Bound: The Gift of Desire Ch. 16

***

Author's Note - Thanks for making it all the way to the final chapter of the book. This is the end of the book, but not the end of the story. The sequel is in production as you read this, and I'll be sure to release it here as soon as I'm able. Remember to leave a comment and a rating, and follow me so you don't miss the next book when it releases. For everyone who chose to support me, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you all for reading. DM out!

***

Chapter 16 - Dawn will Come

"That one is a nebula made of lollipops," said George.

Laying beside him on the soft grass, his companion pointed at another twinkling star, "What about that one?"

"That is a... marshmallow, lightly toasted," he said, "The ones above and below are graham crackers, and the darker one next to it is a huge bar of milk chocolate."

"Ooh, tasty," she giggled. "How 'bout... that one."

"That's a cat."

Her eyes brightened, "Like a giant sparkling space kitty?"

"Yeah! And it sparkles super hard and jams out with its boombox. We know it only as Sparklejam, the raddest kitty in all the cosmos."

The Genie chuckled and playfully smacked his arm.

"What do you think that one is?" asked George.

"Hmm," she thought as she scrunched up her nose. "That's a portal to the lewd dimension, where everyone is always horny and fucks all day long."

"Whoa," George marveled. "Genie, fetch my rocket ship. We're going on an adventure."

She raised her fist to the sky and cried, "Adventure!"

George and his Genie giggled happily as they lay under the old hickory tree on Twilight Hill and gazed up at the beautiful starlit sky. Stafford was a sleepy town even on the weekends, and the local observatory had lobbied for a light ordinance long ago, so the pair had a lovely, undisturbed view of the Milky Way.

"Crazy day," said George.

"You mean this isn't normal for you?" the Genie replied.

He chuckled. "Well, let's see. I met a smoking hot cosmic being and found out I've been cursed all along..."

Genie continued, "Had hot, passionate, sticky sex with your English teacher twice! And got into a fight twice!"

"Got recruited/blackmailed into playing sports ball by a football coach/mafia boss/cuck who may or may not also be a wizard or something."

"Fucked Lacy into submission." Genie then mimicked Lacy's voice and cried, "Yes! No! Yes! Fuck!"

George blushed and moved along. "Made friends with Lizzie. At least, I hope so."

"Saving her best friend's life probably helped a lot with that. Although I can't say how much she'll remember tomorrow."

"Good point. And, of course, we flew to the rescue of a princess who was also my lost childhood friend."

"Almost died in the process, twice."

George's heart sank when he remembered horse-kicking that biker and the resulting catastrophe. "Killed a guy," he said sadly.

"Killed two guys. One of them died when the portal went kaboom."

"Right..." he sighed. "Two guys."

George had been having fun and didn't want to spoil the mood by dredging up bad memories. But he couldn't help himself. "Suppose that makes me a murderer three times over," he lamented.

Genie stayed quiet in thought before responding. "I think Piper would see it differently," she said.

"I guess."

"Master, we haven't talked about what happened..."

He knew right away she was talking about the accident. George always tried to avoid the subject, but he knew it would come up eventually. She had access to practically all areas of his life, and if he couldn't hide it from himself, there was no chance he could hide it from her. "There isn't much to say. He was a better man than I'll ever be, and he's dead now. I killed him. Not even a wish will change that."

Genie snuggled up against him. "What do you think he would say about that?"

"I don't know. He'd probably tell me what I did wrong. Turn it into a learning opportunity." George began imitating his father as he said, "Remember, son, your actions, even the ones you don't choose, have consequences."

"Then what?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"After he finished his lesson, then what would he do?"

George was utterly perplexed by this line of questioning but indulged her. "I guess... we'd get ice cream or something."

"Oh! I've heard good things about ice cream. What kind was his favorite?"

"He... liked vanilla with lots of chocolate sauce... and sprinkles." He remembered a time when they joked that his father's bowl of ice cream had so many sprinkles on it that it resembled a pile of jewels. George hadn't thought about that since before the accident.

"Tell me more about him. Something no one else would know."

"Alright. Um, people didn't know because he looked young, but he was older than my mom by at least ten years, and she always kidded him about his silver hairs. Though I can't remember how old he was. But he would always laugh it off. Said he was distinguished."

She giggled. "That's cute. He didn't sweat small stuff like that?"

"No. I honestly can't remember a time when he raised his voice--or even got pissy about something. He was always so cool. I fucking idolized him." George thought back to the letter that came with the source. "He was trying to open your vessel, I think."

"I'm sure lots of people tried," she said dismissively.

"If anyone could have done it, it would have been him. He had a thing for mysteries. And he was tenacious as hell. If he wanted something, he went after it." It took a moment, but George eventually realized the implications of his statement. "Why wasn't he able to open it?"

She shrugged. "Dunno. Maybe I was holding out for a soft boy." Then, she playfully poked his belly.

George reflexively angled away from her assailing fingers. "I'm serious, Genie. Why me and not him?"

Genie sat up so she could look him in the eye. She looked at him curiously and asked, "You think this might all be a mistake?"

He wilted under her scrutiny. "What if it is? I have no idea how I opened it."

"I do," she said firmly. "You were worthy."

"But... how? I-I'm nothing, a nobody, a loser..."

She shrugged again, this time with a sillier affectation. "And yet, here I am."

George had to sit up and rest his arms on his knees. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, Genie. I know this isn't rational." He snickered, "Fuck, barely anything feels rational anymore. It's just that... there is this part of me that thinks this is all too good to be true. That I'm going to wake up in my bed feeling just as shitty as I did yesterday. Just as worthless." He sighed. "I'm... broken, Genie. And with this curse, I'm even more broken than I thought. We don't even know if you can fix me. Maybe it would have been better if... It s-should have been..." He tried to look away in shame, but the Genie wouldn't let him.

She leaned in close to cup his face in her hands and spoke softly, serenely. "Oh, Master. My sweet, sweet Master. I waited in darkness for countless millennia as nothing but a simple spirit dreaming of someone worthy. I don't know exactly what my vessel was waiting for, but it wasn't a simple criterion. Of all the souls who have ever graced its surface, it was you who finally set me free." She lovingly caressed his cheek and gave him a small kiss. "Perhaps this is all just a mistake, but... what if it's not? What if you don't need to be fixed at all? What if you're exactly what I need?"

George gazed back into her beautiful eyes that seemed to glow even in the dim light. There was an intensity from her he'd only had fleeting glimpses of. She saw something in him that George wished he could see. "You need me?" he asked hopefully.

"Uh-huh. And yeah, maybe you're a little worse for wear and need me a little bit too, but you know what? I love being needed. I love being here with you. I don't even care if you're worthy; I'm having a blast. I can't wait for tomorrow."

"Why? What happens tomorrow?"

The Genie bounced excitedly as she spoke. "Nothing! And anything! Anything we want! I don't care what, I just want to see it! And I want to see it with you!" She ran her fingers through his dark, shaggy hair. Her eyes glistened in the starlight. "Remember when I had to go inside my vessel so you could smuggle me through the shroud? I felt so much more powerful as if I could shake the entire universe. But I also felt scared, anxious, alone. I felt like I was missing something. And then, when you let me out, and I found you again, I had to contain the curse. It saps me so hard, but somehow... I feel stronger..." She looked away, searching for words. "No, that's not right. Not stronger. Greater. Complete."

She hugged him tight and rested her head on his shoulder. "I know this is weird. We've only been together for a day, after all. We're both in uncharted waters, and who knows what the future holds, but... I want this. I want this so much it hurts. And not just because of our bond. You believe me, don't you?"

He believed that she believed it. He knew it was unfair to think of it that way, but he couldn't help himself. Life had taught him that he was unworthy. It would be a hard lesson to unlearn, but at least he wanted to. Maybe someday, he would earn the faith she had in him. It felt like the goal was worthy, if nothing else.

"Yes," he said after a long, thoughtful pause. "I believe you.

"You promise?"

"I may not have a lot of faith in myself, but an entire day, pain-free... that's more than enough to give this a chance. So, yeah. Yeah, I think it's time to believe."

She giggled and sighed happily as she leaned into him. "Then it's settled. You're never getting rid of me now."

Finally, George cracked a smile. "Thanks, Genie... for everything."

"You're welcome," she whispered.

They sat and watched the stars for a while in silence, taking in the grandeur of the autumn sky. It seemed uncomfortable initially for George, but gradually, his nerves settled, and the silence became quieter. His heightened senses, a mere side effect of the Genie's power, let him appreciate the gentle breeze, chirping crickets, and his companion's soft, snuggling warmth. Under the boughs of an old lonely hickory, George finally let his worries go and accepted some peace, however fleeting, breathing in the moment. Neither tired nor worried, they stayed that way for a long time.

Eventually, the Genie crawled out of his cozy clutches and stood beside him. "I think it's time," she said softly. She extended her hand to help him to his feet. "Come on," she said and led him toward the tree.

George watched her intently. Most of her actions that day had been theatrical, manic, or outright silly, but there had been times that made him realize there was more going on under her magically enhanced surface - something deeply personal to her. And even though she insisted that he was her Master, this part of her felt private in a way the rest did not.

He accepted her help, pulling him up, and cautiously asked, "What's up?"

With unconscious ease, the Genie dragged her finger down the trunk, leaving a trail of lingering pinkish-purple energy all the way to her feet, then another line perpendicular to that, making an upside-down T. Then, she slipped her fingers into the glowing line and pulled the bark aside like a flowy curtain.

"Won't you join me in my tent?" she said with a spicy wink. Then she disappeared through the folds.

He could see warm light peeking from behind the flaps and followed her through. Inside was a space much larger than the trunk of any tree, about the size of a master bedroom; its walls of sparkling pink silk were lit with complimentary orange, yellow, and purple light emanating from flickering paper lanterns casting soft shadows throughout. There were cushions and pillows of all shapes and sizes arranged just so in every nook and cranny. In the center, recessed into the floor, was a vast bed cornered by smaller versions of the old hickory outside, their canopies combined to create a leafy ceiling that let the stars peek through. Sheer gossamer curtains between the lower branches billowed without any breeze, teasing a tantalizing view of the Genie's nude form.

George suddenly realized he was also naked and smirked, "No clothes allowed, huh?"

"We won't be needing them," she said confidently.

The entire scenario felt dreamlike, as if she'd led him out of any real space into a small slice of comfy, cozy paradise just for them, his modesty not invited. He stepped through the diaphanous, barely tangible curtains and took in the splendor of his companion's body. She reclined languidly across the cream-colored sheets and posed to maximize her allure, her hair splayed over her pillows. The light danced on her skin in harmony with her whim.

Without thinking, he caught his breath and whispered, "Damn..."

She smiled knowingly, then beckoned him closer with her finger. George plopped down next to her, making her bounce and let out a playful giggle. She gave him a teasing kiss, which George turned into something more passionate.

"Wow," she gasped after he let her go. She gazed at him giddy, her eyes filled with excitement. "Someone's feeling frisky. Are you ready to keep your promise?"

George searched his memory and realized he'd made so many promises that day he wasn't sure which one she was referring to. "Uh oh..."

"Oh gosh! You forgot? Master, how could you!"

"It's been a busy day! Remind me, and I promise to... do the thing I promised."

She gave him a sassy tilt of the head and huffed. "Allow me to refresh your memory." She reached down between them and ran her fingers up the length of his shaft. "You promised me that you would fuck my brains out all night." She pushed him on his back and straddled him. "And I insist that you always keep your promises."

He swallowed. "I think I can live with that. In fact, let's add it to my list. Rule number two: always keep my promises."

"Lay back, you bad boy," she purred.

No sooner had George done as she commanded than the Genie deftly swung her thigh over him and straddled his face facing away from him. She leaned forward and angled her folds toward his lips, beckoning him to taste her. George was shocked, but any words were muffled against her sex.

"Drag me across the land, make me watch you fuck the living daylights out of those sluts, then make me go back in my vessel, and you still have the nerve to forget about your poor little sexy Genie? For shame!" She ground against him harder, forcing George deeper into her delicious cunt. George grabbed her big round cheeks and played along, licking her folds and darting his tongue inside her. Her eyes fluttered, and she moaned, "Hmm, yes! Keep doing that, and I might forgive you, Master!"

George was in heaven. Her luscious body was exquisite in every conceivable way, from the sounds to the smells to the way his fingers sunk into the flesh of her bouncy ass. She leaned forward, and her bountiful breasts smooshed against his abs, her hard nipples poking against him. His cock felt harder than ever, and his hips thrust upward, fruitlessly searching for stimulation. Predictably, the Genie couldn't leave his solid weapon alone for long and wrapped her lips around the head without complaint.

She moaned his mind, "Yes, Master! Gobble that pussy while I suck on this fat dick!"

George had seen plenty of memes and jokes about the nicest number online, and that's what he'd always thought they were. The real thing couldn't be that special. But experiencing a sixty-nine firsthand made him understand why it had such a pleasant reputation. He lovingly focused all his attention on her beautiful vulva, kissing and sucking and squeezing her tight butt. Likewise, Genie once again demonstrated her perfect oral skills, knowing precisely where to lick with the right pressure. With sloppy abandon, Genie enthusiastically shoved his cock into the back of her mouth while she fondled his bloated balls.

Feeling upstaged, George tried to step it up, inserting two fingers inside her while he sucked on her clit.

"Right there! Right there!" Genie cried. She bobbed her head even faster, shoving more of his shaft down her throat.

Her tight oral grip was incredible, but George was rapidly approaching climax. He didn't want this to end prematurely, so he warned, "I'm not gonna last much longer if you go that hard, Genie."

Genie rolled her hips, dragging her pussy lips over his face. "Don't hold back! I'm gonna make you cum and then make you hard and then do it again and again! Give me that yummy cream, Master!"

With her permission, George relaxed and stopped worrying about how well he was doing. When it came to sex, George realized that they were beyond any earthly worries. So, he gave in to the pleasure and let it be his guide. Much to his surprise, though, the Genie came first. Her slick vagina quivered and tightened around his fingers while she let out a deep guttural moan around the head of his cock. Her tummy quaked, and her body shivered. George heard her voice squealing rapturously in his mind. Her pleasure swiftly pulled him over the edge as well, and he released inside her throat, forcing her to greedily gulp it down.

Reluctantly, the Genie pulled herself from George's perfect cock and sighed happily. She rolled off him and turned around so she could lay on top, their naked bodies pressed together, and she kissed him lustfully. George ran his fingers through her bronze hair and across her scalp, pulling her in closer to kiss her back. Wordlessly, she straddled him and prepared herself for the next inevitable step. She hovered over him, his hardness pressed against her entrance; a subtle push from either of them, and they'd finally cross that magical threshold she'd been pining for all day. George braced himself, radically enthusiastic to finally know her the way she promised. However, the Genie hesitated.

"Is this okay, Genie?" he asked softly.

"Yeah. I uh... I didn't think I would be this nervous. This is really happening, isn't it." She locked eyes with him, and George could see something there. A conflict. "Master... I feel strange asking this, seeing I'm your servant and all, but... would you promise me something else?"

Right away, George felt compelled to give her anything she asked for, if for no other reason than sheer, overwhelming gratitude. "Name it, Genie."

Curiously, she let out a deep breath. She didn't need to breathe, so George assumed it must have been nerves, and that made him even more curious since she always seemed so sure of herself.

"Okay... here goes," she said, steeling herself. "Promise me... that you won't get mad."

Before he could answer, the Genie impaled herself on George's cock, taking his full length all the way down to the root in one stroke. He meant to object, but an incredible sensation washed over him before he could think. It was like having an orgasm, but this was so much more than that. His entire body was alive, not just with pleasure, but with a naked connection to her, the tent, the planet, and the universe. His consciousness pulled itself free from his body, with the only tether to reality being his affectionate need for her. It was as if the doors to some esoteric cosmic realm had been thrown open, bursting with secret promises of their own.

And she'd only just begun.

The Genie bucked her hips, riding him with a steady rhythm that shook the very fabric of reality around them. Each downstroke was a unique experience, filled with her rapturous moans, clenching pussy, and intimate warmth in new configurations. There was no crescendo, no climax to build towards. It was just them and the universe, blissfully connected in unending satisfaction. He thought they were bound before, but now he realized their previous arrangement was as informal as a handshake. This was the bond she'd been alluding to.

They reveled in that bond for hours, though time was difficult to perceive. George gave up attempting to make sense of it and let himself sink into the flow with her. As the hours rolled by, the boundaries between them dissolved, yet allowed him to keep his distinct identity. They were two motes of energy swirling, sharing, and mixing at the edges, with her at his core and he in hers.

George awoke sometime later from a dreamless sleep, feeling calm but alert. He was still in Genie's tent, lying on his side in a big empty bed. The lighting had shifted to something more relaxed, with soft blues dancing off the walls like he was in an aquarium. Through the leaves of the canopy above, George could see the darkened sky retreating from the onset of a new day. He recognized that it must be the blue hour, just before sunrise, and immediately thought of his companion.

"Genie? You awake?"

"I'm outside," she said.

George could detect a sad worry behind her voice and wondered if he'd done something wrong. He got up, began looking for his things, and realized he'd never brought anything inside but his own body. Fighting his inherent shame at this nakedness, George pushed the flaps aside. He emerged back on Twilight Hill, fully clothed, with his companion standing at the cliff's edge, gazing out toward the glowing horizon.

"Good morning. Sorry, I uh... I fell asleep. I thought we didn't need to do that anymore." He approached slowly and took a spot beside her, admiring the view. "Pretty," he said.

"Yeah," she whispered. "Last time. I promise."

Something was eating her, and George didn't know what to say. So he gently pet her head, running his fingers through her feathery, shiny hair.

She turned toward him and smiled. "Sorry. I have a lot on my mind. Um... I need to tell you something."

"Uh oh. I didn't let one rip in my sleep, did I?" he said, hoping a crude joke would lighten the mood.

"No, no! You were wonderful! Last night was amazing!" She looked over the horizon and said softly, "Better than that, even."

"I'm not even sure what happened," he shrugged. "But yeah... wow..."

"Yeah..." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I'm sorry, Master. I haven't been completely honest with you. But now that the ritual is complete and we're fully bound, keeping you in the dark would be cruel."

"The ritual? What ritual?"

"Do you remember when I told you the bonding process takes time? Well... it takes about a full day and was only complete when we... consummated. We're bound now, for all time, or... at least that's how it's supposed to be."

George had a dozen questions but felt it best to stay silent and let her explain.

"It's the curse. It's a lot more powerful than I let on. I'm containing it for now, but... I can feel it. It's gnawing at its cage, probing for a way out. It takes almost all my strength to contain, and it's growing stronger somehow."

The Genie looked up at him with teary eyes. "Master, I've been looking for the best way to say this all day, but... It's going to get past me. It will find a way out, and when it does... it will kill you."

Her words didn't register at first. It was like he heard someone in a TV show saying it, not the woman next to him. But gradually, her words sunk in, and George swirled with opposing emotions. He had to steady himself against a nearby bench; his knees were that shaky.

She reached for him and asked, "Are you okay?"

"I don't know," he whispered. "If you told me this a few days ago, I wouldn't have been surprised. I might have even been glad, but... I don't know anymore." Searching for any words that might help this make more sense, George asked, "How... much time do I have?"

Unable to look at him, she stared at the ground. "I don't know. A few years, probably. Maybe less."

"I see," he said vacantly as he looked out across the horizon. "And uh, what happens to you after..."

George could see an uncontrollable twinge as her sadness began taking over. Her voice cracked when she said, "We're bound. I can't exist without a Master. If you die, my vessel goes dormant, and my essence will fade away."

"But that means... isn't that the same as dying?"

She clenched her eyes shut and nodded.

The idea of her demise was far more appalling than his own. She was made eternal, ever in bloom. He'd been wrestling with the concept of eternal life and what that would mean. It wasn't something he'd ever wanted or even considered. But feeling mortal, knowing an end was coming, he understood, even welcomed that. But not for her. This had to be what had been bothering her. He'd been afraid to ask, and now he realized his fear had caused her to carry this burden alone.

"You've known this whole time, haven't you?"

"Uh-huh," she sniffled. "After you started the Master's Rest, I spent the entire night looking for a way to end the curse. I tried everything. I friggin rebuilt all the leylines in the area from the ground up, and I still couldn't do it!"

She paced around, wringing her hands. "I thought about returning to my vessel and waiting for someone else. I could've at any time, but the longer I spent in the world as myself, the more I got to know you... the more I learned how much you need me... I just... I couldn't go back."

"Genie," he said softly, "you chained yourself to a timebomb..."

"And I'd do it again!" she cried. "This is why I couldn't tell you. You'd just try to talk me out of it. You'd get all sad and fatalistic and noble about it. But I just... I want you to live. Your mother, Ms. McCoole, Piper. Fuck! Even Lacy! We want you to live." She strode toward him and clutched his hands close to her chest. "I want to live. I want to live out there in that big, messy world. But I can't... I won't do it without you."

As George listened to his companion's pleas, he felt emotions overwhelm him, and he was struck with a passionate desire he'd only wished for. She needed him. He needed her. They were bound not just in some silly, overly complicated, obligatory magical contract but in the most basic of needs - survival. He could have died alone without understanding why. Instead, the Genie had decided, of her own free will, that she'd risk her own immortality to show him some happiness before his time was up.

"And I know what you're thinking." She began a silly impersonation of him, "I'm sorry for being such a big busted baby..."

But George didn't let her finish. He pulled her close and gave her the most heartfelt kiss he could muster. She didn't hesitate to throw her arms around him, as if she'd been waiting for him to hold her the entire time. When he finally released her, he held her face gently and said, "I want to live."

Happy tears streamed down her cheeks. "Do you promise?"

He nodded excitedly, "I want to go to school."

"Me too!" she bounced. "I want to make friends and enemies and dip my fries in chili!"

George shot back, "I want to make googly eyes at my English teacher!"

"I want to watch you play football with a bunch of cheating dickheads and show the whole world what a tool Coach Veiss is!"

"I want to flirt with you all day, fuck you all night, and scream until my lungs give out!"

"Yes!" She gestured toward the horizon and yelled, "I want to fly to the lewd dimension, become its queen, and... and..."

But the Genie couldn't finish her sentence. The sun had crested over the hills in the distance, filling the sky with purples, reds, and yellows. The scintillating display lit up the valley and danced on the water. She stared, wide-eyed, at the most gorgeous sunrise George had ever seen. He wished that time would slow down as its light embraced her as kin.

"Damn..." she said, awestruck.

Watching her enraptured by the sunrise, George thought about her progenitor, that little blue-eyed girl who helped him through his darkest moments. He'd wished she was real, and now she was, twice over. He saw Piper's features in the Genie's lovely countenance. Piper may have earned his sunsets, but the Genie embodied the dawn.

He felt giddy as the idea struck him. Finally, he knew what her name had to be.

"Dawn," he said softly.

She turned back to him with tears in her eyes.

"If you're going to live in the world with me, you'll need a name."

"Dawn?" she repeated. She turned away and smiled bashfully as she considered it. Her eyes glistened with emotion. "It's perfect," she said.

The two embraced as they were baptized by daybreak. George stroked her hair as his heart swelled, brimming with a lust for life. "We're going to find a way to break this curse, Dawn. I promise."

She hugged him tighter, and George could hear her weep softly.

"We're going to end this curse, make a huge harem filled with incredible people, have lots of children, and love the shit out of them. We'll see and do everything. And if the curse wins... we'll face it together."

"Will you say my name again," she sniffled.

"Dawn," he said. "Dawn, Dawn, Dawn..." he repeated.

She giggled through her tears.

"I have a favor to ask," he said. "I'm not sure how comfortable I am with you calling me Master. Will you call me George from now on?"

She smirked and said, "Okay... George. Gosh, that's gonna take some getting used to."

"I don't mind if you want to call me Master sometimes. Special occasions."

She clapped her hands together and bounced. "Deal!"

Just then, George's phone rang out with his mother's ringtone, a chirpy melody she had picked herself. He searched his pockets for the device and answered. "Hey, Mom... I'm at the hill... Yeah, I wanted a good sunrise, but you were sleeping, so I slipped out... Yeah, I'm coming home in a bit... Oh! Hold on..." He muted the microphone and asked Dawn, "Hey, you want some pancakes?"

Dawn's eyes lit up, and she nodded emphatically, dancing in place.

He unmuted himself and continued, "Do you remember those pancakes you used to make? The ones with the chocolate chips... True, we haven't for a while, but I would really love Mom's world-famous flappies... Awesome! I'm coming home right now... I love you too..."

Dawn was in shock. "George... they put chocolate chips in them!?"

The couple left Twilight Hill and set off in search of breakfast. All the while, George regaled Dawn with his accounts of breakfasts of old. They traded ideas for future meals, each more epic and silly than the previous, but George knew he'd be trying them all. It was a new day, full of wonder and opportunity, and no matter what was in their way, be it bullies or curses, they would savor every moment together.

Their wish had been granted.