Beyond This Life
por ReallettyC
In the realm of eternity, where stars whispered secrets to the moon, two souls danced across timelines. Xena and Gabrielle, warriors, lovers, and soulmates, entwined in a celestial embrace, Xena and Gabrielle always meet again in another life, even if they don’t remember who they were, their connection goes beyond that, the fragments of memories come to them in pieces, without understanding what is happening or who they were, In each life, the fragments of memories drifted to them like faint echoes. Xena would see glimpses in the reflection of her sword, the flash of an ancient battlefield in her eyes, the echo of a long-forgotten laugh reverberating in her heart. And Gabrielle, with her ink-stained hands and calloused palms, would find herself writing poetry and stories of a dark-haired warrior, always with a fierce, protective love hidden within the words.
It was Saturday morning, Xena had headed to her office, her employees were off, but she was not, she was working with some AI analytics, doing payroll and other important documents that she had to finish by Monday, Xena was focused on doing the job well, she put on her glasses and began to write the statement for Mr. Rothschild, at that moment her cell phone buzzed and it was Gabrielle, Xena glanced down at her phone, a hint of surprise sparking in her eyes when she saw Gabrielle’s name on the screen. She hadn’t expected to hear from her today; Gabrielle was usually just as buried in work as she was on the weekends. With a quick tap, she picked up the call, her voice calm but warm.
“Hey Gabrielle…(a soft smile spreading across her face despite the tight workload ahead of her)…Everything okay?”
“Good Morning Xena, Yes I’m fine, I just… I don’t know, I had a strange feeling that maybe you needed a break,”
“A break?….I’ve got a mountain of work here—payroll, statements, analytics…”(Xena chukcle)
“I know Xena….tell me something…”
“What?”
“When was the last time you took a day off?”
“Long time ego….But this has to be done by Monday, Gabrielle. You know how it is. (sighing softly as she adjusted her glasses)
“Yes, I do. Which is why I think you should come meet me for coffee. Just a quick one—ten minutes. I promise it’ll help. (Gabrielle’s playful voice)”
Xena hesitated. She’d already been working non-stop since dawn, and the idea of a short break was… tempting. But the work. She shook her head, about to decline.
“Please, Xena. Ten minutes…You know I’m not going to stop pestering you until”
you agree.”
“Fine, fine. But only ten minutes.”
As she hung up, Xena saved her documents, stood up, and glanced around her office, her mind already thinking about what she’d have to jump back into when she returned. But as she stepped out into the brisk Saturday morning air, a little part of her was grateful for the nudge,A short walk later, Xena spotted Gabrielle seated by the window of their favorite coffee shop, already waving as she spotted Xena through the glass. Gabrielle’s face lit up with a smile, and Xena found herself smiling back, the tension in her shoulders easing just a bit.
“Here you are…The unstoppable Xena, finally taking a break.”
“(Xena rolled her eyes but smiled)…You make it sound like I’m doing something illegal by working hard.”
“”Working hard? Yes. Working too hard? Also yes… You’re human, you know. You can take a breather.”
“Take a breath sound nice today , but I have a lot of work for to do.
“Relax Xena, nothing is going to happens if you leave work for couple of hour”
” I know, I know…but there is so much in my plate Gabrielle, Every time I think I’ve cleared one thing, three more pop up. It’s like this endless cycle.”
“Which is why you need this even more…this si your reset button Xena.
“Will think about it….but thank you….so how your weekend goes?”
“just chill, I was clean the suite a bit, and then just relaxing”
As Xena settled into the chair across from Gabrielle, she took a moment to breathe in the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The familiar ambiance of the shop, with its warm wooden accents and soft chatter, enveloped her like a comforting blanket.
“Sounds nice,( Xena replied, stirring her coffee absentmindedly)….I could use a bit of that relaxation vibe.”
(Gabrielle leaned forward, her green eyes sparkling with mischief)…. “You could also use a little adventure. How about we plan something spontaneous? A hike, maybe? Or a trip to that new art exhibit downtown?”
(Xena chuckled, shaking her head)….”You know I can’t just drop everything for a hike. The last time I did that, I ended up with a mountain of emails waiting for me.”
“Well then you deal with….Xena, you have to recharge…”
“You make a compelling argument, Gabrielle. But what if I come back and find my inbox exploded?….is not that simple, I have a big charged on me, my company count with me in everything”
Gabrielle smiled knowingly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she leaned back in her chair, Xena sighed, tracing the rim of her coffee cup with her finger.
“Your company might count on you, but you’ve got to count on yourself too, Xena. You’re always on call—always the one solving everyone else’s problems. But who’s taking care of you?”
“I know, I know. It’s just… hard to turn it off, you know? There’s always something. A deal to close, a crisis to manage, someone who needs me.”
“And what if, just this once, you let someone else be there for you?…A hike or a day out won’t make the world stop. And it’s not like you’re abandoning the company. You’ll be better for it, more focused and ready to tackle whatever comes up.”
Xena let Gabrielle’s words sink in, feeling a familiar but often ignored tug within her. How long had it been since she’d let herself do something just for the joy of it? Something that wasn’t productive, wasn’t efficient, and didn’t serve a purpose other than to give her a moment of peace.
“Fine I will try……..”
“you will not regret, I promise”
“Fine…where do you suggested to go?”
“I was thinking what about a hike?”
“Hike?…where?…we are on the city no in the country side!”
“I know but there is a place called Millbrooke, is a NY Trials that we can hike and explore!”
Xena let out a long sigh, eyeing Gabrielle with a mix of skepticism and reluctant curiosity.
“A hike in Millbrooke, huh? (she said, folding her arms)…Didn’t take you for the hiking type.”
“Well, I didn’t think of you as one for a peaceful stroll either, but here we are, right?…Besides, I think we could both use a little break from the city’s chaos.”
Xena smirked but couldn’t quite shake the doubt that lingered. Her life had been a long series of carefully calculated moves and meticulous plans; even the thought of a simple hike felt foreign. But the idea of spending time with Gabrielle—without an agenda or mission—stirred something in her she hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Alright, Millbrooke it is, But if I find this place to be anything short of magical, you owe me coffee. The fancy kind”
“Deal…(Gabrielle chuckled) you wont regret it, promise…we can plan for the next weekend, what do you think?”
“Sure, but first I need to know who could be in charge for those couple of day”
“Sure you will find someone…”
“Well Gabrielle I need to go back to the office I said 10 minute and I spend almost an hour “
“Come on, I’ll accompany you (take out a hair strain from Xena’s forehead).
“Thank you…”
But as Xena stood up from the chair, she felt dizzy and almost fell. Gabrielle held her by the hips and helped her sit down.
“Hey…are you ok?”
“(Rubbing her forehead)……Yeah, I’m fine. Just… haven’t been sleeping much, that’s all.”
“Xena why you don’t rest for the day?”
“I need to finish Gabrielle (deep breath)”
“Let me take your blood pressure at least”
“You know, how to do that?”
“Yes, I learned”
“How?”(Some pale)
“I took a course back in broonklyn”
“nice!”
“Your blood preasure is a little low, is better that you rest for today…let see is 3:00 PM”
“It’s to early to leave the office…I can’t do that” (deep Breath)
“Xena, listen to me. You might be able to face an entire boardroom without a flinch, but that doesn’t mean you’re invincible. You can’t keep running on fumes.”
“You make it sound like I’m some kind of warrior who needs a break (Xena joked softly)”
“Warrior or not…even the strongest need to rest sometimes. Besides, if you don’t, I’ll have to drag you back to that chair every time you try to stand up. And that doesn’t look too professional, does it?”
“Alright…(softly)….but let me call Eve, to see if she can do it for me”
Xena still felt weak, she called Eve to see if Eve could cover for her in the afternoon, Eve said yes, a little more relieved and leaving almost everything in Eve’s hands, Xena had pushed herself through the morning routine, ignoring the steady throb in her temples and the occasional dizziness that clouded her vision. But as the afternoon approached, her body was demanding rest. She couldn’t pretend anymore, taking a deep breath, she pulled her phone out and dialed Eve’s number, hoping her voice wouldn’t betray just how exhausted she felt.
“Hey, Mrs. Hearts….”
“hey Eve….Listen… I’m feeling a bit off today. Do you think you could cover for me this afternoon?” (soften voice more that usual)
“Of course. Are you okay? You sound… tired.”
“(Xena tried to laugh, but it came out weak)…I’ll be fine. Just need a little rest, I think.”
“Don’t worry about anything. I’ll take care of it. You just focus on resting, alright?”
“Thank you, Eve…(she murmured, feeling her eyes grow heavy as she spoke)…”I knew I could count on you”
“So? (Said Gabrielle some worried)”
“she will cover me…(deep breath)”
“Good, let’s go home…will make you a chamomile tea” (said Gabrielle)
As they made their way to the door, Gabrielle notices the pallor’s in Xena’s face and the slight trembled in her hand. She took Xena’s arm gently, steadying her, guiding her outside where the fresh air hit them, cool and calming.
“Are you sure you can walk? (Holding Xena’s hips)”
“It’s ok, I can walk…besides is not to far away from here and I think a little fresh air could help”
“We can take an uber Xena…I don’t see you so good (take off a hair strand from Xena’s forehead)
“It’s not necessarily Gabrielle, it will pass ((leaning on the corner)”
“Don’t be stubborn, please let’s take an Uber…”
“Believe me it’s unnecessary, I can handle that, let’s continue walk (deep breath)”
“Okay, but if you faint, don’t say that I warned you afterwards”
“(Xena smiles weakly)…I won’t don’t worry…but if I faint you won’t let me fall right?”
“Jesus Christ Xena, stop said that, you make me nervous…”
Xena smiled sideways, seeing Gabrielle serious, after a few blocks, they arrived at Xena’s suite, where Gabrielle without wasting time placed a chamomile tea, Xena took a deep breath, went to the bathroom to take a warm shower, after a few minutes, she came out with her bathrobe, Gabrielle entered the room.
“Xena… I made you this tea, it should help”
“Thanks Gabrielle… you know, I’ve been thinking”
“Yes?”
“And those fragments of memories, they want to tell us something, but I don’t know how to decipher them” (frowning)
“I don’t know how to do it either… but you know, I think that with time, we will realize”
“maybe…(sipping on her tea)…this tea is so rich…Gabrielle Thank you”
“don’t thank me…you did a lot for me, i can do this for you at least”
“(holding Gabrielle’s hand)…Gabrielle I don’t want you to feel in doubt with me, I did what I did because I saw on you potential and I feel you can go far”
“Xena… you really see that in me? (blushing)
“Yes I do…Gabrielle, you’re stronger than you realize. It’s like there’s a light in you, one that refuses to be dimmed, no matter what happens.”
Gabrielle swallowed, touched by Xena’s words. She hadn’t thought of herself in that way before, but hearing Xena speak about her with such conviction made her heart swell. She squeezed Xena’s hand, feeling a deep sense of comfort.
“Thank you… It means more than you know”
“I will take a nap…I feel tired”
“I will be back in my suite, if you need me call me…I need to do the laundry and clean a little bit”
“Alright Gabrielle, Thank you again”
After Gabrielle left Xena in her suite, she went to hers which was in the same building and floor about 3 doors away but they were toproff and had their balcony and a pool, meanwhile Xena as she closed her eyes, flashes began to flicker at the edge of her mind. Shadows and faces voices that felt familiar yet distant, like echoes from another life. She could see glimpses of battles, hear laughter from someone she once knew—there was a softness, a comfort, and then a jolt, a sudden turn into darkness. Startled awake, she sat up, her pulse racing. She felt like she was on the brink of uncovering something important, something buried deep. Frustration bubbled up as she struggled to remember more details, but it was like grasping at smoke, she knew that Gabrielle told her to called her if anything happens but Xena doesn’t like bother her, But she got up from her bed, went to the bathroom, saw her pale face and visible dark circles, poured cold water, and decided to go to her little bar, grabbed a bottle of wine and began to drink a glass, she felt tired, she was not used to smoking but she felt stressed, she was thinking “what is going on with me” Meanwhile, Gabrielle was in her suite making soup, she felt a pang in her chest, and Xena’s name came to her head, she took her cell phone and decided to call her.
Meanwhile, Xena sat on her cosy couch, looking at her cell phone, she saw Gabrielle’s call as if she had read her mind, she decided to take the call.
“Xena?….”
“Gabrielle….”
“Is everything okay?…are you feeling okay?”
“um..yeah, I’m fine…(coughs)”
“do you feel like you have the flu?”
“No…(clearing her throat)…I just got up just now…I came to the kitchen for a glass of water”
“Do you need something?…”
“(silence for a moment)…No…everything is okay but thanks”
“I made soup…I’ll bring you some”
“Thanks…”
“always…(smile soflty)”
Gabrielle finished making the soup. It was 9 pm when she appeared at the door of Xena’s suite since they lived in the same building. She rang the bell and Xena opened it without thinking. She still had the cigarette in her hand and her hair tied back with her bathrobe. Gabrielle sees her and frowns.
“Were you smoking?”
“Just one, I needed it.”
“(taking the cigarette from her hand)…Xena, smoking won’t make those memories go away…come here (grabbing her hand)…look, I’ve had memory fragments too, and I don’t know how to decipher them. They disturb me, they frustrate me too, but we have to continue (caressing her face).
Xena didn’t know what she felt, but what she felt for Gabrielle let her get wrapped up in her tender and soft caress, In that moment of vulnerability, Xena leans towards Gabrielle and carelessly kisses her, Gabrielle remains static, but she felt something, something strange, when she felt Xena’s lips, something came to her mind, she felt a pang in her chest.
Xena pulled back slightly, searching Gabrielle’s face for any reaction, a flicker of emotion, a sign that her boldness hadn’t crossed a line. Her heart raced in her chest, pounding with a strange mixture of excitement and fear. For a moment, silence hung between them, heavy and uncertain.
“I…I’m sorry Gabrielle (kind of worry)…it was something by impulse….I…I didn’t mean to”
“Xe…Xena….it was something unexpected….”
“I know and I’m sorry…I don’t want to be disrespectful with you”
“That’s not disrespectful…but a certain confusion….Xena when you kissed me, I feel something…Like…..”
“Like what?…”
“Like… from another life”
“what do you mean?”
“I don’t know exactly…It’s as if… when you kissed me… there was this… sense of belonging. Like I’ve known you for so much longer than just this life.”
Xena felt a shiver run through her. It was as if Gabrielle had taken the words out of her own heart, words she’d never dared to say aloud. She’d long felt a strange connection with Gabrielle, something that went beyond their companionship, their adventures, and even their friendship. But to hear Gabrielle express it—that was different. It brought a warmth and vulnerability she hadn’t prepared herself to feel.
The week passed quickly, Friday had arrived, as they had planned, Eve was going to cover for Xena for those 2 days, Friday and Saturday since the company doesn’t work on Sunday, Gabrielle had rented a very cozy cabin in Millbrook for 3 days and 2 nights, it was like a mini vacation in the mountains of Millbrook, they went by train, Xena was nervous because she had never left the office for 3 days.
The train ride to Millbrook was a mixture of excitement and unease for Xena. She glanced out the window, watching the scenery shift from the steel and glass of the city to the lush greens and earthy tones of the countryside. Her fingers tapped restlessly on the armrest of her seat, betraying the nervous energy she was trying to suppress.
Gabrielle, seated across from her, noticed. She reached out, placing a hand gently over Xena’s.
“Xena…relax, It’s just three days. The office won’t collapse without you.”
“You say that, but you haven’t met the team during a crisis. Eve’s capable, but—”
“But nothing…You deserve this break. You’ve been running on fumes for weeks.”
Xena let out a quiet laugh, her tension easing a bit. Gabrielle always had a way of grounding her, of making her feel like she could let go, even if only for a moment.