Her expression showed no trace of darkness—no sense of tragedy, or the pain she must have felt. Her smile was that of one friend talking with another. Her smile was that of someone nestling close to the one she loved. Her smile held no cynicism and was so typical as to become beautiful.
Naomi had reached the horizon of that smile.
Believing that the dead couldn’t forgive, I had strived to live a life without regret. Misdeeds, once committed, couldn’t be undone, and so the only avenue was recompense. I thought the same applied to Snake and Naomi.
But Naomi had come much, much farther than us. She had arrived at the final destination for souls; a place accessible only after one’s time on Earth had been spent.
And we saw it.
We saw the smile of a woman who had stepped into the world beyond atonement.
By the time you hear this, I’m afraid I’ll be gone.
This is a strange feeling. To be alive, recording a message for after I’m dead.
Hal … If you’re listening …
“I’m listening,” I said. I’d never felt anything so nice as to hear her call me Hal.
I’m sorry I deceived you.
It hurt me more than anything else, lying to you like that. I wanted to apologize to you before I died … but not even that was allowed me.
And yet, in the end, I finally can feel the joy of living.
Thank you, Hal.
I realized that now, with everything over, I didn’t need to hold back my tears.
Her choice couldn’t have been a happy one. Afflicted by illness, she used the time she had left to make amends for her sins. Few would find joy in thusly spending their last days.
Yet her eyes were at peace.
Snake … hear me.
Still on the ground, Snake lifted his head.
Our country is an innocent child once more.
A new dawn is rising. Now she can build a new destiny for herself.
Snake … the time has come.
You’ve earned your rest.
Snake had mangled Frank and watched the man be killed. He had stolen Naomi’s brother away from her, and I know he carried it with him. I know this from his doubts, during our briefing, when he asked if she was on our side. During the Shadow Moses Incident, Snake said to her, Naomi, I don’t blame you for wanting me dead. He carried her hatred on his back.
But Naomi had forgiven him, after the incident nine years ago.
And now she had finally been able to tell him. She didn’t hate anyone anymore—but to fulfill her duty, she couldn’t let Snake know.
After she died, Snake thought he would never earn her forgiveness.
And now, to suddenly be granted that which he thought was lost, Snake felt bewildered. The legendary warrior was not used to such kindness—strange, since he had so much kindness within himself.
Her speech at its end, Naomi’s gaze turned off-screen, to somewhere in the distance—as if she could see her next destination. Her eyes held no fear. Or maybe they did, only for an overpowering hope to scatter such shadows and lead her ever forward.
She looked not just to the past, but also to the future.
The rose petal is about to fall.
In the end, everyone went to the same place.
“Soon, I’ll be there,” Snake said. The man-made rose and the snake born not from nature. Our stories were near their end.
Another violent spasm racked Snake’s body. He hardly had the strength left to even cough. His chest convulsed and his muscles clenched, and Snake curled into the fetal position.
“I’ve set things right. Now let me go.”
And Snake slipped from consciousness.
✦ ✦ ✦
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