In a plane of golden wheat, two people stared at the multi-colored sunset from their front porch. It was a peaceful life for them. The two sitting on the porch looked on as they saw their daughter dancing in the wheat field. Her arms stretched above and flowed in a crescent shape, her feet guided her with precise steps. It was like seeing a swan display their wings when lavishing in its freedom. The wheat followed her and danced along with her as it swayed, grew, and shrunk to her movements She was getting used to her new talents, and her mother proudly looked on It had been a glorious four years and Renata felt. 

     Renata stood from her cozy place, "It's almost dinner time, let... me", she trailed off as her gaze shifted to her hand. It felt different today. Her eyes then went towards Fiore. As Fiore grew her trees twisting and conjoining the feeling in her hand struck her through like lighting. 

     Nyssa quickly stood and held his wife's hand. Cracking like an eggshell it began to peel, the skin slowly slipping and falling off to reveal her celestial form. Nyssa's eyes went wide, "Fiore!", he desperately yelled. Fiore, without a second thought, sprinted and jumped onto the porch. She was horrified, as she looked at her mother, "Wha- What do we do", she stammered. 

     Renata looked at her family in despair, her surprised expression turned to a smile as she inhaled and exhaled. She motioned to walk inside the house. They were still shaken at the image but remained intact due to Renata's lack of worry, but Fiore began to ask. "Are you in pain, momma?".  

     Renata shook her head, "No, none".  

     "Okay, that's good. Now, how do we fix this?*. 

     Renata looked at her hand and then at the beautiful image outside. "I don't think we can. I think...my life is ending". 

     The room was quiet, nothing but a heartbeat could be heard. Nyssa, began to cry, gripping her hand, trying to hold on even though she was still there, "Don't say that, don't say it like that. We were so happy just now". Renata brought her family closer as they cried for her, she embraced them lovingly. Nyssa was right, they were so happy just now, and yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that. Nothing could take away those fond memories, but the sudden change was here and she was afraid of how it would affect everyone. 

     Months passed and Renata sat by the fireplace, the days were getting colder, she no longer had the strength to stand on her own and the skin on her body was almost gone. She looked at her daughter sitting, carving wood into the image of a frog. Fiore looked up to her and gave a strained smile, "Are you hungry? Are you cold?". Renata shook her head. "No, not cold, as for food, perhaps later. I never knew hunger could be such a hassle, a mortal body is very tiring to have, how do you two do it?". 

     Fiore laughed, "Well he had them since birth, so I guess it's just easier that way", Fiore stayed quiet but then decided on a question that was bothering her, "Do you think dad will come home soon?". Fiore's face turned somber as Renata smiled. "He is trying to find a solution to an impossible problem, dearest. I think it's his way to cope with my situation, but he promised to come back when the snow begins to fall, so, he will be back soon". 

     "You think so?". 

     "I know, he promised and that man has never broken a promise before, so he better not start now".

     They laughed in unison at the comment regarding the train of thought about the situation, but Fiore remained with a pit in her stomach she was trying to hide.

     Days passed in a leisure. Fiore kept getting stronger and Renata kept becoming weaker. Fiore saw the inevable and her anxiety was taking root. She began to plead with her mother regarding her growing strength. "Mamma please, there must be something I can do. My flesh, my blood, if I give it to you, think you can recover". Renata shook her head, "No, that will not work and even if it did, what kind of mother would I be, taking part of my child to elongate my life". 

     Fiore again, pleaded. "You are not taking, I am giving. I don't think I can forgive myself if I was the reason you died, I don't think dad would forgive me either".

      "Listen my child, you are not to blame for anything. I am so happy you are growing more powerful by the day, my only regret will be not seeing you reach your full potential. And regarding your father, if he ever dares blame you. I will rip him to shreds", sparkling liquid escaped Renata's eyes as she laughed at her remark. 

     Fiore lunged at her mother, holding her tightly. "I dont want you to go". Fiore whispered. "And I don't want to leave". 

     

     Fiore looked out the window as she peeled a carrot. She saw something fall from the sky, it was snow. Fiore became distracted and accidently peeled off the top layed of skin on her left hand. "Shit", she covered the wound and looked back. She saw her mother sitting by the fireplace, no skin left on her body, just an abstract of shapes blooming . She was now rooted down, unable to move she spent her time writing down her history, how she was able to use her power, and details on what she was able to do. She wrote anything and everything in hopes it would help her daughter in some way. 

     Renata's vision was getting weaker and even her hands were refusing to hold the pen properly. What was once beautiful cursive strokes were now begining to look like a bird stepped in ink and danced on the page. Renata began to snicker and then a full blown laugh. She dropped her pen as she swayed back and forth. Fiore ran to her mother and held her tight. Renata laughed and laughed until she was in tears. She held on to her daughter as she composed herself. Her breathing was heavy as she caught her breath, "I'm sorry dearest it happened again, I thought I was fighting with a dark entity, but then we became friends, how peculiar". Fiore patted her mother's head, holding on for a few more seconds.

      Fiore began to boil water for dinner. She was trying to hold back tears until the whistling of the water started, but a few tears escaped her eyes. Then a sudden knock. 

     The door slowly opened and the cold was let in. A familiar figure appeared. Nyssa stepped in. He looked like he lost weight, yet still bulky in a way. He saw his wife sitting on that chair, rooted to the ground, even though she didn't have a face anymore, she looked tired as she tried to lift her head. Nyssa's stomach turned, guilt teaching at the last bit of his restraint. He ran to her and buried his head in her lap, he cried. "I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry I can't find anything, I can't stop it, I can't stop what's happening to you my dearest!. I'm completely useless as a husband and father".

      Renata patted his head trying to ease him. She then gently lifted his head to meet her gaze, cupping his face she caressed his cheek with her thumb. She smiled. "Welcome home". Nyssa's eyes went wide as he gazed into that abyss of a face and returned that smile, "I'm home".The family now reunited decided to spend whatever time they had left together and make it worthwhile. 

     They began by uprooting Renata and carving legs from the wood. Even if they did not move, she was able to stand with some help. They dressed her warmly and took her out to see the vastness of where they lived. Even if the planes were frozen, whatever Renata touched it thawed and bloomed for her. Similarly, as Fiore saw this, she noticed that her steps caused the same reaction on the ground, the only difference was that they stayed in bloom. Fiore bathed her mother in luxury from then on. With the wheat they harvested, and jewels left over from Renata Celestial days, they had more than enough to buy whatever they wanted. Renata ate expensive desserts and Nyssa prepared meat more than once a month. Renata ate as if she had never eaten before, you could see what looked like teeth tearing through food like butter. Her expressions when savoring it were uncanny due to her lack of face. When she liked something, her head would bloom flowers as her face, and when she didn't, thorns would grow in their place. Games were taught and played, stories were read, and jokes were told. They tried to forget what was inevitable, but the day came when Renata could no longer move. 

     It was the end of the year, the coldest it had ever gotten and the family was preparing to go out one final time. They dressed themselves warmly and headed out through the snow. Fiore led the way as her steps cleared the snow. Nyssa followed as he carried his wife. 

     As they walked Renata was in and out of consciousness, she was more talkative than usual as a means to keep herself awake. "I remembered when we were wed. There was no one there except us in a forest I created. You pledged your entire body and soul to me and I could only pledge my hand. I'm sorry dearest, if only I knew what I felt back then, I would have told you I loved you every day". Nyssa smiled, "You showed it in your own way. I was happy you tried to understand me".Renata kept going, "My beloved Fiore, I remember when you were born. I did expect you to understand what was happening around you. Your mind developed rapidly, as it does now. My child, I'm sorry I didn't show you affection like a normal mother would, I didn't understand what it meant to be a parent. I wish I held you more growing up". Fiore kept facing forward, trying to hide the tears, "No need to be sorry momma, you've more than made up for it already".

     They arrived at the spot Renata wanted and the family all knelt. They set Renata down on the snow-covered ground but soon melted. Renata looked up at the sky, eons of existence, unable to touch anything, the empty feeling she had held on to for so long after that fateful incident when she first came to this world, all washed away in such a short time. She looked at her husband and her daughter as they held back tears, the only thing she wanted at that moment was to spend just a second more with them. She wondered where she would go after this, but she hoped she could still watch over them in any way.

     The snow stopped and Renata looked at her daughter, her face twisted into a smile as she finally spoke, "How beautiful". Then, she stopped.

     Silence filled the plane, Fiore shook holding her mother, her vision blurred with tears. Nyssa could only close his eyes as he wept. He went to comfort his daughter, but what he saw made him freeze.

     Fiore was looked up, her eyes in a trance. A warm feeling enveloped her body, a surge of power the moment her mother drew her last breath. She felt her entire body resonate with her soul as she was able to see with inhuman eyes. Silence turned to noise, she could feel every living breathing thing around her, pure energy now running through her veins. The feeling was overwhelming to the senses she couldn't help but laugh, "Mother, is this how you felt? Have I been reborn again? I can feel like I'm finally...complete". Her laughter became louder and founder until it turned to sobbing, the guilt overbearing the high as she held her mother tightly.

     Nyssa held on to her daughter as he tried to calm her down, but he could hear her screams of agony, "What have I done, What have I done to my mother?!".