Torrential Love

Chapter Twenty-Seven

~YAEL~

Duncan slid into the space next to her on the bed that night and covered both of them under the warm blanket. She inched closer to his body, and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Warm?" he asked her.

"Yes," she said, nodding.

"I'll get a new heater tomorrow," he said.

Or not at all, she thought. But he did not respond to her thoughts.

"I sleep good like this," Yael said.

"I know. I can do this anytime you're having trouble with sleep."

"You are kind soul, Duncan."

"I don't think so, but thank you."

"Why not leave me at hospital?" she asked, peering up at him.

"The people of this town... You are Jewish. Some of them don't like that very much. The lesser people know about you, the better. It keeps you safe."

"I would be dead if not you save me. Life is short, eh? Who know, maybe tomorrow my wound fester, and I die soon."

"It makes you treasure what you have now, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Yael said. "So long I live, my life good. I am lucky. But not everyone can say the same. Like you."

"I consider my life hard. But I also think it's a good life. I have had many moments of breathlessness, times of despair, but these moments give meaning to the days of happiness. If you didn't know that your joy could so easily be cut short, would you truly cherish that joy?"

"You do not think life cruel? You lost so much."

"I have. So I no longer give my heart out to anyone. It's not worth it."

"You do not realise it, but you are give out your heart still, Duncan."

He kept quiet for a moment. "I am somewhat aware of that. I still have people I love, but I know if they die because of others, I won't do anything about it. I won't let it affect me anymore. I promise myself that much."

"That good," Yael said. "If I die, will you sad?"

"I suppose so."

She gave a small laugh. "I thought we friends."

"Eh."

She nudged his arm playfully. "So bad."

"Maybe I'll shed a few tears?"

"Geez," she rolled her eyes. "But I know if I die, I go to Heaven. And I be happy there."

"How do you know Heaven is a good place anyway?"

"I know because family is there. And one day, I will have own family, my kids there too."

"Ah," Duncan said. "What are you going to do when you realise Heaven is actually a horrible place?"

"No," Yael said. "Heaven is Heaven because of who is there. If person you love is there, it is Heaven."

"Then what if the person you love is not there?"

"Then Heaven is Hell."

"Well, I'd never be able to test that theory out," Duncan told her. "Since I'm an immortal."

"Is that why also you don't love anymore? Because your human die in the end."

"I can always turn them into immortals," he said. "But if their souls are past the gates of Heaven, I can no longer do anything about that."

"And can you go to Heaven?"

"Never."

Yael yawned. "Then you better turn your human to immortal, Duncan."

"Look at you yawn," he said, pulling her into his body. "Go to sleep."

"Remember to turn your human - "

"I will never waver for another human again," he said firmly. "And even if I did, I'd let her live her life before destroying it."

"But - But - " Yael said, her voice weakening as her mind loosened. She closed her eyes slowly and faded from wakefulness. She dreamt of sunflowers and lilies, and when she reopened her eyes again, her back was facing Duncan's chest.

But there was something hard poking her back.

Her eyes widened. She glanced behind her at Duncan, who was trying to get up. She shot from the bed, incredulous shock in her glare as Duncan tried to form words but did so badly.

"You hard?!" Yael accused.