Forever young.

In response to Authors B Mazing finish it challenge #30. The intro is provided and we have to complete the story.

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She was standing there mesmerized by the reflection in the water and what she had just witnessed. So it was true! Only a couple of minutes ago she had watched an old man approach the fountain. His skin was wrinkly, his hands bony and he struggled walking. But his appearance changed massively the moment he had finished drinking the water from the fountain. Suddenly his skin got firmer, his body filled up and his posture got strong again. The old man was gone and instead of him a  young guy left the area with a spring in his step. She had heard of the fable about the fountain of youth hidden in the back of this valley. She never believed it. But now… Things were different.

Should I or not? Do I want to drink the water or not? She asked herself. Being forever young, was that really what she wanted? Unsure of what to do she looked at the water again, scanning the reflection of her face that once looked so much younger too…

Armed with her youthful looks and the wealth of experience she had now the world would truly be her playing field. Or would it? Her forehead furrowed as she mulled over the thought: hadn’t her friend tried to stay young by every method possible only to end up defrauded by her latest, what was it they called them again? Boy toy. Smiling at the memory she couldn’t help thinking her friend deserved that and more. There was no use playing at youth when the basic lingo of the day escaped your understanding.

But the spring promised something totally different, this time she could blend in and learn the whole process over again. She could rewrite her life history. Was it worth it? Was her life really so riddled with regrets? Most importantly what would happen to her children, her grand kids? Would they still be part of her life, would they remember? No, surely the drink wasn’t worth it, right? The frown and tension in her body grew with each thought. If life had taught her anything it was the fact that there are no certainties, the fountain renewed youth but what about the heartache of growth. To start all over on an uncertain journey when she was nearing the end of a fulfilling one surely wasn’t worth it, right? A few minutes later she got up and left, a full bottle dangling by her side.

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“Hello, grandma. Did you enjoy your walk?” Danny called as she walked into the house, his attention on the computer screen.

“Yes, I did. Do you want some juice?” she asked.

“Yes gran, thank you,” Danny replied still not looking up: teenagers always hooked to some gadget.

She handed him the glass of juice to which she had added water from the fountain. Danny guzzled the contents: hopefully she was saving him from experiencing the stress that growing up brings. If only she had deciphered the writing on the fountain:

For the old, youth renewed

For the young, infantile mind stagnated. 

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