“It’s the way every morning should be started.” I give her a hand as she lifts herself out of the tub. “Now...” I unplug the stopper and step out of the tepid water. “About that surprise...”
She wraps a large, fluffy towel around her body, pulling her long hair over a shoulder and raising an eyebrow as she casts a quick stare to my crotch. “What? I thoughtthatwas the surprise.”
“Well, I know I’m impressive, but no, that was just an appetizer.” I chuckle, slinging a towel around my waist, then grip her hand in mine and quietly lead her out of the bathroom, down the hall, and up the stairs.
When we stop at one of the empty bedrooms, I turn to face her and lean on the closed door. “Do you know what today is?”
She cocks her head and scratches her jaw. “Friday, I think? Or maybe it’s Saturday? I never can keep up with it.”
“It’s your birthday.”
“W-what?” Her eyes widen and she puts a hand on her hip. “Really? It’s September 14?”
“Yep. And I made you a present.”
“That’s so sweet.” Something like amusement or wariness flickers in her eyes.
She’s probably thinking about the door I made for the cave when we first met.It might’ve been a bit crooked, but it worked.
“I promise, you’ll like this gift.” I turn the knob, but she touches my shoulder.
“Jareth, you know my birthday, how old I am, everything.” She clears her throat and bites her bottom lip. “But how old are you?”
I knew this would come up one day, but I’d been hoping—
“Not that I care. I’m in love with you—not your age. I’d just like to know.”
Taking a deep breath, I brace a forearm against the doorjamb. “Biologically, I’m the age of twenty-eight in Earth years.”
She tucks in a corner of her towel, keeping her stare on mine.
I don’t want to reveal the rest of what I’m about to say, but I promised I would never lie to her again.Not disclosing it would be the same as a lie.
“But”—dropping my arm to my side, I inhale deeply and close my eyes, wishing there was an easier way to say what I’m about to reveal—“because of the nanobots and being a cyborg, my true age is two hundred and ten, give or take a few months.”
Only the morning quietness seeps into the hallway. Not even the sound of her breathing is picked up by my auditory sensors.
Sagging against the door, I hang my head, unable to bear the look that’s probably in her eyes.
Will it be disgust? Regret that she ever met me? Shame at what I am?
“I understand if you don’t want to be with me any—”
A high guffaw breaks the hushed stillness, the sound snapping my head to her face.
“You big fucking idiot,” she cackles, grabbing me around the waist and staring up into my face. “Don’t you think I already suspected you were a lot older than you looked?”
I open my mouth to respond but she pushes a finger against my lips.
“The reason I asked is because I want to know if I’m going to age, if ourchildrenare going to age. I don’t want to outlive our kids, you know?”
The tension drains from my body and I give her a fierce hug. “When they’re adults, they’ll have the choice to age or not. But we don’t have to grow old if that’s what we choose. It’s just a matter of reprogramming the bots.” I pull away and hold her at arm’s length, needing to see her face, to reassure myself she’s okay with this nugget of truth.
“That’s actually a relief to know. I’m not sure how I feel about eternity, but at least we’ll have the choice.”
“It doesn’t mean we can’t die. The typical threats are still there, but yeah, our lives can be exceedingly long if that’s what we want.”
She hooks her arm through mine. “Okay, grandpa. Now show me my birthday present.”
