Es has always been a rather indolent creature; as a snail, it’s to be expected. After living for thousands of years, she would much prefer to find a comfortable place to nap. Despite how simple this dream sounds, it’s quite impossible for her to achieve. She doesn’t spend time lamenting her curse, though. It’s much easier to play along with a half-hearted sincerity.
Es is bound to another being- A human- for eternity. Cursed to shadow someone until they reach the final chapter of their story. A tragedy. That’s what she thought, at least, until she met the one human she was destined to kill.
The girl’s name was Sasha. A free spirited thrill seeker with an unruly head of chocolate brown hair and striking purple eyes. Es was enraptured when she approached her with such a brazen expression. Didn’t she know what Es’ existence meant for her? Why was she so unafraid? Es barely managed to ask, but Sasha gave her answer proudly, without missing a beat.
“Well, you’re just so cute! I thought I’d indulge my curiosity, even if it killed me!”
After that day, Sasha and Es began traveling together. Es would observe as Sasha took continuously dangerous risks for satisfaction, and she began to cherish that satisfied smile on her face. She wanted to see it more. As they got closer, Es shared what she wished she could do with the other girl. How she wanted to settle down and sleep comfortably in the sun every day. Hearing this, Sasha proposed an idea; “You have to follow me wherever I go, right? So if I stay right here with you, doesn’t that mean you can do just that?”
Es felt weird. Her stomach was flipping, and her eyes felt hot. She wanted that. But she didn’t want to keep Sasha in one place, when she still had so much of the world to see. Sasha stared at her pensive expression expectantly before Es carefully sounded out her answer.
“Umm… I don’t mind if we keep traveling. I like seeing you do fun things. Just promise me… That once you’ve done every exciting thing in the world, We can come back here and live together. I want to be with you, to see your smile more than anything else… So until you can fulfill your promise, Will you.. Be my girlfriend?”
Sasha blushed a bit, but it was quickly replaced by a look of curiosity. “What happens after the promise is fulfilled?”
“We get married.”
“Pftt- Hahahahaha! Okay, then! I accept your proposal. I’ll be your girlfriend, Es!”
~~~
After committing to what would usually be considered a life-long promise, Es and Sasha once again commence the search for riveting experiences and places to visit. Sailing pirate ships in Vietnam, Swimming in mermaid tails in Guatemala, traversing the Kenyan semi-deserts- They did things together with a spark that hadn’t been there before. Es felt that maybe, just maybe, Sasha thought that Es’ presence made these experiences worthwhile. That she was the reason. It flustered her to think about.
It was a pleasantly warm sunset when Sasha had asked. Sitting on the ethereal shore of California’s famous glass beach, Es squinted her eyes to make out Sasha’s face. The sun’s reflection on the colored stones made them twinkle, like fragments of stars had fallen from the sky. Sasha’s figure was backlit by the orange sun, and she glowed. Her hair was messy, her clothes soaked in salt water & sunlight. She was disgusting, quite frankly; but to Es, she had never looked more beautiful.
She would never get used to that smile. That look of fondness that Es wasn’t even sure was possible. Pure, unadulterated love.
Sasha’s wistful voice quickly snapped Es out of her daze. “You know,” she began, “There’s one thing that I’ve wanted to do for a long time now. More than anything else.”
Es stared. She wasn’t sure she was supposed to reply.
“Something that would make me happier than anything else in the world. But I’ve been too afraid.”
The snail girl shifted her position, leaning forward to get a better look at her lover’s face. Her expression was… Melancholic.
“Es, would you do it with me? Please?”
“...Okay, I’ll bite. What is it?” Es asked, a bit worried for the other girl. She seemed troubled, and she wanted to do everything she could to help.
Suddenly, blissfully, horrifyingly, the human girl leaned in and connected their lips. It was everything that Es had imagined, everything that she had dreamed- soft, warm, sweet… It was a magical second before she realized what they’d done. What she’d done. She pulled herself away with a violent jerk and hot tears sprung up in her eyes. She blinked them away, staring at the girl she loved.
The girl coughed violently, blood spilling from her mouth. She looked at Es’ pained face, at her look of complete guilt. She smiled, bittersweet, and took the girl’s hand. “I love you, Es. Let’s get married.”
Es was in shock. She couldn’t breathe. Sasha was bleeding. She was dying. “Sasha, what- What have you done? Why would you… You know we can’t-” Es rambled out plaintively. She didn’t know what to do. Was there anything she could do?
“I know. Please, Es. You can be mad at me when I’m gone. Let’s- let’s say our vows.” She sputtered out, her voice raspy, yet so, hopelessly soft.
Es sobbed. She sobbed, ugly and raw, holding Sasha’s body like she was a glass bird that could shatter with any sudden movement. Her body trembled, but she held her. Her world was falling apart, but she held her. She’d always wanted to hold her.
“I, Sasha, take you, Es, to be my wedded wife. With deepest joy, I receive you into my life…” She hacked out more blood with a disgusting noise. “I promise you, my love, my adorable snail…”
Es’ fat tears dripped onto Sasha’s paling face before gently caressing it. She tucked a lock of her beautiful hair behind her ear and pressing a kiss to her forehead in the process. She sniffled.
“My fullest devotion, my tenderest care. I pledge to you my life, and I pledge to you my death. I pledge to you my final moments, and trust that you will remember me not as a weak, pathetic corpse, but as the girl you fell in love with hundreds of years ago.”
She was dying. Sasha was dying. She was going to die. “No, Sasha, no, you can’t leave me. You can’t leave me here, you have to stay- there’s so much more to do, our promise, Sasha, our promise-”
“...My wife.”
Es’ world had collapsed. Her world was gone. She shook her lover’s body, the tears in her eyes making it impossible to tell if she was still there. She sobbed, pressing kisses to her face and mouth, hoping that maybe true love’s kiss really was real. She held her.
The sun had set, and Es was alone.
All alone again.