To Nathan
It began with a letter, not that all love stories start with one, rather theirs had triggered the end of their love-story, Nathaniel caressed the last letter he'd ever received, recalling the promise he left unfulfilled. If only he could turn back time, and even though being cursed to live for over a century, regrets has been a futile endeavor and habit he could not break.
Sighing he focused on the words he'd memorized over time, but still felt wholly new each time he read the words;
Dear Nathaniel,
My beloved Nathan...
I truly prefer calling you 'Nathan' rather than the name you were christened with, 'Lord Nathaniel Hawthorne'; I chuckle at the aristocratic name I must deliver upon every meeting. If only people knew, eh?!
Beloved, what a simple word, yet it holds a seeping expanse of all the world's virtues, a caress that renders me tempted by the aphrodisiac powder of your words, drunk on the elixir that it creates and I am powerless to stop them, as atoms explode inside my heart. As if, the universe itself is being reborn in my heart.
Your touch reminds me of every breath, every moment we've shared, and explicit caress we've exchanged, I hope to hold you in my arms long, when I shall lavish upon you a million kisses.
My heart beats to every breath you take, a quickened pulse that follows you, begging to be made manifest, I ink upon this page, the consuming love of wanton need. Nathan, my love, should you desire us to be bound for all eternity, meet me at the spot that left us covered in the blessings and the bounty of mother earth, I wish to handfast our souls as one, and be with you till the end of eternity.
I love all of you, Even the parts that you believe are too dark and too shameful. Every scar, Every Flaw, Every Imperfection you deem, I love you. I would bid from you feelings that are assuredly the most violent, tempest, tempestuous in the world. I want us to feel freedom to express our needs and our hearts without ever having raise the tone of our voice. I want our love to bloom, undeterred, and wish to love you, today and for all of my tomorrows.
Love,
Christopher
Nathan set the letter down, the date long since blurred, soaked with his tears, upon when he'd realized seven months later of Chris' sudden death.
A mystery he could not solve then, and has even less answers over the one hundred and twenty years that has passed, and for how many times he has met and lost every avatar of Chris he has met after every seven years.
To realize this year would be his last chance, as he looked out the window at his new neighbor, the absolute lookalike of his lost love, down to his last laugh line, and scar. A carbon copy of a man who no longer existed stood laughing under a tree as he spoke to a young scowling woman.
Fate truly was cruel.
