Death belongs to Mr. Terry Pratchett, as does the Discworld. The lady, however, is my concept.
This very universe
From the distance worlds looked like orbs, not discs, even though it was quite an obvious fact a disc was the only possible form. Or maybe not? Maybe, he thought, some of them were orbs. His sight was not good enough to allow him to check that. Not that he really wanted, anyway.
But his sight was almost good enough to let him see the multiverse, all the other layers of the world. Almost.
Maybe in the other universe he was different. Maybe he did not think or doubt, or try to understand humans. Maybe in other layers of the multiverse he had not experienced things he had in this one. And there had been plenty – he had been through friendship, fatherhood, he had even been a real grandfather for a while. But he still felt something was missing, only he could not pinpoint what. Well, maybe in one of the other universes he had found it. Or would, for that matter.
Enough philosophy for a one day. There was work to be done. He turned between the realms to return to his domain, when a movement catched his attention.
He had briefly seen her before, but only from afar. Close like that she looked more like a dancing swarm of lights and colours in a shape of a near-human silhouette, than a real being.
"OH."
Lights forming her face, or in fact that part of her where a face should be, whirled and took some warmer shade.
"I THINK I HAVE SEEN YOU BEFORE." He had to admit it was not the smartest thing to say, but could not come up with anything else.
You must have, echoed a thought. We are bound together.
He was confused, and it seemed to amuse her slightly. He had no feelings, but most of the words were suddenly gone from his mind, and his vision was slowly getting somewhat hazy.
"OH. I GUESS THIS IS THE TIME MY… HOW DO HUMANS SAY IT?"
Colours swirled and intertwined.
Heart beats faster? I believe this is the phrase.
Blue lights in his eyesockets flickered, giving him a look of someone slightly lost. There was a little physiological problem.
"I DO HAVE NO HEART."
Lights turned brighter.
I have enough heartbeats for us both.
The silence that fell after seemed to last hours. But, after all…
There is work to be done.
"YES." He actually managed to sigh. "WHAT A TINY PIECE OF TIME, A WHILE IS."
Lights danced again.
It's the tiniest piece. But in eternity, there are countless whiles.
She had the point. What was a few years for someone who had all the time of the world? And, besides, does eternity not consist of whiles?
"DO YOU HAVE A NAME?"
Lights, already dissolving slowly, shimmered brilliantly, in a pattern resembling a friendly laughter, or a smile.
I have no name, like you. And then, at last, she spoke. "I AM ONLY LIFE." With that, lights disappeared.
Before he returned to his work, he remained between the worlds for a while, regarding them thoughtfully. Blue lights in his sockets were twinkling.
Maybe he had found the missing element in that very universe?
I know it's weird. Please don't flame me ;)
