Rowan hadn't expected the tales to be true.
Her life really did flash before her eyes, as her boot got stuck in some sticky tar on the road, as a truck came hurtling towards her.
She remembered her mother's loud, booming laughter.
Her father took turns dancing with her and her mom in the kitchen as they made kimchi rice with her mother's fried chicken.
Camping in their backyard as her mother pointed out each constellation and its history. Her father kissed her forehead after telling her folktales from Korea, the kinder ones, the fantastical ones.
All those happy moments instead of the grief of losing her parents one after another.
Then just as she winced, waiting for the impact of the truck, she felt sunlight on her face. Her eyes opened, and she found herself in a meadow.
A hum from the ground vibrated the soles of her feet, which she noticed were suddenly bare, a flowing toga-looking gown on her body.
"Where am I?"
She never quite believed in heaven or hell, the belief just never sat well with her. It was more likely in her mind that she'd been kidnapped/rescued from the accident in the road than believe she was dead and in some sort of limbo.
A shape formed from the sunlight, lace-like wings upon his back, a smile soft and wise upon beautiful golden features.
"Rowan Song-Williams, welcome. We at last can meet. I am Elion Thorn." He bowed his head, and Rowan found herself giving a lopsided curtsy, unused to such forms of address.
"I have long watched you, Rowan."
"Ok...kinda creepy...."
He chuckled, "You are the heir to two fae lines that could not be expressed in your own world, but now you will be able to bloom in another."
Rowan nodded like she knew what he was saying, "So this is an isekai, truck-kun, situation? I'm being transported to a new world? As what its hero? Its new ruler?"
The fairy's throat bobbed as he threw his head back in laughter, as he composed himself he brushed a tear that escaped his eye, "Who knew you would have such intuition?"
"What really?" Rowan felt herself panicking. She had plants at home that would die without her, friends she'd never be able to say goodbye too and a new job at her local library all her hard work would be for naught.
A touch on her head, patting her as if she were a cat, "It will be alright, Rowan. You are only going to become what you were always meant to be. Your destiny is waiting for you. They are waiting for you."
"Someone is waiting for me?"
"Three."
Rowan had barely had time for her friends when she had been finishing up college, let alone a boyfriend. The idea that three someones were waiting for her felt overwhelming.
"Who are they?"
"You will know them when your heart remembers them."
Rowan gave a nervous laugh, "Fine, be cryptic."
"I will be sending you to a world you are familiar with, but you will not remember why. Your mind must forget to protect yourself, but your magic will lead you true."
She felt her hands tickle, and she looked down wide-eyed to find them glowing slightly. "My magic?" she whispered in awe.
Wind swirled around her, and she looked up to see the leaves blown by the wind reformed into a green door that glistened in the sunlight.
A firm hand was on her shoulder, "I am not throwing you into the dark, Rowan. I am merely delivering you to where your light is needed.
Rowan swallowed, cleared her throat, and licked her bottom lip nervously before bringing up a shaking hand to rest on the green door handle.
"Go well, little sun."
Rowan opened the door to see a swirling vortex on the other side.
"I don't think I am ready."
Hands on her shoulders, and a whisper in her ear, "And that is what makes you perfect."
With a light shove, Rowan fell through the portal. She let out a yell before closing her eyes. What was waiting for her on the other side of the void...only time would tell.