Selene: “What should I do? Run? Hide?”


    Attar: “Both are an option. But can you do it?”


    Selene: “Which one?”


    Attar: “Either one. Can you spend your whole life, locked up in a cave like this one? Or be forever on the run, always looking behind your back, never settling down anywhere, long enough, to make connections with anyone, let alone build a family of your own?”


    Selene: “Are we still talking about me? Or you?”


    Selene: “I can''t do it! I can''t spend the rest of my life, locked inside a cave even if it is as wondrous, as this one. I don''t want to read countless books about the world. I want to see it for myself. I want to visit the grasslands of the East. The forests to the North, as well as the white miracle, that turns to water in your hands, when you touch it!”


    Attar: “It''s called “snow”.”


    Selene: “What is?”


    Attar: “That white stuff, to the furthest North, is called “snow”. And it''s actually what happens to water, once it gets very cold.”


    Selene: “Oh, I didn''t know that. Have you seen “snow”? Wait! What am I asking. Of course you have. You said it yourself, you are very old. You have probably traveled the world, twice over by now. Haven''t you?”


    Attar: “Five times over, actually. Around every hundred years, many cultures change, to an unrecognizable state. Then again, many, never do.”


    Selene: “When did you last see the snow?”


    Attar: “When I went home, 500 years ago.”


    Selene: “Home? Who would choose to build their home there?”


    Attar: “It wasn''t always like that. Back then, the whole planet was covered in lush vegetation. Even the Sphinx, was swimming in a pool of water. Although, back then, it was just a giant rock.”


    Selene: “Wait! One by one. First, tell me more about your home!”


    Attar: “There is nothing to tell. It got destroyed, a long time ago.”


    Selene: “But you said, you went there 500 years ago?”


    Attar: “Don''t you, miss your birth home too?”


    Selene: “I guess so. OK, second question! The Sphinx?”


    Attar: “It''s where my lab used to be, back then. Soon, after my sister-in-law came, we expanded the underground levels, added more chambers, and even added a nursery. It''s where my nephew grew up, gazing at his parents bodies, never being able to touch them.”


    Selene: “Why?”


    Attar: “Why what?”


    Selene: “Why wasn''t he able to touch them?”


    Attar: “In short, let''s just say, that weird things would happen to this world, when he does.”The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Selene: “Has he ever done so?”


    Attar: “Once! And it caused a global climate change to occur.”


    Selene: “Oh, that must have been hard for him.”


    Attar: “It still is. I guess the reason he stays away from people, is partly due to that, and partly, because of his oracle powers.”


    Selene: “Oracle? Powers?”


    Attar: “Yes. When he touches someone, he can see their whole life. Past, present and future.”


    Selene: “Has he seen mine, and my brothers?”


    Attar: “Yes. On the day you were born.”


    Selene: “How did he know, when I was going to be born? Has he seen my mother''s life as well?”


    Attar: “Yes. On the day, she was born.”


    Selene: “Then, why didn''t he stop her?”


    Attar: “As he puts it: “Time is never changing. What will happen, will happen. Even when one tries to change things, and many often do, in the end, that, which is meant to happen, will happen.” or so he says. Honestly, I don''t believe much of it, but whenever I say so, he tells me the story of the beginning of a war, which will drastically change the way people live.”


    Selene: “How many books are there?”


    Attar: “Not that many.”


    Selene: “Not that many? This must be the richest library of the world.”


    Attar: “Umm. Nope. Not the richest. Thee are just the hard copies, of every nation, that existed, in the last 5000 years.”


    Selene: “What?”


    Attar: “Yes, it''s not even ours. My people''s knowledge, is far greater, than this.”


    Selene: “What is this?”


    Attar: “Our library. Each story, is condensed in such a way, that all of my people''s history, is now stored in here. But don''t worry. This is just a copy, and without the proper equipment, it can''t be read.”


    Selene: “I don''t understand. Why are you giving it to me?”


    Attar: “There is one last story, I have yet to tell you. Please understand.”


    Attar: “Selene, what are you doing?”


    Selene: “I''ve taught about it. And you are right. Circumstances being what they are, it would be better for me, to be with someone else.”


    Attar: “I am glad you understand.”


    Selene: “But, I also know, that not being with you tonight, would be the biggest regret of my life.”


    Attar: “Selene...”


    Selene: “You once said, that I should give my first time, to the one I love.”


    Attar: “...”


    Selene: “That person is you!”


    I love you too” slipped out of his lips. Next thing he knew, they were already locked, into a passionate embrace.