It was late October of 2031 when Celeste found herself standing on the familiar stone steps of the home she had once shared with Liam. The air was crisp, leaves blanketing the ground in hues of gold and orange. She took a deep breath before knocking, her gloved hand trembling slightly.
The door opened to reveal Marcus, his expression shifting from surprise to warmth in an instant. "Celeste," he said, stepping aside. "Come in."
She smiled faintly and stepped inside, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. The house hadn't changed much—warm, inviting, and filled with the sound of life. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear the laughter of a child.
Liam appeared in the living room, their adopted son, Theo, perched on his shoulders. The sight made Celeste's heart ache, but she masked it with a smile.
"Celeste," Liam greeted her warmly, lifting Theo down. "It's good to see you."
Theo, a bright-eyed boy with a head full of curls, looked up at her curiously. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice small and curious.
Celeste crouched to his level, her smile soft. "I'm an old friend of your dads'," she said, glancing up at Liam and Marcus.
Theo grinned. "Do you wanna see my room?"
Marcus laughed, stepping forward to scoop the boy up. "Maybe later, Theo. Why don't you go play with your toys for a bit?"
As Theo scampered off, Marcus and Liam turned their attention back to Celeste, their expressions warm but cautious.
Over cups of tea at the dining table, they talked—about Theo, about life, and about the simple joys they had found in their quiet, family-focused lives.
"I envy you both," Celeste admitted, her voice soft. "You have what I always wanted but could never have."
Marcus reached across the table, placing a hand over hers. "You could've had it, Celeste. If you'd chosen it."
She shook her head, her auburn curls falling over her shoulder. "No. My life was never meant for this. I see that now. The sacrifices I made… they bound me to a different path. And I've made peace with it."
Liam leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "Do you regret it? Any of it?"
Celeste took a moment to answer, her gaze distant. "I regret that I couldn't protect the people I loved from my choices. But I don't regret the path itself. Without it, I wouldn't be who I am now."
As the evening drew on, Celeste wandered outside to the backyard, where a small swing hung from a tree. She sat down, her hands gripping the ropes as she swayed gently. The stars above were bright, the air cool against her skin.
Marcus joined her, leaning against the tree trunk. "You know, for what it's worth, I think you made the right choice."
She glanced up at him, her brow furrowed. "Which one?"
"All of them," he said simply.
Before she left, Celeste knelt down to hug Theo goodbye. The little boy wrapped his arms around her neck tightly, giggling as she whispered something in his ear.
As she stood, Liam and Marcus walked her to the door.
"Take care of him," she said, her voice steady but tinged with sadness. "And each other."
Marcus pulled her into a hug, his voice low. "You'll always be family, Celeste. No matter where your path takes you."
As she drove back to her secluded estate, Celeste allowed herself a moment of vulnerability. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but they weren't tears of regret. They were tears of acceptance—of the life she had chosen, the sacrifices she had made, and the people she loved enough to let go.
She was Mother Celeste, a name that carried weight and power. A name that commanded reverence and fear. But tonight, she was just Celeste—a woman who had loved, lost, and found her way in a world that had demanded everything from her.
For the first time in a long time, she felt content. Sad, but content. Confident in who she was and who she had become.
And That Was Enough.
Until It Wasn't.