Confidence radiated from the depths of Max’s heart as she crept towards the far end of the chamber, not knowing what she might find. An anxious energy swept through her mind but the freckled girl puffed her chest, stood tall, and was ready to face whatever obstacle she was about to meet. She recalled the lengthy trek, from one end of the cave-like corridor to the other and remembered how the darkness eventually broke because of a flickering candle. The light danced on the walls and the ceiling, helping Max find her way to the corner where The Watcher was waiting. She had previously extinguished the flame and didn’t know if a light source would be available this time around.

During her protracted hike across the realm, Max thought back to when she and Des bonded over a meal just one day prior. It was a special and heartfelt experience between the women, and she was glad they got to spend that time together. She hoped her teenage daughter and her wife were able to connect and create similar special moments of their own while she was away. After sending a joyful tickle of energy back to her partner, she hoped Chloe could relax and find time to bond with the girl.

Another thought crossed the brunette’s mind about that other universe. If some version of Chloe existed there, another Max couldn’t be too far away. In her heart, she felt that each Max and Chloe in every reality must be connected by a deep and boundless love similar to her and her wife’s. The idea of there being other versions of herself still wasn’t an easy pill to swallow, but she hoped they were all as happy as she was with her little family that she loved so much.

She continued walking forward for what felt like an eternity. A hundred thoughts bounced around in her head, but none frightened her like they had on her first trip. She recalled wondering if she’d ever see her beautiful, blue-haired girlfriend again at that time. Thinking about all the crazy shit they had been through filled the girl with strength. They could do anything as long as they were together, and they were indeed never apart; that had been proven in a deeper-rooted way than she ever thought possible. It was in this chamber where she discovered they were connected at the atomic level, and they were each other’s yin and yang. That discovery was fully realized later as they merged into one and conceived their amazing daughter.

Lost in joyous and loving thoughts of her family, Max didn’t notice the rippling glow of dim lavender light originating from deep in the darkened distance at first. As she drew closer, the shimmer began to undulate and burn brighter as it finally caught her full attention. Still not knowing her purpose for being back in this space, Max was convinced the upcoming experience would be something meaningful and perhaps profound. The last time she was here, she learned information about her and Chloe’s love, as well as her own purpose, and she imagined this journey wouldn’t be much different.

The glimmering, ruffled outline of a figure could finally be seen at the end of the path where The Watcher once resided. As she approached, she noticed a radiant glow illuminating the walls and ceiling, but it was too bright to make out any specific features of what was up ahead. Standing only a few meters away, Max could tell there was a person, or at least an entity resembling a person, existing behind the glow. She shielded her eyes to block the bright sunshine-like rays that spread across the narrow landscape in bars.

“Max, you made it.” The comment echoed through the lair, bouncing off the walls and emptying into the dark space behind her. She recognized the voice but couldn’t quite make out why it sounded so familiar. Her mind jumped around from person to person like a game of  Guess Who , trying to determine which face the voice belonged to. The palpitating sound was amplified in this place, so discerning the owner of the vocals was more difficult than it might have been anywhere else.

“Hello? I know your voice.” Max assuredly spoke with an inflection of curiosity while still shielding her eyes from the radiance of the figure with her hand in a salute on her forehead.

“I knew you were strong, and obviously you’re hot as hell like me, but damn. What you had to go through the last time you were here would destroy most others. It was beautiful seeing you break through from this side; last time I only saw what happened on the cliff.”

Suddenly, Max pinpointed the voice and knew exactly who she was talking to. “Rachel? But… how are you here?”

“You’re so beautiful, Max. Outwardly, you’re flawless. Inside, your heart is golden. I can see that so clearly from here now. I wish we would have gotten to know one another better in life. Maybe my fate would have been different with your influence. Just like I know how much Chloe has changed for the better because of you. Seeing both of you, though, especially from my position, I know my life and death had a larger purpose.” Either Max’s eyes were adjusting or the brightness had subsided; she could clearly see Rachel talking and the blonde still looked as gorgeous as ever.

“Rachel… I… I’m still so sorry I couldn’t go back and save you. Part of me wishes I would have tried harder, but the other part of me feels selfish. I love what Chloe and I have together, and I love our beautiful daughter. I wouldn’t change the outcome for the world; they mean everything to me.”

“Ah, Destiny. Yeah, she has a very large role to fill. It’s part of what I want to tell you, part of why I am here. But first,” Max’s glowing friend paused, “let’s just chat for a bit, if that’s okay. And please, don’t feel selfish. You are one of the most selfless people I know.”

“I have a ton of questions, Rachel. The last time I spoke to you, you were on your way to… I guess, cross over. I thought we’d never see you again.”

“I was at your wedding, by the way. It was perfect, Max. Your vows moved me to tears, as did Chloe’s. After the ceremony, I planned to fully cross, but then I had an idea. I love you girls so much I wanted to be able to stay connected as long as possible. I can’t go into details without revealing things you need to experience for yourself, but I ultimately ended up having a choice. That choice allowed me to decide what was next for me. I’m here because, well… I am the new Watcher. Still not a huge fan of that title but it sorta stuck after you used it.”

“Fuck, Rachel. That sounds terrible.” Max was horrified that Rachel’s fate was to be this… thing, that held her in a torturous trance and was the source of so many of her nightmares.

“It’s not as bad as you think. It’s much different this time. The previous role holder never left this timeless realm, it was all that existed to him. As soon as he decided to physically affect you, his fate was sealed. You finding this place and ending his reign was good for everyone.” Rachel must have noticed the bewildered look on Max’s face. She paused and glanced upward momentarily, then she locked her eyes back on the brunette. “I’ll put it this way, he never possessed the ability to love. If we’re separated from love and care, empathy and sympathy for other people will cease to exist. I welcomed the role so it would allow me to observe the people I care about. Because of my opened mind and heart, I can see much farther than the previous guy. Not only can I see the past and the future; I can see potential futures.”

“But the cycle… we ended it. Does this mean it’ll begin again?” She wasn’t scared anymore, but Max was trying to absorb and make sense of all the information that was being unloaded.

“Hmm,” the hazel-eyed blonde purred. “Great question. I won’t be able to answer everything you ask because my answers will come with very tough consequences. If certain things are revealed that you’re not yet ready to know, it could severely alter the future. We don’t want to do that now do we?” She finished her rhetorical question with a wink and a twirl, stopping her rotation while facing away from her friend. “We’ve all fought too hard to get to this point for it to all to come crashing down now.”

“So…” Max pondered, “the reason you were able to tear the photo and sacrifice yourself was because of your future, right? You were going to end up here regardless. I didn’t question it at the time, just mourned for you and supported Chloe. I would be lying though if I said I didn’t wonder how it happened.”

“Bingo. Well, not regardless, but it was probable for me.” The new Watcher turned back around to face her visitor again. “See, I don’t know why your grades were ever so low; you’re damn smart. Maybe you just had a certain pirate girl on your mind and couldn’t focus.” Rachel smirked as her eyes impishly darted back and forth between Max’s. “The combination of you destroying the previous Watcher, me not belonging alive in your timeline, and a probable future where I would end up here, mixed together to create a perfect storm for all of us. It’s pretty interesting when you think about it. I could see your future in the dreamspace because of my future here. If things didn’t happen exactly like they did, it would be a ton of trouble for the entire multiverse, and I assure you, grief and pain would have followed you and Chloe forever.”

“The multiverse? Why does that idea keep popping up, Rachel?”

“You’re now tuned into it. Most people have no idea that other versions of themselves exist beyond their own reality, which is a damn good thing. The multiverse is a concept most just wouldn’t understand. I’ll get to the role you play in a moment… So…” Rachel stopped and seemingly took a deep breath, “the cycle. It basically came undone with your extinguishing of the flame. Have you ever heard of the law of conservation of mass?”

“Maybe. Einstein, right?”

“Well, almost. The first person to really propose the principle was Empedocles. He said nothing new can come into being. Matter and energy are neither created nor destroyed, just transferred from one form to another. The imbalance of the cycle was ended because of the love you two share, but the power still exists. Not in the way that you and Chloe kept yours, though. You ladies kinda cheated the system. By photo jumping together, the residual effects physically manifested inside of you. After the final storm in Arcadia Bay, the power disengaged then reengaged with a young boy who lived in Seattle, who can move objects with his mind. It reestablished and embedded itself deep inside the fabric of time, so he can only impact his tangible environment as it physically exists. He can’t manipulate the timeline the way you and the previous power holders could. As far as I’m concerned, that’s a much safer usage of that type of energy.”

“Anyway, this next part is the big shit, so hold on tightly, Max.” Rachel placed her right hand on her hip then shifted her weight. “There was no multiverse at the beginning; there was only one universe. There is an exact point I have located where every other universe was created, and guess what?”

“I’m nervous about the answer, Rachel. Does it have something to do with me and Chloe?”

“Absolutely.” Her eyes narrowed to the point where Max could barely see hazel or white anymore. “There was a choice to save the love of your life or save a city with thousands of people in it. You chose both, somehow. You existed in the aftermath of both choices, but that didn’t stop you. You joined both choices into one, and for about a week, your timelines were merged together. After your last visit to this realm, you reset the timelines and the three of us shattered a singular system into an infinite number of systems. What I’m saying is… we created the multiverse.”

“Whoa.” Max was shocked. “I don’t really know what to say.” The implication of her involvement as the catalyst for shattering reality filled the girl with apprehension. In another time, she might have shut down completely because of this new realization, but she knew there was nothing she couldn’t handle anymore with the strength and love she and her perfect person shared.

“There’s not much for you to say. Right now, you need to listen. The multiverse isn’t just a bunch of timelines that branch outward, but rather a series of interconnected webs.” Rachel’s voice was sounding more serious and intense than when they first began conversing. “Within these webs, there are many different versions of you and Chloe, and they are faced with the same shitty choice at the lighthouse cliff. Some of them will choose to sacrifice the city, some will sacrifice their soulmate. Both choices are fucked, but they don’t have the luxury of experiencing both sides. They get exactly one chance and have to live and die with that choice. Ultimately, your timeline exists in a present where the city was destroyed, so even you had to get through some tough shit. But you got to see the other side, and realized the love you share with Chloe is all that matters.”

“Damn, Rachel. This is literally mind blowing. My heart is breaking for the other versions of us.”

“Yeah, same. You two are connected far beyond the atomic particles that hold everything together. As I’ve been thinking about everything, I sorta started calling you Max Prime and Chloe Prime. Badass shit, right? And that would make me Rachel Prime.” The former actress proudly giggled, curtsied, and then carried on. “And though every version of you two are connected and special to one another, none are quite as directly connected as you are. I think it has something to do with being the first universe, or maybe there are frequencies I don’t understand, but yours are completely set on each other; you are literally perfect matches.”

“Wowser,” Max replied as she continued to wrap her brain around all of the new information she just learned. “Can I ask questions now? I know you said you would only discuss certain things so the future isn’t impacted. I’m guessing you can’t tell me what the afterlife is like.”

“Gonna pass on that one, my curious friend. It’s all designed so you find out that answer after you’ve passed.” Rachel winked and it was actually calming to see her make light of such a serious subject.

“Figured. Can’t blame a girl for trying. What about The Watcher, what happened to him?”

“He’s onto his next destination. It’s not for me to say what that means just that he’s finished with his role here.” From the beaming purple-hued glow, Max couldn’t tell if her friend was even blinking, but she noticed the eye contact remained constant.

“I wonder if he would be able to be a Watcher for another universe or something. He put me through some terrible shit, there’s no denying it. But he always struck me as wanting to do what he thought was right. I was just another one in a long line of those who received the power to him, and we changed everything he ever knew. I’m not sure he was inherently bad, just… warped.”

“Oh, that’s interesting you bring that up. Max, there is no other Watcher. This role exists in our universe because of its prime nature. It was a position that was deemed necessary long ago, and because I wasn’t completely ready to let you two go, I jumped at the opportunity.”

“It sounds like you’re here to watch this universe, but you seem to be able to see others.”

“Very observant, Max. I’m not sure if I can see all of them, but I can see a shitload. An open heart leads to an open mind.”

“If this was your fate all along, what happens now? I’m pretty sure I’m not just here to learn about you. What’s my next step forward?”

“Like I was saying, there are other Maxes and other Chloes, who are every bit as real as you are. We created them, in a way. How can we let them suffer with that awful decision? I have zero power outside of this place, but Destiny can move around the entire multiverse. With what I’m about to tell you, I hope you can convince her to help.”

“Jeez, Rachel. That’s an impossibly large task to ask of her. She only glitched back and forth, and she really wasn’t ready for something like that. Maybe she never will be.”

“Well, she won’t be going alone. There’s an entire network of others that will be working with her. They’ll need your daughter if their plan is to succeed. Without her, they’ll likely fail, but without you, she won’t help at all. So, you see, you are the key to convincing her to help fix what we broke. I won’t lie, it won’t be easy for her. In fact, there are parts of it that will fucking suck, but it will be so damn worth it, Max.”

A silence fell between the women as Max turned away and faced the infinite darkness behind her. She had yet another tough decision to make. She would need to decide if she wanted to put her daughter in danger to save other versions of herself and her soulmate, or ensure her family was safe by not taking a risk. “I’m not sure I can put my family through that. We’re together, we’re happy…”

“But will that happiness be completely fulfilling with the knowledge that you could have saved everyone? Would you be able to live with yourself if you give up? The Max Caulfield-Price that I know, would NEVER give up.”

“Things change, Rachel. I don’t see it as giving up. The one thing I’ve always done is fought to keep those I love safe. I’ve allowed an entire town to be destroyed for that love, don’t you think I could do the same thing here? I’ve never met these other Maxes and Chloes.

“You have met them, though, Max. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. They are you and you are them. But I can see you will never change your mind without a little extra push.” She walked over to her friend and put an arm on her shoulder. “Will you trust me? I have something I want to show you, and you’ll need to be strong and place your trust in me.”

“Of course I trust you, Rachel. We owe you so much.”

“Then I need you to let me show you something. The catch is… you’ll be in a similar state of trance as before. But I promise to not hurt you.”

Max’s body buckled and she caught herself before falling. “Rachel… I dunno. Shit. That was one of the worst experiences of my life.”

“I know. But I think this is the only way now. Let me present you with something and let you decide. After you see what I need to show you, I won’t ask again. We’ll all deal with the consequences and you can leave if you’d like.”

“Fine. Please, Rachel. You gotta know, I don’t fear many things anymore. I’ve seen and dealt with way too much to be afraid. The two things that scare me are losing Chloe or Destiny, and being trapped in this trance again. If you think this is best, then let’s do it… I’m ready.”

The beautiful blonde removed her hand and took a step backwards, then she began waving her arms up and down. “Don’t resist, Max. It won’t hurt at all if you just allow it to happen. You’ll be given the sight like before, but I will be gentle. Promise.”

Max watched as Rachel held out both arms, crossing and uncrossing repeatedly at the wrist. As she rapidly increased her speed, the freckled girl recalled the sharp, searing pain the first time she was given the sight. It only lasted a second but it was the single most painful thing she had ever physically experienced. She closed her eyes and waited for what was to come.

Her eyes tenderly rolled back and a bright white void swaddled her vision. So far, Rachel had kept her word. The transition was seamless with zero pain. She had no reason to doubt the girl, her worry had spawned from her previous torturous experience. This time, it was a much more graceful changeover, and she was very thankful. The worst part was her feeling disconnected from Chloe like they had almost severed their connection. She realized their bond was still unscathed, it just felt more distant than she ever recalled it feeling previously.

Vision slowly returned, beginning with her peripherals, and she witnessed an incredible sight. An overly complex series of computer systems and machinery filled an ordinary room that was lined with floor to ceiling bookcases. Max looked around and noticed a person in a wheelchair facing the opposite direction reading a document displayed on a futuristic-looking computer monitor. Then a tingling, almost embarrassing, sensation flowed through Max’s entire body.

Using the mechanisms on her wheelchair, the woman spun around and the brunette gasped as her jaw dropped to the floor; she knew those beautiful clear sapphire eyes anywhere. A much older version of the wheelchair-bound Chloe she left behind during the first storm week was squinting in her direction.

A thunderclap roared in the distance and Des and Chloe rummaged through moving boxes unpacking and organizing the house as they waited for the girl’s clothes to finish washing and drying. After the teenager’s shower, the dark clouds that had gathered began unloading their contents like buckets of water pouring down. The mother and daughter pair heated up frozen chicken nuggets and made a quick batch of macaroni and cheese. That meal was typically reserved for the two-year-old but it would do. The older girl had her heart set on brainstorming ways to bring her partner back home, and a quick bite to eat seemed like the best first step. They finished eating and Chloe asked the teen to help her work on getting the house ready in an attempt to clear their minds before focusing on their main objective.

Des was wearing a borrowed combination of both of her mothers’ clothing. She wore a black  Xena: Warrior Princess  graphic tee that Chloe found in a box of old clothes she hadn’t touched in years. The artwork was a bit faded but it was clearly a happy moment from the series. Xena and Gabrielle were standing by their horse, Argo, hugging each other and grinning. The teen also borrowed a pair of Max’s grey gym shorts to complete her relaxing wardrobe. She looked gorgeous in everything she wore, and it seemed like she could pull off any style she chose.

It had been hours since the teen returned from another universe without her Max, and the most the red-streaked blonde had opened up was during her shower. She had thanked her mom and told her she loved her. It was a beautiful moment that Chloe would cherish forever, but she hoped her daughter would open up more as they shared some time together.

“So,” Chloe began, breaking the silence that had set in, “are you dating anyone back home… I mean… in your time?”

“Nah, not really,” Des yawned. “I don’t have time.”

“You did not just say that.” Chloe smirked and recalled a similar conversation she had when she was reconnecting with Max several years back. “You pretty much have all the time in the world, yeah?”

“Well, it’s not that. I… just… just forget it. The answer is no.” The teenager turned around and started on a new box faced away from her mother.

Realizing she obviously didn’t want to talk about that subject, the older girl searched her mind for something else she could use to help break down the walls Des had put up. “Come here.”

“What?” Des questioned.

“Come over here and let me see your ink. I haven’t gotten a chance to really check it out.” From her experience, Chloe knew people with tattoos typically enjoyed discussing them with others. It seemed like the perfect topic to begin a conversation with her daughter and she hated that she didn’t think of it before.

“Oh, yeah. So, it’s a golden dragon,” the girl sputtered while lifting her tee shirt sleeve and walking over towards her mom. “A blue flame in the background.”

“It’s so fucking badass, Des. Any meaning for you, or do you just like the way it looks?” Chloe reached out and gently ran her palm up and down the tattooed portion of the girl’s upper shoulder.

“Yeah, it’s packed full of meaning. The blue flame represents a transformation of compassion and forgiveness. The dragon symbolizes power, freedom, and protection, and the gold is for good luck and prosperity. Together, I think it encompasses the three of us… our family.”

“Damn. Yeah, you definitely got your sentimental tendencies from Max. It’s goddamn beautiful, Des.” The girl lowered her sleeve and looked back up at her mom.

“What about you? You’ve never talked much about your original tat, the one you covered. I know why you did it; I saw how much you’ve been through. I’ve just never heard you discuss much about it.”

Chloe shifted around so her right arm was angled directly at Des. “There’s not a whole lot to say. I got it when… FUCK!” She grabbed her head and dropped to her knees. “Something just happened!”

“Mom!” The eighteen-year-old bent down and put her hands on both of her mother’s shoulders. “Are you okay?!”

“Shit, it’s Max.” Chloe closed her eyes and soared past the grey. She frantically located the sweet spot and lifted the tiny mound. Diving down into the complex innerworkings of circuitry and loops, she searched for the wisp she knew was her soulmate’s. “Fuuuuuck! I can’t find it! Fuuuuuck!” Releasing the grip, she was immediately pulled out past the grey and from her own mind. The next thing she knew, she was staring into big blue eyes, as her daughter was glaring back at her.

Suddenly, breathing became difficult, and she couldn’t seem to completely fill her tightened lungs.

In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.

Rapid short breaths came in waves.

In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.

Her body began uncontrollably shivering and shaking, and everything slowed down to a molasses-like crawl. She knew her heartrate was extremely heightened, but each beat thudded with an echo in her ears. Her vision was blurred as tears filled her bloodshot eyes.

“Mom, breathe!” Des’s words existed somewhere in the background but it didn’t seem real.

“She’s gone…” A whimper escaped her lips as everything faded to darkness. “Max….”

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

Reality seemed fuzzy and undefined as Chloe reopened her eyes. Objects lacked definition, everything appeared like clumps of smoky color. She blinked several times and focus began to return.

“Oh, dammit. Thank dog, you’re awake.” Des’s words seeped towards Chloe’s ears and she realized she was laying on the floor in the living room with her daughter crouched down over her. Past the girl’s face, the ceiling fan spun on what had to be the lowest setting offering a gentle breeze. A once cool and moist rag was folded on her forehead just above her brow.

“Des.” Chloe reached up and removed the rag then pushed herself up to a sitting position.

“You scared the shit outta me, Mom. Don’t do that again, jeez.”

All of a sudden, the memory of what happened flooded back to her mind. “Oh no. No, no, no.” She forced herself to a stand and her legs felt limp. Des put her arm around her mom’s waist and cradled her body towards the couch, setting her down comfortably then taking a seat beside her.

“You have to calm down. We don’t know for sure what happened to Mom, but you have to breathe and relax.”

“You don’t understand. I can’t feel her anymore. That could only mean one thing…”

Chloe was interrupted before she could finish her thought. “It could mean a ton of things, Mom. You’ve never been this far apart before, right? Maybe there’s just a blockage or something. I can’t believe I have to be the one to remind you of this because I’ve heard it so many times. You two are Max and Chloe. You’re always together, even when you’re apart.”

“How long was I out?”

“Over half an hour. Here, take a sip.” The girl reached over to the coffee table and picked up a glass of water pushing it towards her mom’s lips.

Chloe didn’t realize how thirsty she was until the cool water trickled down her warm, parched throat. Chloe lifted the glass, tilted her head back, and drank every drop. When she removed it from her lips, she took a deep breath which relaxed her a bit. “Yeah, we’re Max and Chloe… dammit!”

“Yeah, you are!” Des reaffirmed with a positive bounce to her words. “She’s fine, trust me. As a matter of fact, if you’d like, I can just jump back to my time and check on her. I’m not sure if anything has changed since I’ve been away, but we would know if something bad had happened.”

“That’s actually a brilliant idea, Des, but hang on first.” Chloe jumped off the bed and headed straight for the master bedroom. She located a moving box written in her wife’s handwriting:  PERSONAL – CHLO . She tore at the seams then shuffled through papers. Near the bottom, under the Pirate Power mix CD Max made for her when she was twelve, she found a laminated napkin she hadn’t seen in several years. “Ah, ha!”

Chloe rejoined her teenage daughter in the living room and handed her the napkin. “I wrote this for her when I was afraid she hated me. I made a terrible mistake and needed to prove that she was the only girl for me. Not only did it do the trick then, but it was a defining moment in our relationship. It helped us realize how strongly we were bonded after she disappeared into that other realm. We are connected… forever, and when I didn’t feel that connection, I freaked. But I want to try again. Before you travel back to check on her, I want to try one more time.”

Des didn’t hesitate, she started reading the words on the napkin out loud. As she began, Chloe closed her eyes and soared past the grey. As she dove deeper into her mind, she heard the words coming from her daughter’s mouth:

EVERYWHERE I GO I CARRY YOUR HEART WITHIN ME

WHEN WE ARE APART EVERYTHING FEELS EMPTY

THAT’S WHY I VOW TO NEVER LEAVE, I’LL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU

NO MATTER WHERE WE GO, I PROMISE WE’LL CONTINUE

OUR PATHS ARE NOW ONE AND MY HEART IS SO HAPPY

YOU’VE CHANGED ME MAX, NOW I’M ALL SAPPY

BUT THAT’S JUST FINE SINCE YOU REALLY KNOW ME

WE ARE MORE THAN JUST TOGETHER, WE ARE MAX AND CHLOE

She lifted the spot where the power was held and swam deeper into the circuitry. She searched but still couldn’t see or feel the once vivid coil that belonged to Max.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY THEY’RE IN LOVE WITH THEIR BEST FRIEND?

I’M SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AND DON’T HAVE TO PRETEND

FROM NOW ON YOU’LL ALWAYS GET EVERY PART OF ME

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS, THIS IS OUR DESTINY

As the last words were read, the spot where the coil once resided lit up with a nearly overwhelming brightness before subsiding. Chloe approached the spot and could now fully see Max’s essence. It was translucent and almost nonexistent, but it was there. She realized her wife was still alive and was most likely so far away her presence was barely discernible. Like interweaving their fingers while holding hands, she wrapped her energy around the coil. A bright flash of white passed through her vision and she found herself staring at an older version of herself in a wheelchair.