Evan And Jason (Kevin)

Thalia loved Jason more than she could ever say. She felt completely safe and seen with him. Jason recognized Thalia for who she truly was, and this was refreshing for her. Because of that, it became easier for her to keep the secret of her immortality.

During the day, he would always hold her hand, give it a tight squeeze, and smile down at her. Thalia would look up with a knowing smile while quietly reading his mind. Jason would say, “Just making sure you’re real.”

Jason never let Thalia lift anything. They would often argue about this because Jason expressed his love through action and service. Thalia always reassured him that his service was not required for her love. Her love was unconditional. Jason eventually understood this, but he could not help serving her, he loved it.

Thalia loved their days alone together, doing absolutely nothing. In those moments, she could feel his love fully without reading his mind. At night, when it was just the two of them watching a movie, the way he would caress her hair, her arms, and brush her skin with the back of his hand, felt like magic. Thalia was completely lost in him. She felt she could stay in his arms forever. Her immortality could make that possible.

But Jason wasn’t immortal.

That truth gave her a crippling fear of the future, even as she felt overwhelming bliss and peace with him.

On their days off or after a photo shoot, Thalia would try to race Jason on the beach. Of course, she always let him win, but she loved playing and being silly together. She loved the playful immaturity between them during competitions.

Both of them were very athletic, and their races sometimes turned into contests of back flips and tricks. They would spend hours racing and play-fighting in the sand, only to end the day with the most intense, earth-shattering lovemaking; in the ocean, in the shower, in the bedroom, in the kitchen, and then back again to the bedroom. Thalia’s love for Jason had no limits, and she knew Jason felt the same. There were no doubts or questions in their life together.

Meeting Evan gave Thalia a sense of protection and love she never thought she could share with anyone else. After feeding Evan burgers at Jason’s restaurant, she drove him back to his house. For a boy who had survived so much trauma, he was extremely talkative. Evan loved giving hugs, and she felt safe with Evan. She didn’t need to read his mind to feel that energy.

Evan’s innocence gave him power over his trauma, though Thalia was sure he didn’t realize this. She knew Evan was a son she had never given birth to.

After living for so long and enduring her own trauma, caring for Evan was a full-circle moment. When she was afraid as a child, her mother had comforted her and given her safety. Giving Evan a stable and loving home felt like returning that same gift; something her mother was only able to give her for a short time.

No family members stepped forward to take Evan in, and after two years, Thalia was finally able to make him part of their family.

Thalia loved watching Evan play basketball with Jason after school: in those moments she found herself falling in love with Jason all over again. Jason was the kind of father she had never had; gentle, sincere, firm, loving, and someone who truly listened to Evan. Together, they gave Evan all the love they had. Evan’s childhood was blissful. Reading minds had its advantages, but Thalia never used her ability for manipulation. She only wanted to make Evan happy and safe. She made sure he finished his homework, ate his vegetables, made friends, and learned how to treat others with kindness and respect. She wanted Evan to feel comfortable talking to them about anything, and he did.

Thalia was most proud of their relationship. Evan changed her views on motherhood. Until him, she never believed she was capable of being patient and compassionate toward a child so consistently. Sometimes, Thalia would lie awake at night wondering what more she could do to love Evan, not serve him, but truly love him.

Her love for Evan and Jason was beyond words. Without Jason, Evan’s safe and happy childhood would not have existed. Through them, Thalia finally understood what was truly missing from her own childhood: United Love. There is no greater gift to give a child.

Thalia cried like a baby when Evan left for college, and Jason comforted her while tears filled his own eyes. They both knew that Evan had become the best thing they never created.

Thalia (Tara) would always remember that one good human was raised through the love she and Jason shared.