s toote."


    <span ss="userText">Opening his eyes, Alex looked around, trying to see if there was anything else in this endless gray world. The gray sky so differed from the vibrant blue sky he used to know. ''I guess it''s time to move on,'' he thought, pushing away any lingering regrets. With that, he began walking into the unknown.


    <span ss="userText">Confusion was<span ss="aiText"> the only<span ss="userText"> thing<span ss="aiText"> Alex felt<span ss="userText"> as<span ss="aiText"> he walked<span ss="userText"> for<span ss="aiText"> what seemed like<span ss="userText"> forever. He had tried to shout, yell, and scream, but his voice remained mute no matter how hard he tried, betraying him and leaving him unheard in this strange, unending world.


    <span ss="userText">Then, a distant sound reached his ears, so faint<span ss="aiText"> that he almost didn''t notice it. He stopped and strained his ears, trying to figure out where it came from.<span ss="userText"> The soft noise gradually grew louder, revealing itself as a delicate piano melody. Just as suddenly as it had started, it stopped.


    <span ss="userText">Alex stood still, wondering if he had imagined the sound. Driven by curiosity, he moved toward where he thought the musical notes hade from. And a minuteter, he regretted doing so, noticing indistinct shapes in the distance.


    <span ss="editText">''What are those<span ss="aiText">...?<span ss="editText">''<span ss="aiText"> Alex asked himself, squinting and straining his eyes to <span ss="editText">see better<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">Having no other choice, he forced himself to walk forward. As he got closer, the mysterious figures became more distinct. They transformed into people, but at the same time, they weren''t. Floating in the air, frozen in unmoving poses and facial expressions. Some looked afraid, while others were smiling.


    <span ss="userText">He approached one, a girl. She floated just above the ground; her skin was pale, and her eyes were wide open, staring nkly into space. She was suspended in the air, her legs dangling beneath her.


    <span ss="userText">He stared at her, trying to understand what was going on. Carefully<span ss="editText"> and very slowly, Alex reached out and touched her cheek.<span ss="userText"> Then, hepared<span ss="aiText"> his <span ss="userText">skin<span ss="aiText"> with hers<span ss="userText"> and<span ss="aiText"> noticed it had the same texture<span ss="userText">. Both felt cold and lifeless. Alex''s heart sank from the sudden realization. They were all just like him.


    <span ss="userText">He looked around and saw hundreds of floating corpses, each frozen in their final moments. He didn''t recognize any of the faces, and the thought of being surrounded by the dead made him shudder. ''Am I going to be one of them, eventually?'' Alex asked himself, looking down at his hands and body. He was dead, too, wasn''t he?


    He hurriedly rushed forward, wanting nothing more than to escape this ce and find the sound he had heard earlier. He didn''t want to stay here any longer, surrounded by the dead. Luckily, the distant piano melody asionally returned, helping him navigate this strange ce.


    <span ss="userText">There was no day or night, no breeze to break the stillness in this ce. He was surrounded by countless bodies suspended in time, their expressions frozen forever. ''Who are they? Why are they frozen like this? And why am I different?'' Alex wondered as he walked, his sense of time slipping away.


    <span ss="userText">The piano''s notes grew stronger, pulling Alex forward and motivating him to keep going. ''I know it... it''s mystposition!'' he realized,<span ss="aiText"> speeding up his pace. He had to find the source of the melody.


    <span ss="userText">His music in the afterlife? Everything here is just beyond strange. He had always imagined the afterlife as a peaceful<span ss="aiText"> and<span ss="userText"> calm ce<span ss="aiText">, <span ss="userText">not this deste and frightening one.


    <span ss="userText">The piano melody grew louder as he moved closer, the notes guiding him through the lifeless world. With each new step he took, the piano''s notes seemed to resonate within him, at some point almost deafening. He could feel the notes vibrating through his bones, and his heart began to beat again, in sync with the music''s rhythm.


    <span ss="userText">Finally, the source of the music came into view, leaving him stunned. ''It''s her...'' Alex realized, stopping <span ss="editText">among the dead bodies. His<span ss="aiText"> red-haired girl was ying the piano.


    <span ss="userText">The piano was floating in the air, suspended by nothing, defying gravity. A young girl with closed eyes was ying it, her body swaying left and right in rhythm with the music. Her silky white dress was thin and almost see-through, and her long, fiery red hair floated around her as if underwater.


    <span ss="userText">She looked exactly how she had the day they first met, the day his life had changed forever, back when he was five. The freckles on<span ss="aiText"> her pale face were just as numerous as he remembered, and her lips were a beautiful shade of pink.


    <span ss="userText">Her fingers danced over the keys, and the music filled the air around them. Alex couldn''t tear his gaze away from her, captivated by her skill and elegance<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">It felt weird to hear someone else y it<span ss="editText">—the sorrow, pain, joy, and happiness—everything<span ss="userText"> he<span ss="aiText"> had experienced during his short life.<span ss="userText"> As the melody progressed<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> their surroundings transformed.


    <span ss="userText">Suddenly, Alex was floating, too. He felt weightless, his body drifting through the air towards her. He could feel his heart beating stronger the closer he got, his blood<span ss="aiText"> pumping through his veins<span ss="userText">.


    <span ss="userText">— "Oh... this is..." he whispered, his eyes filling with tears. He felt... great, with no pain that was his follower over the years. No suffering. Did he feel... alive? The true meaning of it.


    <span ss="userText">The fog disappeared, and the world now bathed in the warm light of the setting sun. The barrennd had be a lush field of flowers, and the sky was a vibrant mix of oranges, pinks, and purples. He nced down at the ground, and there was no sign of the people from before.


    <span ss="userText">Alex floated there, watching her, unable to believe his eyes. ''I finally found her...'' he thought, emotions washing over him. After all this time, all the pain, and struggle, he finally met her.


    <span ss="userText">The piano''s notes began to change, the melody growing softer and slower. She opened her eyes, as blue as the summer sky, and met his gaze. Alex couldn''t take his eyes off her. Her radiant and sweet smile was everything he had ever wished for.


    <span ss="userText">As the final note echoed, she extended her hands towards the boy, inviting him to take them. Alex''s heart soared, and without a second thought, he reached out and held her hands in his. Her skin felt soft and warm, sending shivers down his spine. It felt like he had waited forever for this moment.


    <span ss="userText">"I''ve been waiting for you," she finally spoke, her voice like the tinkling of bells, a soft and melodic sound that seemed to fill the air around them. It was a sound he had longed to hear his entire life.


    <span ss="userText">— "So have I," Alex managed to reply, his voice cracking with emotion. The girl from childhood who had haunted his dreams for so many years was here. "I never thought I''d see you again," he confessed, a tear rolling down his rosy cheek. The illness <span ss="editText">that <span ss="aiText">drained his body of any color and warmth was gone<span ss="userText">, leaving nothing but a healthy boy with tears welling in his brown eyes.


    <span ss="userText">She smiled, wiping away a tear from his face with her finger. "I''m here now," she said, her voice soothing and full of love.


    <span ss="userText">— "Where are we? And who are these people from before?" Alex asked, sobbing and holding onto her hand tightly, not wanting to let go.


    <span ss="userText">"It''splicated," she said. "Everyone experiences this ce differently. It''s like a canvas that everyone paints with their colors and experiences. It depends on what life you had, on your regrets<span ss="aiText">, and the memories you had," she exined, looking at him.<span ss="userText"> "For some, it''s a paradise where all their dreams and desires are fulfilled. For others, it''s a prison, a ce where they''re forced to relive their worst memories over and over again. Eventually, it leads to the soul being cleansed of memories and regrets and returning to the cycle of life, a new body, a new story."


    <span ss="userText">— "Why am I the only one who can move?" Alex<span ss="aiText"> asked,<span ss="userText"> wiping<span ss="aiText"> his face and trying topose himself.


    <span ss="userText">"I... intervened to keep your soul from fully resting. So you could be here now and meet me," she<span ss="aiText"> confessed,<span ss="userText"> squeezing<span ss="aiText"> his hands.


    <span ss="userText">Alex took a moment to process her words. He didn''t quite understand, but it didn''t matter. He had<span ss="aiText"> her in front of him.


    <span ss="userText">— "Who... who are you?" Alex<span ss="aiText"> asked, staring deep into her beautiful blue eyes<span ss="userText">, seeing himself on the reflection. This was a question he had wanted to ask for his entire life.


    <span ss="userText">She smiled, her eyes shining with a mysterious light. "My name is Elysia, and I''m the goddess of music and art," she said with a kind and gentle voice. Hearing those words sent shivers down his spine, and he couldn''t believe what he heard.


    <span ss="userText">Alex wanted to say anything, but the words wouldn''te. He stood there, his mouth agape, unable to form a coherent thought. He had always known she was special, but a goddess?


    <span ss="userText">Elysiaughed, a light and melodious sound that filled Alex''s heart with joy. "I''m sorry, I''m probably overwhelming you," she apologized, her eyes sparkling with amusement.


    <span ss="userText">Alex shook his head, struggling to find his voice. "No, no, not at all," he mumbled, his cheeks<span ss="aiText"> flushing <span ss="editText">with color<span ss="aiText">. "I mean, yes, a little bit, but... wow. That''s a lot to take in," he admitted,ughing nervously.<span ss="userText"> An awkward silence fell between them.


    <span ss="userText">She smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I''m sorry, Alex," Elysia said, her voice trembling slightly. "I''m sorry for all the pain and suffering you went through. It was all my fault," she confessed, lowering her gaze.


    <span ss="userText">Her words caught him off guard, and his heart ached at her apology. He was about to respond, to tell her it was okay, but she cut him off, continuing before he had the chance to speak.


    <span ss="userText">"I shouldn''t have appeared in your room back then. You were just a child, and I wasn''t supposed to meddle with the living," Elysia exined, her voice<span ss="aiText"> wavering.


    <span ss="userText">Her words echoed in Alex''s mind, and he felt his world crashing down. "What do you mean you shouldn''t have appeared?" Alex asked, his<span ss="aiText"> voice cracking.


    <span ss="userText">Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She looked away to hide <span ss="editText">them, but it was toote. Alex had already seen it. "It''s...plicated," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. <span ss="userText">"I''m not like you, Alex... I''m not human and never was one.<span ss="aiText"> I''ve existed since the beginning <span ss="editText">and will<span ss="aiText"> exist until the end. <span ss="userText">Someone like me could only interact with the living during certain times, so it''s safe for them. I''m not even sure how you might have seen me that day... it was an ident. An ident that made you obsessed with me,"<span ss="aiText"> she continued, her voice heavy with regret.


    <span ss="userText">Alex stared at her, his mind racing as he tried to understand what she was saying.


    <span ss="userText">"I should have never shown myself to you. I''m so sorry, Alex. Every time you saw me, you lost years of your life... I never meant to hurt you, but... Whenever I wanted to ignore you, you somehow managed to amaze me... I was selfish, and I''m so sorry for everything," Elysia<span ss="aiText"> confessed,<span ss="userText"> wiping<span ss="aiText"> the tears from her face.


    <span ss="aiText">Alex remained silent, his thoughts swirling around him like a hurricane. He didn''t know how to respond. It was all too much.<span ss="userText"> "Are you saying that your appearances caused my illness? That<span ss="aiText"> you''re the reason for all the suffering?" he asked, his voice breaking.


    <span ss="userText">"Yes," Elysia replied, her voice barely above a whisper.<span ss="aiText"> She couldn''t meet his gaze, the guilt weighing heavily on her heart.


    <span ss="userText">A long silence<span ss="aiText"> stretched between them, the only sound being the gentle wind and the faint sound of birdsong. Neither of them knew what to say or if there was even anything that could be said.


    <span ss="userText">Alex had to admit her presence had brought him nothing but misery and suffering, and he had paid a high price for it. He had given up everything just to be able to catch a few glimpses of her and had endured unimaginable pain and torment<span ss="aiText">. He could have done so much more than he did.


    <span ss="aiText">"Then... why?" Alex asked, his voice thick with emotion. "Why did you <span ss="userText">keep doing it?


    <span ss="aiText">Elysia''s eyes shone with a deep sadness, her shoulders slumped, <span ss="editText">and her usual radiance dimmed. "I don''t know," she said, shaking her head. "<span ss="aiText">I wish I could tell you. But the truth is, I don''t know. You were different, special... <span ss="userText">All I wanted was to hear you y for me, that''s all."


    <span ss="userText">He stared at her, his eyes darting between hers<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> trying<span ss="aiText"> to find any hint of deceit or dishonesty. But there was none.


    <span ss="userText">— "This is a lot to take in," Alex paused, struggling to find the right words. "Elysia... I liked ying piano and painting before you appeared<span ss="editText">... ever since I can remember, I did it," he started, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.<span ss="aiText"> "<span ss="userText">I can''t say<span ss="aiText"> your appearance didn''t change anything. It did. It changed everything."


    <span ss="aiText">"I spent endless nights writing andposing music so you could hear it. And<span ss="userText"> every painting<span ss="aiText">, I always imagined you standing beside me, watching me," Alex admitted, his voice filled with emotion. "Everything I made was for you, Elysia. <span ss="userText">You were my one and only audience<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="userText">Elysia''s eyes were filled with tears. She wanted to speak, to say something, but the words wouldn''te.


    <span ss="userText">Alex''s mind raced as he tried to think about the best way to phrase his thoughts and emotions. <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Was my life <span ss="editText">miserable<span ss="aiText">? Maybe," <span ss="editText">he finally whispered<span ss="aiText">, looking at her. "But... I could''ve easily given up<span ss="editText"> at any moment, but I didn''t.<span ss="aiText"> I chose not to. It was my choice," he said,<span ss="userText"> taking a<span ss="aiText"> deep breath.


    <span ss="userText">She<span ss="aiText"> shook her head, the tears spilling down her pale cheeks. "Alex, I... I''m so sorry. I didn''t mean to cause you so much pain," she said, her voice thick with emotion.


    <span ss="aiText">"It''s okay, Elysia," Alex gave her a sad smile, his <span ss="editText">eyes glistening with tears. "Even after all the suffering and pain, I can''t bring myself to hate or me you. If I could choose again, knowing everything I do now..." he paused, struggling to get the words out. <span ss="userText">"I''d do it again," he admitted, his voice barely audible. "Even though my life was short, I did what I love, and I did it because of you."


    <span ss="userText">"You are too kind, Alex. I don''t deserve it," Elysia replied, wiping her tears. "I don''t think I ever saw a soul so... pure and gentle as yours. And innocent. You have no idea how innocent you are, Alex. Maybe this is what kept me attracted to you..."


    <span ss="aiText">Alex opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He didn''t know what to say or how to respond.<span ss="userText"> Only after a few minutes did he utter, "Can I stay here with you?" Alex asked, his voice trembling slightly, a faint smile<span ss="aiText"> touching his lips.


    <span ss="userText">"I''d like that," Elysia replied, smiling weakly, her eyes filled with sadness. "But... that''s something I can''t give you."


    <span ss="userText">Alex''s smile faded, and he could feel his heart breaking at her words.


    <span ss="userText">Alex''s smile faded, and he could feel his heart breaking at her words. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice quiver<span ss="aiText">ing<span ss="userText">, full of fear.


    <span ss="userText">She gently caressed his face, a sad smile gracing her lips. "I can''t stay with you, Alex," she whispered, her eyes shimmering with tears.


    <span ss="userText">— "But why?" Alex''s heart sank at her words.


    <span ss="userText">Elysia hesitated, a mixture of pain and guilt written on her face. "This ce will affect you the longer you stay here, Alex. The longer you are here, the more frozen in time you''ll be. Your memories, personality, and everything that makes you,<span ss="aiText"> well, you. You will lose it, <span ss="userText">and eventually, you''ll get your soul cleaned. It is the fate of those who linger here for too long, and I don''t want that to happen to you," she<span ss="aiText"> exined, her voice<span ss="userText"> barely<span ss="aiText"> above a whisper.


    <span ss="aiText">— "What can I do? Is there a way I can stay<span ss="editText"> with you<span ss="aiText">?" he asked, desperation <span ss="editText">filling <span ss="aiText">his words.


    <span ss="userText">"No," Elysia replied, her voice full of sadness. "There is a reason why I decided<span ss="aiText"> to intervene and<span ss="userText"> prevent<span ss="aiText"> your soul from cleansing. I wanted <span ss="userText">you to live your life, find happiness, move on, and forget me. I''m sorry, Alex, but you deserve more. You deserve a full and happy life, not one cut short by my selfish desires,"<span ss="aiText"> she said, <span ss="userText">wiping tears from the boy''s face.


    <span ss="userText">Alex''s heart felt like it had shattered into a million pieces. "Please, Elysia," he begged, his voice cracking. Please, there has to be something we can do—anything. I can''t..."<span ss="aiText"> his voice trailed off as the tears flowed freely, his shoulders trembling.


    <span ss="aiText">She shook her head, her eyes filled with sorrow. "<span ss="userText">I want to fix what I did to you. You deserve a second chance. A second chance to live your life how you want to, have a loving family, be happy and free, without being haunted by me."


    <span ss="userText">— "What do you mean?" Alex<span ss="aiText"> asked, sniffling.


    <span ss="userText">She took a deep breath, her eyes glistening with tears. "You''ll get a chance to live your life again, Alex. You''ll get a new body in a world where my presence is stronger, and I can ensure, or at least try my best, for you to have a better life than before."


    <span ss="aiText">Alex stared at her, his mind racing as he tried to process her words. His thoughts were a mess, and he didn''t know what to say or how to feel. A second chance, a new life, a new world. <span ss="userText">He took a few minutes of silence<span ss="aiText">, thinking, trying to find the best words.<span ss="userText"> Then<span ss="aiText">, finally, he<span ss="userText"> managed<span ss="aiText"> to ask, "Are you sure?"


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, Alex," Elysia replied, wiping tears from his face.<span ss="userText"> Her smile<span ss="aiText"> was<span ss="userText"> genuine<span ss="aiText">, her eyes full of love andpassion. "This is the only way for me to fix what I did.<span ss="userText"> Please, do it for me."


    <span ss="userText">After another minute of silence, Alex finally found his voice<span ss="aiText"> again. "<span ss="userText">Alright... If this is your wish, I don''t mind," he whispered,<span ss="aiText"> his voice hoarse.


    <span ss="userText">Elysia smiled, a wave of relief washing over her. "Good," she replied,<span ss="aiText"> hugging the boy tightly. "You have no idea how d I am," she added, <span ss="userText">mumbling against his cheek. She slowly pulled away<span ss="aiText">, meeting his gaze. "<span ss="editText">B<span ss="userText">efore you go, Alex, I want to y something for you, a melody I wrote just for you," she said, turning<span ss="aiText"> toward the floating piano.


    <span ss="aiText">"Okay," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He didn''t trust himself to speak, afraid his voice would betray him.


    <span ss="userText">She sat before the floating piano, her fingers hovering over the keys. S<span ss="editText">he began to y slowly<span ss="aiText">, her fingers moving effortlessly, producing a soft and mncholy melody. It was a tune unlike anything Alex had ever heard,<span ss="userText"> both<span ss="aiText"> beautiful and<span ss="userText"> heart<span ss="aiText">breaking. It felt like it reached inside him and touched his very soul.


    <span ss="userText">As Elysia yed, tears welled up in Alex''s eyes. He couldn''t help but be moved by the beauty of her music,<span ss="aiText"> by the emotion behind it. The notes were like a luby, calming his mind and easing the<span ss="userText"> sadness<span ss="aiText"> in his heart.


    <span ss="userText">Slowly, he moved closer to Elysia and sat down beside her. He closed his eyes, letting the music wash over him, and began to y. His fingers danced across the keys of a piano, forming a duet.


    <span ss="aiText">The two of them yed together, their music intertwining, bing one. It was a<span ss="aiText"> beautiful and magical moment<span ss="userText">as if their souls were intertwined through the notes, creating<span ss="aiText"> something beyond humanprehension<span ss="userText">, a harmony so pure and perfect that it couldn''t be described. The music swelled, reaching a crescendo that filled the entire world around them.


    <span ss="userText">When they finally reached the end of the piece, they let the final notes linger in the air. Alex turned to Elysia, his eyes filled with longing. "Will we ever meet again?" he<span ss="aiText"> asked, his voice wavering.


    <span ss="userText">Elysia leaned in and pressed her lips gently against his. It was a soft,<span ss="aiText"> tender kiss<span ss="userText">full<span ss="aiText"> of <span ss="userText">warmth and sadness. The boy didn''t know how to kiss; his<span ss="aiText"> lips shook, but <span ss="editText">she<span ss="aiText"> didn''t seem to care. <span ss="userText">When they parted, she looked into his eyes and whispered, "No, Alex..." she paused, "This is a goodbye<span ss="aiText">. Forever."


    <span ss="userText">And then, with a final, beautiful smile only she<span ss="aiText"> knew how to make, <span ss="userText">the world around them began to fade. The colors bled into darkness, and Alex felt himself pulled away from Elysia. He reached out, trying to hold onto her, but she simply whispered, "Live a happy life," before disappearing into the void.


    <span ss="userText">As darkness enveloped Alex, he began drifting through the cosmos. Distant stars and gxies streaked past him, leaving luminous trails in their wake. Yet, none of this cosmic spectacle could capture his attention. His heartbeat stopped once more, and his tears continued to stream down his face as he fixated on the spot where she had been.


    <span ss="userText">He whispered his farewell into the void as he drifted farther into the unknown.


    <span ss="userText">— "Goodbye, Elysia..."


    <span ss="userText">With those words, he closed his eyes, surrendering to the infinite expanse of the universe. The stars and gxies continued their celestial dance around him.