Lin Yang is a high school physics teacher.
Ever since she was little, she had thought light was something miraculous. It was neither a wave nor a particle, and only in this particular frequency range was it called "light."
One day, a shimmering ball of light appeared beside her.
Its primary frequency was infrared, so it felt very warm. The visible light that allowed people to see it was only a small part of it.
It was intelligent and could communicate, so Lin Yang called it an unknown life form. But it was neither silicon-based nor carbon-based. It was simply a wave spanning a very wide range of frequencies. So Lin Yang called it a wave-based life form and named its species the Lightfolk.
"Why did you come here?"
"I got lost."
The ball of light mimicked a human voice, using hers. "I don't know where home is anymore."
"Why don't you leave?"
"You've already found your way home."
The warm ball of light curled around her fingers. "If I'm going back alone, what's the point?"
The ball of light absorbed a great deal of energy and took on a human shape. Its dry, warm light drew close to her face. "You're here. I like it here."
Many years later, at the funeral.
Everyone knew Teacher Lin had never married and had taught countless students. Along with a few friends and relatives, the funeral was attended by a great many of her former students. But there was also a ball of light.
It could actually speak, and called itself Yin.
At the funeral, Yin transformed from a ball of light into Lin Yang's likeness.
Then a dazzling, dreamlike rain of light fell.
A grand finale, and a farewell.
"I didn't know your life would be so short."
"Back in my homeland, when a Lightfolk dies, this is what we do."
"I'm going home."
I will carry your message far away, until the whole universe rains light down for you.
Until... your frequency returns.
P.S. 1. A prequel to the Endtime Diaries series. A short story.
The series' plots are not directly connected, so you can read this on its own.
2. Yin is not human and has no gender as defined by humans, so this is tagged as gender diverse.
3. Not a bad ending, but an open ending.
Theme: Loving you, beyond all boundaries
