A Moment With You.

8

Sins are forever in us. The sin of love, lust, greed ... For me, it was pride. I was too proud, too adamant. Little by little, my life began to shatter apart. It started slow; free and simple to the choices ahead of me -- I was no longer on a vanguard front, but behind it all.  Was freedom getting to me? Was it the taste of something new, something more exciting than being in the service of others, for their benefit and safety? I didn't really know. Something in me grew distant, cold, empty. It was as though the sun came down and burned all of what was, only to leave remnants of ashen gray remains within a deep cage that was once filled with something. The other day when John and I were talking as Elizabeth sat beside me, I was wondering what to do next -- a simple thing for most to answer. To me, this was a world of which made me lose myself completely. There was my sister, Sarah. My unit, or what remained of it. And then, there was Elizabeth. However, not even that was enough to help me decide. The next morning I woke up beside Elizabeth as she slept soundly. My arm traced her figure as the tip of my fingers walked along the edges of her fine beauty. I thought to myself if this was the type of life I would be happy with, if she would be happy with it.

"Mmh ..." Her voice gently muttered as she moved to the side and looked at me, eyes barely awake. I smiled, brought her closer and kissed her tender red lips.

"Good morning, love." I whispered back as we both looked one another in the eyes.

"You look troubled. What's wrong honey?"

"I'm just lost in thought, that's all. Foggy mind." I reassured.

"Is it because of yesterday?"

"Well ..." I exhaled heavily. "Yes. Yes it is."

"Come now, silly. It's not like death is around the corner. Relax with me, let's enjoy what little we have," She said as her arms wrapped themselves around me and brought me in closer. Tender and passionate love seemed to come forth from us both; a fiery lovemaking in which we indulged our freedom in the midst of a snow-filled morning. The slow, normal kind of life began slowly settling into my mind as we proceeded to live day by day, one thing at a time. But the itch was still there. I couldn't pinpoint what it was, why it was there.

"Honey?"

"Hm?" Elizabeth peeked towards me as I laid on top of her chest, looking up. Her red hair cascaded down towards me like a beautiful waterfall, eyes akin to diamonds meeting my own.

"Do you believe people change?"

"People change daily, my love. Father once told me of his old friend. They grew up poor, alone in the countryside. Then, one day, his friend became rich and got greedy. It took everything away from him -- but not his heart -- all but his heart. Then, suddenly, he came back to where he originally was from, and stayed there, money in hand, he never took to being greedy again. Instead, he built the city that you saw. He helped the commoners, funded the hospital and farmland. We all change, I believe even if I change, I will always remember where I come from." Her hands calmly soothed me as her soft fingers ran atop of my cheeks as I quietly brought her closer for a kiss and sealed my lips with hers -- a temporary close of time as we closed our eyes and enjoyed it.

"I love you. Don't ever forget that. Always and forever." I whispered as we looked at one another.

"I love you too, always." Her smile glowed with a softness to it -- the kind which allowed me to see sincerity. We were different, we were. I never expected to meet anyone in this life, much less through a war torn country, despite my insufferable hate for all things fated. And just like that, everything changed. At that terrible moment, we knew -- home was no longer going to be an option. Our story was not going to be one of happiness, but one of terrible disasters that would soon lead us to find the real truth behind everything. Our own versions of what truths there were to find in this life. Our tale was only the beginning of a twisted darkness that could never leave us be. What was it? Neither of us really knew. But for now, for now, we had a momentary calm life. It annoyed me, although I appreciated it, but it irked me regardless.