"What… what happened? I can't see anything… No… actually, I can see… it's all white. White everywhere. I feel so… light. No… it's different. I can't feel my body."
Nathaniel looked down, and what he saw left him frozen. Where his feet should have been, there was only a shapeless glow. A bright light forming what used to be his body. "Ahh! My legs? Where are they?" He reflexively raised his hands to his face, but as he looked at them… his confusion only grew. They weren't hands; they were erratic, flickering masses of energy with no defined shape.
"My hands too!" He shook his arms, desperately trying to comprehend the incomprehensible. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "T-this isn't real… it must just be a bad dream…" he muttered in a broken tone, trying to convince himself. "Yeah… I just have to close my eyes and… and wake up."
He covered his face with his energy-like hands, silently struggling to find some comfort. This dream felt too real. With each passing second in the unsettling white void, he felt more trapped, surrounded by an immense, suffocating silence, floating aimlessly. Seconds passed, then minutes… or maybe hours. At some point, he lost track, but the anguish only grew. Unable to help it, his eyes began to water, and a sob escaped his chest. Only one person could ease his distress. "Mom…" he whispered.
"NATHANIEEEEL!" A voice responded, as familiar as it was distant. Startled, he looked around, searching in every direction, though all he saw was endless white. Then, he felt something on his back—a weight and a pair of arms wrapped around him, warm and protective, though just as bright and unreal as his own. "There you are. Don't disappear like that again."
Nathaniel turned around, and upon seeing a svelte woman with loose hair, his expression shifted to a mix of relief and confusion. Even though her body was now a glow of energy, her face retained the same warmth and familiarity as always.
"Mom! You look… really strange, but it doesn't matter. You're here with me!" he said, hugging her with a strength he'd never felt before, as if clinging to the only reality left to him in that strange place.
Mallory smiled, her hands—now bright flashes—gently caressing Nathaniel's cheeks, trying to soothe him. "Am I part of your dream, honey?" she asked, trying to ease the tension with a soft, protective tone, though she shared his confusion deep down. "Or maybe… you're part of mine?"
Nathaniel blinked, still trying to understand. "I don't know, Mom… I just… I felt so alone here before you appeared. I was starting to get scared."
Mallory sighed and nodded, looking at him with tenderness. "I would never leave you alone, Nathaniel. Somehow, I'll always find you. Although… well, this doesn't exactly seem like the kind of dream I'd like to be in, does it?" She tried to joke, with a wry smile as she glanced at the white void around them.
Nathaniel forced a light laugh, but his expression still showed uncertainty. "Do you think this could be a shared dream? A lucid dream for the two of us!"
Mallory paused, then nodded slowly. "Maybe… though if it is, it doesn't seem like we're in control. It's like we're trapped in this place…" She looked around again, as if searching for something familiar in that infinite space. "We can move, that's something… but there doesn't seem to be anything we can change." After a brief silence, she tried to lighten the mood: "Well, we could play hide-and-seek in this endless void." She chuckled softly, though she knew the situation was anything but funny.
Nathaniel made a face, as if unimpressed with the joke, but his eyes showed gratitude for his mother's attempt to calm him.
Then, without warning, a voice emerged in the void, surrounding them from all directions and resonating like a distant yet penetrating echo: "You're both here now."
Mallory jolted, tightening her embrace around Nathaniel, her eyes scanning the surroundings for the source of the voice. "Who are you?!" she exclaimed, her tone a mixture of confusion and defiance. Her protective instinct kicked in immediately, keeping Nathaniel safe in her arms.
Nathaniel, surprised and trying to free himself a bit from his mother's embrace, quickly shook his head. "I wasn't the one who invited anyone here… I don't even know where we are."
Mallory looked at him, frowning as she kept her gaze fixed on the emptiness. "Neither do I… I don't think this is the kind of dream that either of our minds could imagine…" she said, her heart pounding, a dark suspicion forming in her mind.
"I am here…," responded the voice, breaking the silence again with its serene and, at the same time, incomprehensibly distant tone.
Mallory took a deep breath, trying to collect herself, and then ventured to ask, her voice trembling but resolute: "What are you…? Something I created in my mind… or… something… real?"
The voice, devoid of any emotion, continued: "Neither. I exist here, I am here. And the two of you… have just passed away."
The words hit them like a dull blow, leaving them both paralyzed. Mallory and Nathaniel looked at each other in silence, absorbing the harshness of what they'd just heard. She felt the weight of the situation fall upon her, and, unable to help herself, she stroked her son's head in an unconscious gesture of comfort.
"So… is this heaven?" she asked, barely able to speak, her voice broken. "Is this where we're judged… to decide if we go down or… up?" Her hands trembled as she held Nathaniel close, as if fearing he'd be separated from her at any moment. Nathaniel watched in silence, but his mind was filled with questions, beginning to sense a side of his mother he hadn't noticed before, a deep and latent fear.
The voice, unperturbed, continued: "No, this is neither heaven nor hell. It is the in-between. One from which you may choose to return… but not to your original world."
"Returning you to your bodies isn't the best idea, considering the state they were left in and the questions that would arise if two victims of a car accident miraculously recovered," the voice said, with a neutral tone. "Or, on the other hand, you could refuse the offer and face whatever comes next. Perhaps it has something to do with what you mentioned," the voice added enigmatically.
Mallory frowned, struggling to understand the implications. "Then… why are we being given the chance to choose? Is it because our life was… complicated? All those days I fought to raise Nathaniel alone, ever since I had him…"
"Exactly. Sounds good, doesn't it? The chance to start anew, in a world with possibilities, far from the limitations of your previous life," the voice said, almost enthusiastically.
Mallory remained silent, lost in her thoughts. Her gaze swept over the infinite white, wondering if this place was merely the prelude to a change from which there would be no return. She knew there was no real choice: to accept and live with Nathaniel in a new world, or to refuse and face an uncertain separation. The idea tightened her chest. She closed her eyes briefly, recalling the weight of so many lonely days.
A long silence enveloped them until Nathaniel, breaking the calm, said firmly, "Let's accept, Mom."
Mallory looked at him, bewildered. She watched her son in silence, surprised by the determination in his voice. Usually, it was she who made the decisions, but now Nathaniel was standing firm, almost adult-like.
"Nathaniel…" she whispered, trying to understand where that strength in his voice came from.
He looked directly into her eyes, moving slightly away from her embrace, and repeated in a softer tone, "Let's accept, Mom." He swallowed hard before continuing, letting his gaze fall. "This might be… the only time we have a chance like this. I don't want to miss it." Sadness peeked through his voice. "Maybe it's the best for both of us. Like the voice said… we'll be the same, but in a new place, where everything will be different. No more of those days… no more seeing you smile just to hide how tired you are. Those days when you did everything for me without being able to take a break."
Mallory raised one of her energy-like hands to her face in an automatic reflex to wipe her tears, though there was nothing there to stop them. Meanwhile, Nathaniel looked at her, trying to give her an encouraging smile. "I know you always hide your problems from me, Mom," he said in a low voice. "Like when you come to comfort me, but you never let me do the same for you. I heard you crying in your room after coming home so late… you don't have to hide it from me."
"N-no… that's not…" Mallory tried to respond, but the words got caught in her throat. Guilt and pain choked her, preventing her from speaking.
Nathaniel moved a little closer, keeping his gaze on his mother. "If it would make you happy… then I would choose to go to that other world, because I know what would hurt you the most would be to be separated from me." He took a deep breath and continued, his voice steadier. "So… you'd join me in this decision, because I know you couldn't leave me. And there… away from everything that happened, we could have something we never had. Our own version of a normal life."
Mallory closed her eyes, nodding slowly, letting her son's words sink deep. The intensity of her emotions left her speechless, but her reaction was enough. Nathaniel had said it all.
Then, the mysterious voice broke the silence, resuming with a formal tone. "Good. Now that you've made your decision, it's time for a few final adjustments before you depart."
Mallory and Nathaniel nodded in unison. The white surroundings began to darken gradually, engulfing them in a deep blackness that surrounded them. The voice continued: "The world you will reincarnate into is, in simple terms, a place of fantasy. You'll find a society there with certain advancements, though some territories are more developed than others, as in any civilization. I could simply send you there, but… wouldn't it be more interesting if you had an advantage? Something special to face the challenges of that world. I can grant each of you a power, if you wish. This world has its own heroes, its own way of handling calamities and facing threats. How does that sound?"
Nathaniel, visibly excited, exclaimed, "Of course! So we can choose whatever power we want? Anything?"
The voice seemed to nod in the air. "In a way, yes. But remember, what you choose will be your responsibility. Power brings with it purpose and weight. Be wise. The world that awaits you has its own threats, and some can be very hostile."
The words "threats" and "hostile" triggered Mallory's alarm. Something in her instinct prompted her to intervene quickly.
"Hold on," she said, her voice firm and protective. "My Nathaniel is still too young to think about those things… don't you think?" She turned to the darkness, as if looking directly at the voice. "Why don't we let only me choose? If I have that power, it'll be enough. I'll be able to keep Nathaniel safe."
The voice remained silent, observing the conversation that seemed about to unfold between mother and son. Mallory and Nathaniel turned to each other, their gazes laden with different emotions.
"Oh, come on, Mom… don't be like that," Nathaniel said, with a slight nervous laugh.
Mallory raised an eyebrow, partly amused and partly serious. "What does that mean? You know full well I wouldn't let you put yourself at risk. You don't need to become a hero facing things you don't even understand. You could get really scared, get hurt… or worse." Her expression turned a bit more severe. "You don't even know how to defend yourself! Besides, you've always been a little scaredy-cat. Having some power won't change that. And tell me… what kind of power were you thinking of choosing?"
Nathaniel hesitated before answering, as if trying to come up with an impressive choice. "Umm… flying?"
"Flying?!" Mallory almost burst out laughing in disbelief. "What for? To fly away from me?" Her tone held a playful note, though she remained protective. "No, you couldn't. Although… still, it would be very dangerous for you. You could crash into something or not know how to land. You might cause an accident if you lose control!"
"Mom… I think you're overreacting," Nathaniel replied, rolling his eyes.
"I'm not, Nathaniel." Mallory sighed, her tone more serious. "I know dreaming about something like that sounds exciting, but reality is different. I'm grounded enough to know what's best for you. Don't you trust your mother anymore?" Saying this, she raised her glowing hands and placed them on Nathaniel's shoulders, squeezing them gently as she looked into his eyes. Her hands trembled slightly, revealing the intensity of her feelings.
"That… that's not true," Nathaniel murmured, looking away a bit.
"I wish that were the case." Mallory smiled sweetly, though there was a note of sadness in her voice. "Your words just now, saying you wanted to see me happy, meant so much to me. They really moved me. I didn't think you'd make that decision with my well-being in mind… It was something I never imagined from you, and it shows how much you've grown. But now… I want you to let Mom take care of the rest. Protecting you makes me happy too."
Nathaniel nodded, though his eyes showed a hint of doubt. "It's true… there hasn't been a single moment you weren't worried about me, has there?"
"Exactly! Without you, nothing would be complete for me. There's no power that could be better than what you mean to me. Don't you see?" Her gaze became more intense, her eyes fixed on him as she squeezed his shoulders a little harder. "You are my priority, my reason for being here. You won't need anything else because I'll be there to protect you. So tell me… tell me you don't need a power. If I have it, that's enough."
Nathaniel swallowed, feeling the weight of his mother's request in her firm tone. "It's… it's enough for only you to have an ability, Mom. I don't need one because… I have you." His voice was barely a whisper, but it reflected a mix of fear and acceptance. He knew that, in this moment, Mallory wasn't asking but insisting, even if she disguised her words with affection. Hearing this, Mallory smiled with satisfaction and gently released his shoulders.
"That's it," she murmured with relief, and then, louder, she called out to the darkness: "Hey, mysterious voice! We've decided. I'll be the one to choose a power. My son thought it over and decided to leave it in my hands. Okay?"
Nathaniel nodded beside her, as if reaffirming his mother's decision. The ethereal voice, which had remained silent until then, spoke again near them, this time with a note of interest.
"Well, well… very interesting. So you've made a decision," the voice said, with a strange satisfaction. "Mallory, tell me, what kind of power would you like to choose?"
Mallory paused for a moment, thoughtful. She had no experience with powers nor any concrete knowledge of what she should ask for. "Well, it's not like I'm a big fan of powers. I only know simple things, like flying or shooting lasers from my eyes… But if I could ask for something… I'd like the power to protect Nathaniel whenever necessary."
"Ah, that sounds a bit vague," the voice replied, its tone mixed with surprise and curiosity. "No… wait. Maybe it could work if I look at it from a certain angle." After a brief pause, the voice continued, almost muttering as if thinking aloud: "The power to protect Nathaniel… yes, I think it could work."
Mallory felt a slight blush of embarrassment and added, with a nervous laugh: "Are you sure? Maybe I asked for it in a strange way… It doesn't sound very specific."
"What? No! Quite the opposite," the voice answered with renewed enthusiasm. "It's an unusual request and… powerful in its own way. In fact, I'm intrigued to see how you'll use this power. It's simple yet profound, Mallory. I think it'll suit you perfectly."
"R-really?" Mallory looked at Nathaniel with a beaming smile. "Did you hear that, Nathaniel? Mom's going to be really strong for you!" She gave him a friendly nudge on the shoulder, almost contagious with euphoria. Nathaniel managed a light smile, though his gaze still reflected some doubt.
"I'm really happy for you, Mom…" he replied in a murmur, though his tone showed a slight unease.
"Everything is ready, then," the voice continued. "It's time to take you to your new world. I'll return the clothes you were wearing before you arrived here, so don't worry. They'll be as good as new, as if nothing had happened." A hint of humor slipped into the voice. "I don't plan to send you as you came into this world, as they say."
"Perfect. We're ready." Mallory wrapped an arm around Nathaniel, eager and excited for what awaited them. "The thrill is intoxicating!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. Nathaniel tilted his head, resting it on his mother's shoulder, silently sharing the anticipation for this new life about to begin, full of unknown possibilities, adventures, and above all, the promise of having each other.
"I'm so excited to see what will become of us now," Nathaniel murmured, his mind already imagining that uncertain future. "This feels so unreal, but it's happening."
"Do it, kind mysterious voice!" Mallory exclaimed, certain she was ready to leave with Nathaniel. But suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. Maybe there was something more the voice could do for her. If it had the power to grant abilities, maybe it could make one last adjustment. "Wait a moment! Uh… I was wondering if you could… make me a bit younger. You know, if you have the ability to grant powers, maybe you could do something as simple as that…"
"Of course! I can do that too," the voice responded, sounding cheerful. "I can adjust your ages to a younger version you had before arriving here. Convenient, isn't it?"
"Change our age?" murmured Nathaniel, surprised. "Wow, that's something new. Though at this point, nothing should surprise me…" He scratched the back of his head, with a slight smile. "Though in my case… I think I'm fine with my current age. I just turned fourteen, I'm too young to want to be any younger, haha. What about you, Mom?" But as he looked at his mother, he saw her eyes shining with excitement. "Uh… Mom?"
Mallory could barely contain her enthusiasm. The possibility of becoming younger and starting again, without the weight of years, felt like a dream come true. Although she adored her son, she had given up so much for him. Now she had a chance to reclaim a piece of herself. "Yes! That would be perfect. I want to be twenty again! Not too old, not too young. It would be like a dream. How exciting!"
"Absolutely!" replied the voice, with a hint of humor. "You'll feel the change once you arrive in the new world. And you, young Nathaniel… are you sure you wouldn't like to go back a few years? Your mother would certainly enjoy it," the voice added playfully.
"Fine by me!" Mallory interjected, playing along. "Getting my little Nathaniel back to carry in my arms would be adorable!" she said in a sweet, playful tone, though the idea did tempt her a bit.
"M-Mom! I'm fine with my current age…" Nathaniel protested, turning away to avoid her gaze, embarrassed. His face would be bright red if it were still possible.
"Haha, alright, sweetheart. You let me be the one with the power, so it's only fair I let you stay as you are." Mallory pulled him into a loving embrace, her words filled with tenderness. "You'll still be my little one for many years to come," she said, her tone affectionate as she wrapped her arms around him, ensuring her words would stay in his mind and heart.
"Now I can say we're finally done." The voice began to bid farewell, its tone growing more distant and diffuse. "It's been a pleasure to accompany you in this in-between. You were very interesting. I look forward to seeing how you fare in your new life. Good luck to both of you."
The brightness of their surroundings began to fade. What had been a vast white void transformed into a subtle, static noise that slowly dissipated into nothingness. The last words of that voice were the last thing they perceived before feeling everything dissolve.
---
The landscape that appeared before them was a vast meadow, bathed in a clear blue sky, scattered with a few drifting clouds. The sun was at its highest point, casting a bright light that made the grass glisten as it swayed gently in the wind. Vibrant green tones spread across the field, and on a nearby hill, a line of trees offered shade, marking the beginning of a distant forest. Standing under one of those trees, Nathaniel gazed at the landscape stretching as far as the eye could see.
"This is…" he whispered, astonished, feeling lost in the immensity of the world that now surrounded him. Every detail, from the scent of the grass to the whisper of the wind, seemed unreal. "Ah, Mom! Where are you?" He had been so distracted by the sight that, for a moment, he forgot about Mallory's presence. Just moments before, in the in-between, he had been holding her, but now he was alone. Wasting no time, he began walking, his steps anxious as he scanned the open meadow, hoping to find his mother.
"Mom! Where are y-" His voice cut off as he saw a figure seated at the base of the hill, under the trees' shade. Mallory, serene, gazed at the new horizon as if enjoying the breeze that gently swayed her dark hair. Relieved, Nathaniel hurried down toward her, but as he approached, he began to notice something unusual.
Mallory was absorbed in the scenery, a slight smile on her lips, and her eyes shone with a peace he didn't recall ever seeing before. The signs of weariness, the traces of years of sacrifice and hardship, had disappeared. Before him was a version of his mother he had never known: a young woman, with a rejuvenated and radiant face. The years of selfless care seemed to have vanished, as if time had rolled back.
The sound of his footsteps made Mallory turn her head toward him. Seeing the confusion in her son's eyes, her smile grew wider, filled with emotion and satisfaction. With a warmth only a mother can have, she extended her hand and, with a spark of hope in her voice, said:
"Shall we go live our own normal life together?"