Centuries passed.
Not that Glad noticed—time moved differently when you were loved.
The garden expanded, swallowed the cottage, became a sanctuary for generations. The immortal flowers never faded. Anino's statue watched eternally. The Watcher and Gahom became legends themselves—the cats who were once Unseen.
Maya led for centuries, then passed leadership to her own chosen successor. Lilith's tree towered over everything, branches spreading like sheltering arms.
And Glad? Glad remained.
Not as leader. Not as symbol. Just as... presence. The original Manananggal who went viral, now simply an old woman in a garden, loved by all.
Ariel stayed beside her, as eternal as their bond.
"Is this forever?" she asked one evening.
"This is us. However long that lasts."
"Long enough?"
"More than enough."
The garden glowed.
The cats purred.
Love continued.