Everyday Thoughts

My Path: Part II

We stood there in the snow for a brief moment with my heart pounding in rage and confusing. Even my body knew it wasn't over. It was at that moment, before we could continue talking, that a massive dragon appeared to confront the mob of skilled adventurers.  I leaped in to carve its scaly hide and she went forward with me keeping the hands of death from reaching me.
A gruesome battle began as we slowly but surely slayed the giant wyrm. When all was said and done, part of me wanted to walk away from her so she didn't have to see me in such a shameful state, but I couldn't bring myself too leave her there after she came all that way and tended to my wounds. I stood there with her on the bridge to the heart of the Steel Vigil. I looked into her pale green eyes and her soft, glowing skin, her face expressing genuine concern. I finally broke my silent rage and talked.
"So, Im angry because I feel like I am to be punished for spending time with you and being around you, and wanting to stay with you for as long as possible, because you're the first person in a long time I can open every corner of my heart to and not be afraid of betrayal or lies. I don't want to lose that, I don't want to lose YOU. Even though I know that this is only temporary, the best things are always. I love you, Aero."

"I love you, my Nieve" she said still determined to cheer me up. So we spent the rest of the night sitting in the snow snuggled together for warmth. She talked about her past and I listened attentively, although when she we talk about her amazing encounters I often felt like my life wasn't nearly as interesting. She is much farther ahead of me. We debated philosophies and I came to realize that she out of all people understood me better or as well as I understand myself. That I want a reason to be in pain, to suffer, and to be angry because it makes me feel justified in an unjust world.
"Im the same, I want to feel sad sometimes because it makes me feel justified," She said. "So don't worry, you're not alone."

I could have sat there and talked to her for hours. It made me wonder how much torture it is for her and I to be so far apart yet so alike, like some cruel joke.
"Aero, why couldn't I have been born in an earlier time... Why couldn't I have met you at a more opportune time and we could have grown old together?"

"That's because... I'm not the end of your path. Im just a guide."  As much as it hurt to hear that, It made sense. I don't believe in paths much but if I'm walking with Aero I will create one to at least look back upon the two sets of footprints left in the sand behind us and remember a woman, this woman who I have loved more than anyone else.