October 15th, 2094 - Nana's 23rd Birthday.
Xavier left work three hours early.
His advisor had been confused—Xavier never left early, was usually the last one in the library, often worked until they kicked him out.
But today, Xavier had packed his things the moment the clock hit 3 PM and practically ran out of the university.
Because today was October 15th.
Nana 23 birthday.
The date that had killed her in five separate lifetimes. The day before she would have turned 23—the day the curse always struck. She'd died at 22 in Philos (on Luna), the Valley Kingdom, and the Qing Dynasty. And in 2034, she'd died at 23, but only because Xavier had broken the curse by absorbing it into himself when he faded.
Rationally, Xavier knew the curse was gone.
He'd taken it with him when he became a star. Had absorbed that cosmic law into his very essence and then traded his immortality to be reborn human.
The curse that had killed Nana four times was gone, destroyed, ended.
But rationality didn't stop the panic.
Didn't stop his hands from shaking as he drove to the flower shop. Didn't stop his heart from racing as he picked out her favorite blooms—white lilies and blue forget-me-nots.
Didn't stop the cold sweat breaking out across his back as he ordered her birthday cake from the bakery.
Red bean paste filling. Star decoration on top.
"Happy 23rd Birthday starlight"
written in silver frosting.
The number that had haunted him for over a century.Xavier loaded everything into his car—flowers, cake, gifts he'd been collecting for weeks.
A new set of professional art supplies for her gallery work. A necklace with a small star pendant (he couldn't help himself). A photo album he'd made of their first year of marriage.
His hands were still shaking.
She'll be fine, Xavier told himself firmly as he drove home. The curse is broken. She's survived this long already—four months of being 23. She's safe. She's—
But the panic wouldn't leave. Because even though she'd been 23 for months, October 15th was THE day. The specific date that had killed her in multiple lifetimes.
And some terrified part of Xavier's brain couldn't accept that this time would be different.
He pulled into their driveway at 4:30 PM, grabbed the flowers and cake, left the other gifts in the car to retrieve later. Took three deep breaths to calm himself before going inside.Act normal. Don't let her see the panic. Don't ruin her birthday with your trauma.
"Nana?" Xavier called, letting himself in.
"I'm home early!"
"In the studio!"
her voice called back from the spare bedroom they'd converted into her art space.
Xavier found her exactly where he'd expected—standing in front of a large canvas, paint-splattered and utterly focused.
She'd been working on pieces for her upcoming gallery exhibition, and their home had slowly filled with her artwork. Landscapes that somehow all featured stars. Portraits of a silver-haired man with blue eyes in various settings. Abstract pieces that captured the feeling of cosmic distances and desperate searching.
Their love story, told through art.
"You're home early," Nana said, turning with a smile. Paint smudged her cheek, and Xavier's heart clenched because she looked so alive, so vibrant, so beautifully,wonderfully here.
"It's your birthday," Xavier said, his voice steadier than he felt. "Did you really think I'd stay at work?"
"I told you not to make a fuss—" Nana
stopped as Xavier revealed the flowers he'd been hiding behind his back.
"Xavier! These are gorgeous!"
"Happy birthday, Starlight." He crossed the room, handed her the bouquet, and pulled her into a tight embrace. Too tight, probably, but he couldn't help himself. Needed to feel her warmth, her heartbeat, confirmation that she was real and solid and alive.
"Thank you," Nana murmured against his chest. "But you're acting weird. Everything okay?"
"Everything's perfect."
Xavier pressed a kiss to the top of her head, breathed in the scent of her—paint and shampoo and something uniquely Nana.
"Just happy to celebrate with you. Come on, I got cake. Your favorite."
They moved to the kitchen where Xavier had set up a small celebration. The cake with its star decoration. Candles arranged carefully. He'd even found the good plates (wedding gifts from his mother that they rarely used).
"Twenty-three candles?" Nana asked as Xavier carefully placed them on the cake.
"Twenty-three years," Xavier confirmed, his voice catching slightly.
"Every year you've been alive. Every year I'm grateful for."
Something in his tone made Nana look at him more carefully.
"Xavier, are you sure you're okay? You seem—"
"I'm fine. Just emotional. It's been a year since we got married, and I'm—I'm happy. That's all."
He lit the candles quickly before she could question him further. "Make a wish."
Nana studied him for a moment longer, then seemed to accept his explanation. She closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and made her wish.
Xavier watched her face in the candlelight, memorizing every detail. The way her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks. The slight smile playing at her lips as she wished for something.
The paint smudge that somehow made her even more beautiful.
Please let her blow out these candles, Xavier prayed desperately. Please let her see 24. Let her see 30. Let her grow old. Please don't take her. Not today. Not ever again.
Nana opened her eyes and blew out all twenty-three candles in one breath. Xavier's entire body sagged with relief, which was stupid because of course she could blow out candles. That didn't mean anything about the curse.
But still. Small victory.
They cut the cake together, Xavier's hand over Nana's on the knife, both of them laughing when they made a mess of the first slice. They ate sitting at their kitchen table (they'd bought furniture shortly after the wedding), feeding each other bites, getting frosting on their faces.
Normal. Wonderful. Alive.
The afternoon passed into evening. Xavier gave Nana her gifts—she cried over the photo album, loved the art supplies, immediately put on the star necklace and refused to take it off.
They ordered dinner because neither felt like cooking, ate on the couch surrounded by plushies while watching a movie neither paid attention to.
Xavier couldn't stop touching her. His arm around her shoulders. His hand holding hers. His fingers running through her hair.
He needed constant confirmation that she was there, was real, was breathing.
"You're being extra clingy today," Nana observed, but she was smiling.
"Not that I mind. But seriously, Xavier, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong."
"Liar. I've known you for five lifetimes. I can tell when you're stressed."
Xavier was quiet for a long moment.
Then, quietly, "It's October 15th."
Understanding dawned in Nana's expression. "Oh. Xavier—"
"I know the curse is broken. I know you're safe. I know that logically, rationally, this day doesn't mean anything anymore.
Xavier's voice was tight.
"But I can't—I can't stop being afraid. You died on this day in three lifetimes. Died one day before turning 23. And even though you've been 23 for months, even though the curse is gone, I can't—"
His voice broke completely. Nana immediately shifted to straddle his lap, cupping his face in both hands.
"I'm here," she said firmly.
"Xavier, look at me. I'm here. I'm alive. I'm breathing. My heart is beating."
She pressed his hand against her chest so he could feel it. "Feel that? I'm not going anywhere."
"You said that before," Xavier whispered.
"In the Qing Dynasty. You told me you weren't leaving. And then the Riverside Kingdom attacked and you died in my arms with our baby—" He couldn't finish. Just pulled her close and held on.
"That was a different lifetime,"
Nana said gently, running her fingers through his hair. "Different circumstances. Xavier, there's no war now. No betrayal. No curse. Just us, in our house, on my birthday. A birthday I'm going to survive."
"I want to believe that."
"Then believe it. I survived 22. I survived turning 23 four months ago. I'll survive today. I'll survive tomorrow."
She pulled back to look at him.
"Xavier, I'm going to survive to 30, 40, 50. I'm going to get old and gray and wrinkled, and you're going to be stuck with me the entire time."
"I want that," Xavier said desperately.
"I want that so much. Want to see you at 30 with paint-covered overalls running an art gallery. Want to see you at 40 chasing our kids around this house. Want to see you at 50 with silver streaking your hair, still climbing that apple tree in the backyard. Want to see you at 80, old and perfect and alive."
Then you will." Nana kissed him softly. "Because I'm not dying today. Or tomorrow. Or for a very, very long time. The curse is broken, Xavier. You broke it. You saved me."
"By dying myself."
"By loving me more than immortality."
Nana's hands cupped his face.
"You gave up everything to save me. And it worked. I'm here. I'm alive. And I'm going to stay that way."
Xavier wanted to believe her. God, he wanted to believe her. But the trauma of watching her die four times, of holding her cooling body, of burying her and waiting decades for her to be reborn—it was carved too deep.
"What time is it?" he asked suddenly.
Nana checked her phone.
"8:47 PM. Why?"
"Three hours and thirteen minutes until midnight. Until October 16th. Until—"
Xavier's voice cracked.
"Until I can breathe again."
"Xavier—
"I'm sorry. I know I'm being irrational. I know the curse is gone. But I can't—I can't relax until this day is over. Until you've survived October 15th one more time. Until—"
"Okay," Nana said simply.
"Then we'll wait together. Three hours. We can do that."
She settled more comfortably in his lap, rested her head on his shoulder. Xavier wrapped his arms around her, holding her like she might disappear if he let go.
They stayed like that as evening turned to night.
Nana talked about her art exhibition, about the pieces she was working on, about the gallery owner who'd been thrilled with her work. Xavier listened with half his attention, the other half focused on her heartbeat against his chest, her breathing steady and even, her warmth solid and real.
Alive. She was alive.
At 10 PM, Nana convinced Xavier to move to bed. They lay facing each other, hands clasped between them, Xavier's eyes never leaving her face.
"I'm not going to disappear," Nana said gently.
"I know."
"But you're going to watch me until midnight anyway."
"Yes."
Nana smiled sadly. "Okay. Then watch. I'll be here the whole time."
She stayed awake with him, talking softly about nothing and everything.
Their plans for the house. The vacation they'd been discussing. Baby names (even though they weren't pregnant yet, they liked to plan ahead). Mundane, beautiful, normal topics.
At 11:30 PM, Xavier's anxiety was nearly unbearable. His chest felt tight. His breathing was shallow. Every minute that passed felt like an eternity.
"Thirty minutes," Nana whispered.
"Just thirty more minutes, and then you can relax."
"I'm sorry," Xavier said hoarsely. "I'm sorry I'm like this. I know it's not fair to you, having to deal with my trauma on your birthday—"
"Hey." Nana squeezed his hand. "You spent a century dealing with trauma for my sake. I can handle one anxious evening. Besides—"
She smiled. "This proves how much you love me. You're terrified of losing me again. That's not a character flaw, Xavier. That's devotion."
"Obsessive devotion."
"The best kind."
At 11:55 PM, Xavier couldn't lie still anymore. He sat up, pulled Nana into his arms, held her against his chest so he could feel her heartbeat, her breathing, every sign of life.
"Five minutes,"
Nana said.
"Count with me?"
They counted together, watching the clock on her phone.
11:56 PM. Four minutes.
11:57 PM. Three minutes.
11:58 PM. Two minutes.
11:59 PM. One minute.11:59 PM.
One minute.
Xavier's entire body was tense, his arms around Nana almost painfully tight. She didn't complain. Just breathed steadily, her hand pressed over his racing heart.
11:59:30. Thirty seconds.
11:59:45. Fifteen seconds.
11:59:50.
Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
Midnight.
October 16th.
The clock changed, and Nana was still alive. Still warm in Xavier's arms. Still breathing steadily against his chest.
She'd survived.
She'd survived October 15th.
She'd survived her 23rd birthday.
Xavier made a sound that was half sob, half laugh.
His arms tightened even more, and he kissed Nana desperately—her forehead, her cheeks, her lips, her hair. Kissed her like she was oxygen and he'd been drowning.
"You're alive," he gasped between kisses. "You're alive. You survived. You—" He couldn't form words anymore. Just held her and cried with relief so intense it hurt.
"I told you," Nana said gently, wiping his tears even as her own fell.
"I told you I'd survive. The curse is broken, Xavier. You broke it. I'm safe."
"You're safe," Xavier repeated like a mantra. "You're alive. You survived. You're going to see 24. And 25. And 30. And—"
His voice cracked. "And you're going to get old with me. Really old. Gray hair and wrinkles and everything."
"Everything," Nana confirmed.
"I promise."Xavier kissed her again, deeper this time. Desperate and grateful and overflowing with love and relief. Nana responded with equal intensity, her hands fisting in his hair, pulling him closer.
When they broke apart, both breathing hard, Xavier pressed his forehead against hers.
"Happy birthday, Starlight. Your 23rd birthday. The first time you've ever survived this day without a curse hanging over you."
"First of many," Nana said firmly.
"Because I'm going to celebrate my 24th birthday next year. And my 25th. And every birthday after that until we're old and gray together."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Nana kissed him softly. "No more dying. No more curses. No more separation. Just us, growing old together like we've always dreamed."
Xavier held her tighter, his face buried in her hair, his heart finally—finally—beginning to calm.
She'd survived.
His Starlight had survived her 23rd birthday.
For the first time in five lifetimes, October 15th had passed without tragedy.
And Xavier, who'd been terrified all day, could finally breathe.
Could finally believe that maybe—just maybe—they really were free.
That the curse was truly broken.
That this time, their story would have a happy ending.
Outside their window, stars twinkled in the October sky. And the space where Xavier used to exist remained empty—a sacrifice he'd never regret.
Because here, on Earth, in their bed, holding his wife who'd just survived the day that should have killed her—
Here, Xavier had everything worth giving up heaven for.
.
.
.
.
.
⭐⭐⭐
To be continued __