When Luna moved into the small, quaint town, it was a whole to-do. The villagers didn’t have many people move into town with an indication they will stay awhile. Furthermore, Luna was downright gorgeous, and everyone was captivated by her grace, long black hair, round eyes, rosy lips, and full figure. He skin was also pale. That, in and of itself, was not uncommon in these parts, but it provided a stunning contrast to the rest of her features.
She had no lack of visitors to her small cottage with its colorful garden and flourishing bushes. In her first few weeks, every adult, both man and woman, had visited with her multiple times. Every eligible bachelor made it no secret he was trying to court her. Even the bachelors already suiting women stopped by often, with their ladies, of course, under the pretense of welcoming the new resident. Luna also caught multiple women winking at her surreptitiously.
All of that, and she never once gave them reason to think she was interested in that sort of thing at all. Hospitality. Grace of form and etiquette. These are what made her so irresistible, if any villager were to be questioned on his or her relationship with Ms. Luna.
Luna, for her part, came alive during her first season in the cottage. The novelty of a new neighbor had worn off, but she still daily had one or a few visitors. They came at all hours of the daylight but never at meals. Meals were the three times of day no one could get her to open her door. Those who called upon her right before a meal were graciously led to the door, though not a single person could remember what excuse she gave for dining alone.
One day, Henry came to visit Luna in the early afternoon. It was a bright day, and the sun was out in full glory. However, Luna was in her house with all the curtains drawn. Still, she was radiant. “Luna, dear,” he was one of her more frequent callers, “the garden is looking a bit neglected. Have you tended it recently?”
“No, I don’t suppose I have. Do you think I should do something?” She gestured for him to have a seat, and she pulled up a chair to sit next to him.
“It’s just they were so pretty when you moved it. I remember how perfect the whole scene was. You’re just so beautiful, the wilting flowers just don’t fit,” he explained himself. She watched him with an interested expression on her face. She knew she could do nothing for the garden, but she’d make an effort for appearance sake.
“Of course. Now I remember. I’ll try my hand at it,” she promised. They sat for a peaceful moment. Henry was admiring Luna, and Luna sat straight with her head cocked, not looking at anything. Ostensibly, she was considering how to improve her garden. She broke the silence. “How’s your back doing, Henry? I remember you mentioning it has been stiff lately.”
“Oh dear, not much better, I confess. Some mornings, I can barely get out of bed.”
“You’re too young to be dealing with such things,” she joked light heartedly. Indeed, Henry only had 26 years to him, but he had seemed to be aging quite fast. Luna looked at him and noticed the number of grey hairs had yet again multiplied. She smiled at him and absent-mindedly ran her fingers through her lush hair. The overall effect was Luna seeming to enjoy her time with Henry. Oh, she was enjoying her time alright, but in a very different way than he was.
The time came for the evening meal, and Luna said, “Alright, Henry, it was so lovely of you to visit, but I’m afraid it’s time to say goodbye.” Henry nodded and stood stiffy. Luna accompanied him to the door, and he left with a polite goodbye. A few seconds later, Henry found himself on the road, wondering, not for the first time, how he got there.
The next day, another of Luna’s frequent visitors paid her a visit. “Trying to save your garden, I see?” called out Millie when she noticed Luna digging in the dirt around some flowers. Indeed, she was not trying to save the flowers, just look like it. She’d been swirling her fingers around between three holes she dug for an hour.
Luna looked up, “Oh, Millie, how nice of you to stop by. I was just finishing up. Why don’t you head inside and make yourself comfort, and I’ll be in in a minute or two.” Luna wiped the dirt off her hands and dunked them in a bucket of water to clean them. She dumped out the entire bucket on a bush and went inside, leaving the bucket.
Millie looked distinctly uncomfortable as she kept fidgeting in a vain effort to get comfortable. “What is it, Millie? Is something bothering you?”
“Well, yes. I know you’re not a doctor or a priest, but I feel like I can tell you things.”
“Of course,” Luna smiled kindly, and all of Millie’s agitated energy faded.
“My husband has been gone for months, as you know. Off studying at the university.” She paused.
“I remember. He was packing up the day I moved here,” Luna filled the pause gracefully.
“Oh dear, Luna, I think I might be pregnant.”
“How exciting! Congratulations. Does your husband know yet?”
“That’s the problem. I wasn’t pregnant when he left.” Luna waited for her to continue. “And I swear I haven’t lain with anyone since.”
“So what makes you think you’re pregnant?” ask Luna, slowly reaching her hand towards Millie. “I didn’t notice you showing.”
“It’s not that. I haven’t had my period in months.” Luna could tell she was close to hysterics.
“Millie, dear, there are plenty of reasons to miss your period. Have you been stressed?” Millie shook her head no. “Really? Because being apart from my significant other would stress me out. Tell me, do you have any aches, pains? Noticed your hair falling out?”
“Well, yes,” Millie looked up, straight at the beautiful Luna. “All of it. My back has been aching for a month. Every day, it seems like a clump of my hair falls out.”
“It doesn’t show,” Luna assured Millie.
“You really think it’s just stress?” Millie asked, still dubious, but with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
“I really do,” replied Luna adamantly.
“Good, thank you. I feel better. Now I really must be going. Thank you for talking to me, Luna. Have a lovely day!” and she hurried off to whatever errand she had.
It was late fall, and people seemed to have all forgotten Luna ever had a garden in the first place. Its death was so slow that it could have hardly been noticed. Besides, there seemed to be a crippling plague running rampant through the city. Everyone was either haggard from the effects of it or haggard from supporting an ill loved one. Only Luna seemed perfectly untouched by it. If anyone noticed, they might have said she even looked younger, but no one noticed.
One cloudy day, Luna went out for a stroll. “Henry? You’re looking like an old man!” Henry had been arguing with a street vendor and turned to start with her, until he realized Luna had addressed him. A smile bloomed on his face, creasing his skin, and he did his best to straighten up and pretend he didn’t need the cane both hands were using to support him.
“Luna! You look as lovely as ever. What’s your secret? Did you steal my youth?” he joked.
She smiled in response. “You need to take care of yourself. You should be at home resting and recovering.”
“If I did that, how could I see you? My visits are the only thing that gives me joy these days. I couldn’t bear even the thought of not seeing you.” Luna replied with a polite frown, as if flattered but unable to understand the logic behind it.
“I might know a trick that can help your back. Why don’t you stop by later? I found a book on physical medicine that might help.”
“Really?” the hope spread across his face, wrinkling it even more. “Thank you. Yes, I shall be there.” He stayed upright until she resumed her stroll, then he hunched over his cane and hobbled home to get ready.
Two days later, Millie stopped by, looking much worse for the wear. She had not been pregnant, so she told herself it was stress. Even after her husband returned, her hair was still falling out. Now, she had a few straggly strands still sticking out of her hair. Her eyes were puffy. That was new, Luna noted.
“Did you hear?” Millie asked Luna as she sank into a chair. Luna waited for her to go on. “Poor Henry died yesterday. So young. He only just celebrated his 27th birthday. He looked awful.”
“Oh my!” exclaimed Luna. “But I saw him just yesterday. He looked so much better than he has in weeks.”
“Word is that he made it home and collapsed with a really faint heartbeat. His parents had to move him into his bed. He couldn’t get up and then died yesterday morning.”
“That’s so sad. I shall miss him dearly. Does the family have funeral plans?” They spoke a bit longer about details and the strange plague and the people falling ill. Millie explained she had fears, too. Luna tried to comfort her by telling her she had nothing to worry about. It would all end up alright.
“Thank you, really,” said Millie, at the door. She leaned in and kissed Luna on the cheek. She was about to pull back, but then decided to embrace Luna in a hug. Luna wrapped her arms around Millie and smiled. Millie felt a pleasant numbing sensation soothing away the aches that had worsened every day. Luna broke off the hug, still smiling. Millie had tears in her eyes. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
Those were the last words Luna heard Millie say. She died that evening in the arms of her husband, wishing they were the arms of Luna. Luna, for her part, acted surprised and sad to hear of Millie’s death. However, though Luna would never admit it, things couldn’t have been going any better. Immortality was such an easy thing.
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