The Three Fates in Greco-Roman mythology were in charge of determining people's lifespans and what they decided at your birth could be subject to change based on your actions. Featured here in Clotho, who was in charge of spinning the thread. This particular thread in question is attached to her earring so whoever's it is must be important to her and it appears considerably long. But I mistrust the expression of her sister Atropos, who was in charge of cutting the thread. (Not pictured is Lachesis, who actually determines the length of the thread/lifespan.) I don't know if Atropos is going to do something sneaky before Clotho can stop her, but if you know mythology then you'll know that nothing would get you snookered faster than being between two gods or demigods.