Okay,” I said, looking up to find the gate in the stars. I…

““Okay,” I said, looking up to find the gate in the stars. I lifted a hand, only to have it jerked violently down. “What are you doing?” Reth hissed. “I’m making the gate!” “Not that one.” His eyes were wide with—fear? “Why are you so scared of that gate?” He looked to the side, deliberately avoiding staring at the stars. “Because that is . . . that is another part of eternity. It’s not ours.” I frowned. “But I sent the other souls there.” “Yes, and without bodies they were ready to go there. But I am not, nor will I ever be.” I couldn’t help smiling. “Ooh, poor little Reth, are you scared of what happens after you die?” His voice and face were shockingly sincere, his skin pallid and his lips nearly blue. “More than anything. I have no desire to discover that realm of eternity. None of us do, which is why we need that gate. Myself most desperately. Now, please.” I looked back up at the stars, trying to figure out if I was scared of that gate or not. And, strangely enough, I discovered I wasn’t. It was like Lend and I had talked about—no one could say when they were going to die. You did the best with the time you had, filled it with people and things you loved, and hoped that whatever came after was as good or better. I was finally okay with this whole finite mortality thing. “Alright, you big pansy. I’ll figure out the other one.””

— Kiersten White