It hurt to watch her smooth hair spill upon her shoulders like that of my people but know she would never see the ages they were to know. I looked into her eyes, my heart bleeding from the recognition that, given the time, time would wrinkle and close them as she visited death, dining with him and loving him instead of me—
Jealousy consumed me. My heart knew only the moment and it's feelings, but, in my spirit, eras stretched before me, singing their never-ending song. I wanted to die the moment she did, to rest my head upon the pillow of humanity that would ensure my demise.
But it was impossible. Just as she could not share in my immortal years, her mortality was hers alone. Every time she spoke, I could hear the pain she felt in the distant apprehension of our parting. Our souls touched and hers was full of sorrow. Even then, she had not anticipated the enemy's arrow that had found its mark in her heart, which I held so dear. Each moment was bittersweet, like the soft rains that flood the glen as they unfurl beautiful leaves in the forest.
That was where I confessed my feelings to her. She had been among the statues, whose torsos emerged from the same water that soaked the bottom of her clothing. She was so different from the elves in so many ways—wearing the costume of a ranger, she sought adventure and peace and danger. I had been warned not to act in haste, not to give in to lust, but I hadn't listened for I knew it was not haste or lust that pulled me toward her. The murky water blended with her tears as she walked in the underwater garden.
I had called her name and she had looked at me for a moment, only to sink away in fear of what was to come. Her own love terrified her and mine was unfathomable. She had wished for it even as it haunted her nightmares. She had searched the depths of her soul and found it occupied the entire distance. If she could stretch as far as the night sky, she would have wrapped me in a blanket of sleep to see me content and untormented, but never could hope I would return the feelings.
But she was the night sky, with little time before day blocked her out. She was summer, expanding the days but leaving too quickly.
If I had known to where she was going, I would have followed. I do not know where her soul settled after our cruel separation and do not think I could gather the courage to follow her there. Brave and beautiful—when I had forgotten for a moment, eternity had seemed perfect.
Now the years march on, an undying parade, leaving me to remember the passing moment, the quivering shimmer, of our love that was, to her, a lifetime.
~*~
AN: Please review—constructive criticism welcome!