13 - The Truth
"I wish for the stone back!"
Her shout did the trick, and immediately got his attention. He turned. "What?"
She looked right at him and took a step forward towards him with all the strength and courage she could muster there in that moment. "I wish I could have the stone back."
He blinked back at her. "B-but-"
"The stone, that is my wish. I want it back. You said you can fulfill any wish. Well this is mine."
Diana seized that moment of Max's distraction to grab his attention herself. "This world was a beautiful place just as it was. And you cannot have it all. You can only have the truth. And the truth is enough. The truth is beautiful. So look at this world, and look at what your wish is costing it - you must be the hero. Only you can save the day. Renounce your wish, if you truly want to save the world. I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to everyone else. Because you're not the only one who has suffered. Who wants more. Who wants them back. Who doesn't want to be afraid anymore, or alone. Or frightened or powerless. Because you're not the only one who imagined a world where everything was different. Better. A world where they were loved and seen and appreciated. But what is it costing you? Do you see the truth?"
He did see it, clearly, for suddenly he began shouting: "Alastair! M-my son! Alastair! ALASTAIR!"
"Save him, Max," Diana urged him.
"I renounce my wish!" With one last final declaration, he hastily fled the building. On the ground, where he had been standing, particles gathered to reform the stone itself.
Audrey picked up the newly restored stone, cradling it in her arms.
"I will deal with it," Diana said, rising to her feet.
"What will you do with it?"
"It is a relic of the gods," she stated knowingly. "And clearly far too dangerous for mortals to handle. I will take it away from here - far away."
Audrey took her word for it. She trusted her friend and colleague. She handed the stone over to Diana.
"Go home, Audrey. We are safe now."
The phone line rang once, twice... Three times.
Four - it clicked and connected on the fourth ring.
"Hello?" came the familiar yet distant voice on the other end of the line.
There was a pause before she answered. "Mum?"
"Audrey? Is that you?"
"Mum hi, yes, it's me..."
"Audrey, Love? Oh - did it happen to you too? It happened all over the world-"
Of course, Audrey knew of what her mother spoke. "Yes, yes it did. I wanted to check in with you, see if you were all right." Her voice cracked. "I was so worried-"
"Oh Love, we were worried too."
"Is this a good time? Can you talk?"
"Yes, oh yes of course. I'd love that."
Now she found herself smiling. "I'd like it too."
"Don't worry Diana, your secret's safe with me," Audrey promised a few days later at work, after Diana had done some serious explaining.
Her colleague smiled warmly. "Thank you."
"Of course." Audrey paused before asking, "Do you know what happened to Barbara?"
To this Diana shook her head and looked in the direction of Barbara's office. The door, closed, still said Dr. B. Minerva. "I don't."
"I hope she's okay."
"Me too."
Audrey read in the newspaper about Black Gold Cooperative going bankrupt. This did make her sad - Max had been so proud of his company, his life's hard work. This must be terribly difficult for him.
Also, speaking of Max, perhaps it was fate that brought them back together.
They bumped into each other across the Smithsonian from the National Museum of Natural History while she was on her break. Apparently, he and his son were enjoying the day together, some much needed father and son time.
"Alastair loves the museum," he told her.
"I'm very glad to hear that. Also, I'm very sorry about your company."
"I'm the one who's sorry - for everything."
"Well, if you need anything..." She shrugged. "I don't know, you can let me know, I guess, and I'll try to help," she offered.
"Thank you, that's very kind."
"I'm glad you're reconnecting with Alastair. I reached out to my family too, actually."
"That's wonderful."
"Yes. I realized it shouldn't have taken a near-apocalyptic experience to reconnect with my family."
He sighed. "I've been such a fool."
"Maybe, but we all have, I think."
He smiled a little. "Thank you, Audrey."
"Goodbye Max. I'll see you again soon." A promise, a gentle promise.
Who knew what would happen?
After all, she was just a fool-
A fool in love.
It took me a while, but here we are, we've reached the end! I love this world and these characters and I didn't want it all to end!
Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this story overall! :) Thank you and farewell!