“What If”: Boone Teaches Philosophy
On this “What If” blog, Tara becomes a philosophy professor at Mahidol University in 2150.
In 2139, after a century of hiding, Tara assumes a new identity as Laura Boone. Dad creates a new passport, ID, and birth certificate with the help of loyal human friends. Each immortal chooses where to live and which career they will pursue. Their new life has to different from the last.
Tara chooses to live in Thailand and teach philosophy while searching for her true purpose. Since her “death” in the 2000s and losing Kevin, Tara’s filled with anxiety and frustration. Peace only shows up when she sleeps. What’s the point? She couldn’t form any real relationships with anyone but her immortal family. She has to constantly die and live a new life. Tara’s been in every corner of the world and loved the experiences, but her purpose remains unclear. Each new identity, she feels herself slipping away. Even with her mind reading abilities, her sense of self is lost, with each life her vision blurs. Since she cannot find clarity for herself, she hopes to help others discover it.
In 2139, Tara leaves the desert with a single duffel bag, a fake passport and enrolls as a freshman at Mahidol University with Jada. Best friends since the 1920s, they struggle with separation even after years of hiding together. And Jada always wanted to live in Thailand. Both receive bachelor’s degrees with honors from Mahidol while learning to speak Thai fluently. With their enhanced telepathic abilities, they master the language in just weeks. Jada graduates with a Pre-med degree, while Tara studies philosophy and religion. Tara remains at Mahidol to pursue her master’s and doctorate, eventually earning her teaching license by 2150.
Teaching philosophy brings Tara a sense of enlightenment and she loves when her students light up with each revelation of a theory. Tara starts to get comfortable with the unknown; maybe her life does not have to have purpose, her life (lives) just have to be meaningful and joyous. This revelation gives her a sense of peace. Tara begins to love Thailand. She loves the strange city smells, the food, and the lessons she teaches. She enjoys weekends with Jada, these loud, joyful, crazy, memorable nights.
In 2155, During a heated lecture on gender roles and social norms, the classroom discussion shifts toward monogamy. Tara suddenly hears a familiar voice in her mind that says, “Monogamy is for the boring and people with little imagination.” Tara recognizes David’s voice while talking to her students. Tara smiles gently in her mind at David and he nods.
After ending class, they engage in a difficult conversation that shifts from philosophy to painful emotions. David left Tara in the 1950s, and they had not seen or talked telepathically since. There was no apology, only regret, both understood the truth: David was never Tara’s final partner. Tara belonged to someone else. Since David was not there physically, he spoke to Tara the best way he knew how, through their abilities. David leaves again, they do not see each other until the apocalypse.
Tara is weary of changing identities again. She loves this life in Thailand, she feels solid, at peace, and free. But, questions will arise when she looks 25 at 80, she had to go.
Her plan was to “die” at fifty-five, just before questions about aging arise. Even at that age, she still looked 25 with no wrinkles or gray hair. Her death would have to appear accidental, as she was well known on campus. Tara and Jada planned to stage an air-car crash while drinking, a final exit that would allow another rebirth.
The day before her planned “death,” Tara walks home from the market and feels a magnetic energy near. Someone or something is following her, but she could not see anyone. The presence breathes heavy but does not approach. Suddenly, she feels a sharp pinch at the back of her neck. Everything goes dark.
Tara wakes on the ground to an elderly woman asking if she is alright. The woman helps her to her feet. Tara feels blood on the back of her neck but found no visible scar. The older woman repeats her question and Tara nods, completely confused. Before blacking out, her immediate thought is of Kevin.