The next few months were a blur as I recommitted myself to my studies, my projects, and work. I was in my 3rd year of architecture and the workload seemed to only increase each year. But, I was so excited for spring break to come that I applied myself fiercely to stay on top of everything. If I did end up missing this trip, it was not going to be because I was behind on studies.

Any spare change I could come across I saved. I already barely ate out as it was just too expensive long-term, but now even less. Any time I wanted something quick to eat, I just imagined not being able to try something in London because I had spent money now and that set me straight. The downside of this maddening pace was that my already abysmal social life dropped even further. The friends I had made understood though, as many were also just struggling to stay afloat in the wash of ever-present deadlines and increasingly larger projects.

When I wasn’t studying, at school, or asleep, I was working. I did maintenance at one of the larger hotels in my town and worked the evening into night shift. If I was quick and the night was quiet I often had a few hours to work on homework. But, there were also the shifts where I’d spend all night fixing the cable in rooms, unclogging toilets, replacing lights, and whatever else was on the fritz. I was very underqualified when I started there a few years ago. But Mark was the maintenance lead and was an old family friend. His training and help had brought me up to speed, and also made it easier to ignore his interest in mom. He was relatively shy and had only brought it up once. For all that I appreciated him for, that had been the only time I had gotten mad at Mark. It was an overreaction and I had apologized later, but he, thankfully, had never brought it up again.

I wanted to spend more time with Kate and mom than I was, but there was never enough time to do everything. Most days all I got was a few minutes to eat breakfast with them before heading out. I didn’t have time to do movie nights with Kate like she enjoyed, which was my biggest regret during the busy months. I knew she liked movies because no one expected her to talk; everyone was supposed to be quiet. I could relate as I liked the quiet recesses of the library for similar reasons. Didn’t have to worry about how my presence was affecting anyone.

When the week finally came I was wracked with anxiety. Not for the trip, but that somehow it wouldn’t work out. I had made a few itineraries for the trip but had also made one for my week if it was all some cruel joke and I didn’t end up going. I kept that one in my wallet; a useless act because I also had it memorized. If it came down to it I was completely ready to laugh it off and pretend that I knew it was never real. As the days turned into hours that piece of paper got heavier and heavier.

Please. Please let this be real.

I threw my bags in the car, and it was still real.

I hugged Kate and Mom, and promised Mom that I would call if I needed anything and I could call collect if needed. It’d be fine. But it was still real.

I waved goodbye as I walked into the airport alone, Mom and Kate both a little misty-eyed as they waved back from the loading zone and drove off in our aging Sedan. I had no emotions, I was still scared.

It seemed real.

I passed through security, still real.

I double and triple-checked my flight time and gate. Still real.

I went up to the attendants at the desk and confirmed I was in the right place, they confirmed my name and everything. Still real.

I boarded the plane. Still real.

Then the plane took off.

….This was real.

I was going to London.

Something might happen to the plane, but it would happen while I was on my way to London. London!

I leaned back and months of anxiety and fear turned into overwhelming excitement, I wanted to jump and run up and down the aisle. I wanted to talk to each person on that plane and hear their story and talk about how excited we all were to go to London. To London!

I took my notebook out and reviewed my plans for the first day, then checked the rest of the days. Then I just kept re-reading the plans I had made, smiling bigger and bigger each reread. I knew I needed sleep, but I could hardly imagine turning my brain off at this point. I decided to take the Gravol Mom had given me, chose a cozy movie I idly thought Kate would’ve enjoyed to watch with me, and finally tucked in for the long flight ahead of me.

The last thing I did was take out that piece of paper in my wallet and cross out the other itinerary, the one I had written for when this ended up being a joke.

This wasn’t a joke. I was going on this trip.

I was going on an adventure. My very own adventure.

There weren't bills or school or work or family to worry about. It was just me. For the first time in years all I had to think about was what I wanted to do.

Sleep took me surprisingly fast once my body was finally allowed to relax. My last thoughts were of them as I drifted off to sleep.

Thanks Mom.

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Thanks Kate.

—----------------------------------------

Oo-shi the EverWatcher continued her vigil. The Unbeing was truly tenacious and single-minded in focus.

Nothing could stop them - Oo-shi mused. She suspected this to be the case because, as far as she had seen, practically everything had been attempted to halt this being’s descent from beyond the distant islands to the shores of the Prime Nebula; where they now stood.

They had remained there for a time, staring into the cataclysmic depths that all of creation had crawled from eons ago.

To enter the Prime Nebula meant complete and utter destruction for every being in existence.

Well, almost every being.

She suspected she could face it if necessary, but did not see a future where that would become necessary. For the Unbeing, this was the final hurdle on their thus-far unstoppable path.

Finally, as if triggered by some unseen stimuli, the Unbeing descended. As with all prior obstacles, aside from the barest of hesitations, they overcame this one without much struggle and proceeded to descend into the matter-crushing depths of the Prime Nebula.

It won’t be long now - Oo-shi thought as she turned away all but a single head from the Unbeing. There was very little time left to observe and she wished to catch every moment she could, including the final ones.

Her existence’s mission would be coming to a close soon, and, in these final days, she wished only to take in the joy of the Sparked.

A small wraith completing her first kill. A good hunt.

An imp who had finally gotten the courage to bring a shiny gem to the she-imp who had caught his fancy. A good match.

A young human traveling to a land he had only dreamed of seeing. A great endeavor.

All these final moments of joy she took in and more. As she knew they were measured in days now and soon to be hours.

If her prediction held true, the Unbeing had one last challenge to face. Just one more impossibility on his path.

Yes. It won’t be long now. She was sure of it.

—----------------------------------------------------

It was my final day in London and it still hardly seemed real. I had barely gotten any sleep this week because I was so determined to see and take in everything. I had a fresh notebook filled with drawings of every piece of architecture that had struck my fancy.

I had eventually decided to stop drawing everything when I realized I had only traveled 2 blocks my first day after coming across a Cathedral and drawing every single feature I could see on it until they had closed. It had been ages since I had been able to just sit down and draw for pure enjoyment instead of for school and I was hooked. I had photos as well on my phone but they never seemed to do the wonders I beheld the justice they deserved.

My days quickly passed as I filled them with trying new food, drawing new buildings or features of buildings, and visiting museums. Because of my low funds I only got a few souvenirs, a rosary from St. Paul’s for Mom, a scarf I thought Kate might like, and a cool lighter with the Union Jack on it for myself. I knew it was silly, but it would be a fun way to remember this place every time I went camping. It was one of those classic lighters that felt good to light and I kept it with me everywhere I went.

I attempted twice to offer a light if I saw a cute girl lighting a smoke. Unfortunately, my flirting was a little rusty and I fumbled lighting it both times. In both cases the cute girl simply lit her own cigarette and continued with her day. Which I was grateful for as, unlike my lighter, my face had gotten red-hot with embarrassment both times. I spent a little bit of time whenever my fingers got cramped from writing, just working on opening and closing the lighter in a quick way and lighting it quickly.

“Please, allow me” I would say, and with a flourish and a wink I would light the mystery girl’s cigarette. Maybe I should have bought nice matches instead? The charming men in the black and white’s Mom liked always used matches.

At home, I was always too busy, too poor, too stressed, and too overworked to even think about girls. But London-me? Still pretty broke and stressed, but it was fun to entertain the notion of having a flirtatious interaction with a beautiful stranger. Maybe I’d come see her again or she would come see me. And we’d travel the world together, or live in the jungle.

One could dream.

However, before I knew it. My trip was at its end.

As the sun began to set on the final day I didn’t want to return to my hostel or go to bed. I had stayed out somewhat late most nights but had promised mom I would be going to bed at a reasonable time each night so I wouldn’t get mugged or stabbed or whatever other awful outcomes she had imagined.

Tonight though, I just couldn’t. It was my final night here and I wanted to savor every last second. I wanted to really enjoy the culture and the people. To that end I found myself walking in random directions, taking the Tube to stops I didn’t know, and checking out Pubs I had never been to or heard of before with names I struggled to pronounce. I got myself thoroughly lost, determined to squeeze every last drop out of my trip.

It was my final day, and I wanted it to be the most memorable.

—-----------------------------------

Adez slowly approached the old stone well. It was the first thing they had come across in this land that looked normal and was therefore completely out of place and completely unmistakeable.

A well, in the depths of the Prime Nebula, resting upon a rocky gnoll, upon which sat a wood-paneled cover. Just as he had been told.

To remove the covering would return all that had come from the well back to The Source. To do that would end all of known existence.

A temporary victory.

Eventually, the well would reappear. It always did. And all would return, as it always did. And this… existence….would continue, as it always did.

Not this time.

From their strange mantle, Adez retrieved a large disc composed of such blackness it made the surrounding mirk appear bright.

Adez gently rested the large disc beside the well, it would not do to damage the artifact after carrying it this far.

Then, with no hesitation, Adez gripped both sides of the wooden covering firmly, and pulled at it. It resisted for a time, but Adez would not be denied. Finally, with a mighty creaking sound, the covering budged from where it had lain since the beginning of time. Adez pulled the lid completely off and held it in his hands; waiting.

A second passed.

Another.

Then, a force beyond anything Adez had felt erupted from the well only to be withdrawn just as quickly.

And so it begins.

Everything around the well and beyond began to be pulled down into the infinite depths. It started slow, but like a forming whirlpool it progressed rapidly. Adez watched as the first scraps of existence plunged down the Well, returning to the Source.

In his hands the lid was pulled as well, but not to descend down the well, but rather to re-cover it. Left to its own devices the lid would find its place and the collapse would end early. Or Adez could remain and hold it in place until all of reality had collapsed, then the well and lid would simply disappear. Or so his master had said.

Both options were unacceptable to Adez.

No more.

Adez took the wooden cover and, with a mighty swing, broke it into two over his knee. The wood did not creak or snap as it was split, but rather released a thunderous CRACK that seemed to push back the descent of reality for a brief moment. Adez took these two halves in his hands, and as the funneling continued, threw them down the well.

The collapse could not be stopped now. But Adez had a greater goal to achieve. Adez lifted the large disc they had set to the ground before and placed it completely over the opening of the well, blocking the opening entirely. The suction did not abate, but continued accelerating as existence continued to fall towards the well.

But not to fall down and return to its Source. The disc that now blocked the opening appeared to be absorbing every scrap of existence that approached, disallowing even the smallest particles from descending.

No more.

Adez stepped back to watch their work. No doubt The Source had built fall-backs into their accursed universe. No doubt Balance would stick their nose in things shortly.

But, things were moving quickly. They might not have time for that.

And even if they did.

What could they do to stop this now?

The Universe would be unmade.

And it would never return.