Epilogue
Birth of a Constellation
“ I can’t do this. I repeat, I cannot do this.” I’m laying in the room Uziel, Eliam and Gabe have renovated for my delivery.
“I think it’s a little late to change your mind, dear.” My mother watches as she tries to suppress her growing smile. “You’re going to be amazing.” She gently squeezes my hand.
Uziel is to my left, pacing back and forth, on the verge of an apparent panic attack.
“Yeah, nerd! Can’t stop now—should have thought of this part before.” Ambra’s been so supportive, I suppose she’s allowed a little teasing but I pout and she chuckles .
“This isn’t funny.” I try looking behind me but I can’t see much on either side from my position. “Don’t you have a nebula to bother?”
My sister ignores my agitation and leans up against the edge of my bed. “Not until she’s done rechecking the nursery for the umpteenth time. Have you checked to make sure these aren’t her kids?”
Gabe and Eliam have come back into the room and are trying to calm down Uziel. My heart swells at their developing friendship.
“Wait, where’s papa?” I realize I haven’t seen my father for a while and I don’t want him to miss this—it feels like it’s almost time.
“He’s keeping the council wrangled as they wait for our, well your , announcement,” my mother answers. “I’ll go get him in a second.”
I cringe a little, the entire royal council is waiting in one of our gardens to find out if my children’s births will create constellations. “I feel like they didn’t need to be here, right now. ”
She sends me an understanding smile as Ambra makes a disgusted sound. “They would be sitting on the edge of bed if they could. That’s what you get for being so bright.”
I try to swat my sister from where she’s leaning. “Ambra, I swear!” She laughs and moves out of range .
“Ambra, let’s stop tormenting your sister as she prepares to do this. Let’s go find your father.” My mother ushers her away from me.
She’s replaced by Uziel, who has thankfully stopped looking like he’s going to be sick.
“Better?” I smile at him and his face flushes a bit.
“Yes, and I apologize for my momentarily lapse in sanity.” I hear Gabe and Eliam laughing. He partially whips around to face them, “I can’t wait to see how you both handle it.” That succeeds in shutting them up.
I release a breathy chuckle before locking eyes with him. “I’m a little terrified, I think.” I whisper so only he can hear me.
Uziel leans forward and touches his forehead to mine. “Leeni, I love you. I promise, you’ve got this. And I’ve got you.” He places a soft kiss on my lips as I reach up to cup his face.
“I love you too, Uziel.” I know he never gets tired of hearing it by the way he smiles every time I tell him.
“Alright, lovebirds. Let’s get this thing done. We’ve got a lot of celestials very excited to meet your little ones.” Carina treads around the bed until she’s facing me. “Ready?”
“Not really.” I laugh which is cut short when the process starts.
It feels like I’m unraveling to bring my children into the galaxy. It’s not painful. But the unusual sensation is somewhat uncomfortable at first—it’s a cold, gravitational force. I hold my breath, knowing the arrival of our little stellar nursery is coming, one protostar at a time.
“You’ll feel the exact moment they're ready to come out. The cold feeling will start to warm up. When you feel it tingling along your skin, give me a giant push.” Carina’s words are kind and supportive. They are the only sound in the room since everyone else is waiting with bated breath.
I inhale deeply in anticipation of the exact moment she’s describing. And before long, the cold begins to change. The warm feeling creates a buzz across my body as it floods me with the urge to push. I look up at Uziel who has tears in his eyes, and on my exhale I push as hard as I can.
The two of them enter the cosmos with the most intense starlight I’ve ever seen.
It’s a pure, pastel yellow that makes me giggle.
Carina brings them both to me and nestles them on my chest. I look down at my babies—they’re so tiny and so bright.
I glance up at Uziel who’s crying and he kisses me on the forehead.
“You did it, Leeni,” he chuckles happily.
I’m about to respond when their glows extend beyond them, and through the large window we’re positioned in front of.
It swirls through space and shoots out into the dark sheet of the galaxy.
Celebratory cheers erupt from the garden below us before their constellations are even done forming.
I look at my protostars who are both already sleeping as their starlight continues building the first two constellations in our binary star system—the first new constellations the galaxy has seen in a long time.
Gabe and Eliam have joined us and they stand, one on either side of Uziel and I. Eliam is clapping Uziel on the back and Gabe leans down to kiss me on the cheek.
“You did great, Leeahla. And I’m assuming this means what I think it means?” He looks out at the dancing shimmer of the baby Incandescents I’m holding.
I nod, tears of happiness finally breaking free. “The galaxy is going to be just fine.”