Chapter 38 - A Golden Life It was 2 in the morning, and my elder museum pieces were finally complete. I was tired, but Ambrosia could not wait. I remembered the marble room from my young adulthood, and it was completely unchanged. Not a hint of mold or cobweb marked the walls or floor.
The mirror room appeared to me, now. Everywhere I looked I saw myself reflected back--except in the dark mirror in the center of the room. Here, a glowing silver face appeared and looked at me with an impatient, but amused, expression.
"Nicholas Elysi," it intoned in a deep, vibrating voice, "your journey has been both easier and harder than most. Your requirements were easily completed, but you struggled to leave the foretold path and--ack. Gross! Swallowed a fly. That's disgusting!"
"
There's one thing I haven't come to terms with, yet" I said softly, resisting the ridiculous urge to laugh. "
What about Lolita? Why can't she live forever, too?"
"In these dynasties, many sims believe they can just immortalize their entire families. However, this would unbalance the natural order. All time would freeze forever, and if life does not change is it so different from death? If you wish to live forever with your loved ones, you must pay the price. In the end, you will have your paradise."
"
Nice rhyming. But can't you do something to keep Lolita alive a little longer? Just so she can see Kara is all grown up?"
"If not for you, Lolita would have remained dead. Be content that you have her a truly happy lifetime. Now, shoo! Ambrosia won't wait forever."
I leave the room and walk down the hall of memory, to see the spouse memorials. Brandon's exhibit is just coming together, but I can already see that my daughter made the right choice. Not that I'll be telling her that--if she knows I approve of Brandon, it won't be so thrilling for her.
I must tell Brandon to make Lolita's statue. As it is--well, she's perfect. There are photographs of our marriage in France, Lolita holding Bree--and when Lolita was pregnant and playing "We Are the Champions" in the library. Her skill certificates are here, showing how she completed her lifetime wish. On the upper right is a greeting card photo we took back when Kaylynn was an adult and we were all at the festival together with her and Michael. On Love Day.
For now, I use Mom's replicator for my ambrosia, since she still must charm mine.
I sit, and apprehensively glance down. Mom never told me how it tasted, and when I asked she just gave me a little wink. Lifting the fork, I cut off a chunk of the Ambrosia and lift it into my mouth. All at once, a thousand sensations overcome me.
Dad's deep laughter as I smacked him with a pillow, chainsaw on ice and hammer on stone, chunks of clay rubbing onto my hands, the rock music barely audible above the banging, Mom telling me a story about fairies living in flowers, falling head-over-heels in love the very first time I saw Lolita, her hand in mine as we danced, the fragrance of flowers in France at our private wedding, Bree's cries in the nursery, her toddler giggle, the water balloon just whizzing over my head and my daughter's laughter, and Lolita, again, weaving through all of it like a golden light . . .
And now the sparkles are surrounding me, as they did just a few days before, but this is a gentler and infinitely powerful sensation. I am not aging, this time. I am not becoming younger. I am existing, eternally.
My name is Nicholas Elysi, and I am Immortal.
I rise and enter my museum room. It's so difficult to remember these years--I was so giggly and happy. Mom would say I haven't changed a bit. And . . . I remember that ridiculous mummy shirt! These weren't the golden years of my life--more of a bright, sunny yellow.
My teenage years, on the other hand--those were strange times! My neon wardrobe was the talk of time, and I was interested in girls and partying. Instead, I spent much of my time sculpting--I remember having a crush on Kaylynn. I had a thing for older women, I recall. As a young adult . . . the true golden time. It seems fitting that, in my photograph, I am thinking of Lolita. This is when I first met her. This is the first time that I fell in love, and you can see that in my portrait.
Most sims are sad and feel old as adults. I, on the other hand, never thought about my age. I always felt so young, because I had Lolita and Bree, and my life was only getting better every day. My daughter is so--
interesting. She and her mother have kept me busy enough that I never had time to contemplate aging. It's so difficult to believe I'm an elder. I certainly don't feel so old--and, depending on these portraits, I don't look too bad either!
Ringed around the room are pictures of me growing up. I especially like the one of Mom attacking me with the Claw.
Ages ago, Mom told me I could get a tattoo when I was 80--literally. And I never forgot.
Nicholas Elysi, the Second Immortal. And I am never saying that again! Nickerdoodle Elysi, Nickerooni Elysi, Nicky, Nickagawea, Nickalynn, The Wicked Nick--so many possibilities!
