The night was quiet, the stars scattered across the sky like shards of shattered glass. William sat on the rooftop of his motel, the cold breeze biting at his skin. In the distance, the city lights twinkled faintly, but his gaze was fixed on the heavens above—on the world he had once called home.

Olympus felt impossibly far away now. The grandeur, the eternal light, the endless duty—it had all felt so certain before. But now, sitting under the mortal sky, William couldn’t help but wonder if he had ever truly belonged there.

For so long, his existence had revolved around the stories of others, weaving love and heartbreak into the lives of gods and mortals alike. He had thought himself above their struggles, detached from the emotions he so easily manipulated.

But Julius had changed everything.

William closed his eyes, the memory of Julius’s laughter echoing in his mind. He thought of the way Julius looked at him, with trust and warmth that felt like sunlight breaking through the storm clouds of his mortal life. He thought of the quiet moments they had shared—the stolen glances, the soft touches, the unspoken promises.

And he thought of the curse, the ever-present reminder of his limited time. Zeus’s decree loomed over him like a shadow, a constant whisper of his impending end. He was running out of time, but for the first time, he didn’t care about reclaiming his immortality.

He only cared about Julius.

William tilted his head back, his chest tight with emotion. “If you can hear me,” he murmured, his voice trembling but firm, “I don’t want to come back.”

The stars above seemed to hold their breath, the weight of his words hanging in the stillness.

“I don’t want eternity,” William continued, his voice growing stronger. “I don’t want to go back to weaving stories for others while never living one myself. If this is my punishment, then I accept it. Because for the first time, I’ve found something worth fighting for. Someone worth fighting for.”

A surge of defiance flared in his chest, and he stood, his gaze unwavering as he looked up at the heavens. “You can take my immortality. Take my place in Olympus. None of it matters anymore. All I want is for Julius to be happy. Even if I have to face your wrath, Zeus, I won’t give this up.”

The wind seemed to grow stronger, whipping around him as though the universe itself had heard his challenge. But William stood firm, his resolve unshakable. He wasn’t the god of love anymore. He was a mortal man, and for the first time, he was choosing love for himself.

The next morning, William met Julius at the Han River. The artist greeted him with a smile, his eyes lighting up in a way that made William’s heart ache.

“You look different,” Julius said as they started walking along the water’s edge.

William glanced at him, his expression curious. “Different how?”

Julius shrugged, his hands tucked into his pockets. “Lighter. Like you’ve made peace with something.”

William’s breath caught. He wanted to tell Julius everything—that his decision had nothing to do with peace and everything to do with him. But instead, he smiled faintly, his gaze softening.

“Maybe I have,” he said quietly.

As they continued walking, Julius reached out and took William’s hand, their fingers intertwining. It was a simple gesture, but it spoke volumes.

And in that moment, William knew that he had made the right choice.

That evening, as they sat by the river watching the sun dip below the horizon, William felt a sense of clarity he had never known before. He didn’t need Olympus. 

He didn’t need eternity. All he needed was this—these fleeting, beautiful moments with Julius.

“I’m glad I met you,” Julius said suddenly, his voice breaking the silence.

William turned to him, his heart swelling. “I’m glad I met you too,” he replied, his voice filled with quiet conviction.

For the first time in his existence, William felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be. And no matter what the future held—no matter how much time he had left—he knew he would fight for this love, even if it meant defying the gods themselves.

Because Julius was worth it. And for the first time, William understood what it meant to truly love.