It’s strange that I never noticedhow fast clouds move before. It was sort of frightening. I almost feltlike running for cover, as though they might lose control and tumblefrom the sky and crush me. I might have done just that had I not been socomfortable where I was, lying in the sun in a lush meadow.

Iturned to look at the beautiful, ageless being stretched on the grassbeside me. His looks were deceiving, for while he appeared to be anormal teenage boy, I knew he was well over 300 years old and not humanat all.

“Nathaniel,” I said, my voice sounding loudin the calm of the clearing.

“Mmm?” was his onlyreply. His eyes were closed and a lazy smile graced his lips as hesoaked up the sun.

“I want to see you.”

Heopened his violet eyes a fraction, peering at me with a look ofamusement and adoration. Then, he closed them again and let out a longbreath. Slowly, he started to change. The color in his skin faded untilhe was all white, except for his lips which remained a pale rose, andhis hair became an impossible shade of black. He sat up and a set offilmy, sparkling wings sprouted from his back, the light bouncing off,sending rainbows dancing around the meadow.

I pushed myself intoa sitting position and grinned when he opened his eyes, now a deeppurple.

“Much better,” I said, and his lips partedin a breathtaking smile.

He lowered himself onto the grass,holding his head up with his hand, his face turned toward the sun. Helooked so perfectly at ease and so easily perfect that it was hard tobelieve he was even real. He was so lovely that it hurt to think of whathe saw in me. The ordinariness of my humanity couldn’t possibly beendearing compared to the fantastical beauty of this faerieboy.

Yet there he was, utterly content to be with me. Iwasn’t sure I’d ever understand, but I didn’t mind.Having him was more than enough. To ask for an explanation would begreedy. Still, I had to wonder if there had been others before me. Afterall, he’d been alive for three centuries. Certainly hehadn’t spent those years alone. It hurt to think of others holdinghis heart, and that others would, because, of course, I wouldn’tbe around forever. I would grow old and die, and he would goon.

But if he loved me as he said he did, would he be able to goon? Would he survive after I was gone? Were our positions switched, Iknew I wouldn’t be able to exist. Now that I knew what it was tobe with him, I don’t think I’d be able to live without him.So, did the thought of being without me frighten him? Did it scare himto think he would live forever?

“What are youthinking?” he asked softly, looking at me with curiouseyes.

“Well,” I said, mirroring his position andpropping my head on my elbow. I took his hand and flipped it so his palmwas facing up. Running my fingers lightly up and down the inside of hisarm, I looked at him. “I was wondering if it ever scares you, thethought of living forever.” I saw him frown.

“That’s a strange thing to thinkabout.”

I shrugged. We’d long ago established thefact that my mind didn’t work the same way as everyoneelse’s.

“Does it?” I prodded.

With asigh, he wrapped his arms around me.

“Sometimes, yes, thethought frightens me, mostly because of how inconceivable it is. Whendoes forever stop? Does it stop? How do you measure an eternity?”He paused, I assumed, in thought. I saw his lovely face tighten withanguish and confusion and sorrow. “No one can even say for surewhen it began. Some say billions of years; others say millions, andothers believe thousands. If we don’t know where it started, howcan we know where it ends?”

I’d never heard himvoice his thoughts so freely. He growled in frustration and the soundwas loud in my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

“Or ifit ends at all! What if I just go on infinitely? What if my family andothers like us never truly die? What if I am doomed to walk this Earth,to exist in this universe, ...” His eyes closed with some ancientemotion I could not comprehend.

“Forever?” Iwhispered.

His gaze came to rest on me and I propped my head upon my forearm, which was folded over his chest. And then his eyes metmine. The sorrow, the pain, the turmoil, the deep, heavy woe in his eyesbroke my heart several times in that fraction of a second. The emotionswere so strong, so inconsolable, that they shook me to my core andbefore I knew it, tears rolled down my cheeks. It wasn’t until Ifelt him wipe one away, his fingers as light as a moth’s wing,that I even realized I was crying.

I felt it, though. I felt theemotions reflected in his eyes. I felt them deep in my chest, weighingheavily on my heart, choking me. I felt the total impossibility of hisexistence. The uncertainty and the forlorn question of what his purposewas. I felt it all, and I nearly exploded with grief. All of theheartache bubbled over and my body shook with sobs.

I felt hisarms form a loving shield around me, although the anguish was his, andnot mine. I should have been protecting him, consoling him, but Icouldn’t hold myself together.

A soft, soothing melody cameand I realized Nathaniel was humming. My heart swelled with love and awave of ease flooded me. I clung to his shirt, wanting to be as close aspossible. I wanted him to know I was there with him. His hold on metightened and I felt him press his face into my hair.

“Mylovely Delilah,” he whispered. My name on his tongue soundedwonderful, and I wanted him to say it again and again. Reluctantly, Ilifted my head from his chest and the sad smile on his perfect lipsbrought fresh tears to my eyes. “So absurd,” he muttered,stroking my cheek with his thumb.

“Nathaniel,” Isighed his name and my voice cracked. “I -”

Hisexquisite lavender eyes softened and he pulled me up so that my face waslevel with his. He pressed his cheek to mine and said softly in my ear,“What is it?”

I pulled back to gaze at his sinfullygorgeous face. Hesitantly, I traced its contours, his smooth brow, hislavender eyelids and the circles beneath them, the bridge of his nose,the planes of his cheeks, the angles of his jaw, his soft, soft lips. Iheard his sharp intake of breath and the way my name floated from hislips.

“Delilah.”

In his eyes I saw areflection of my own longings and it made my stomachflip.

“Nathaniel,” I whispered. “The thought ofyou ... alone forever ...” my voice trembled and I buried my facein his neck. I forced back sobs as his hands traced soothing circles onmy back. I shook my head, unable to finish my sentence. I hoped heunderstood.

His arms enclosed me completely and he held me sotightly that I was sure I’d fall into him. Except it wasn’ttight enough. It never seemed to be. I could never be close enough tohim. He pressed his cheek to my hair and I heard him inhale deeply. Hesat up and I stretched my arms as far as they could go around his chest,my fingers splayed across his back, making sure not to disturb hiswings.

I wasn’t sure why, but my eyes were shut tight.Maybe I was afraid that when I opened them he wouldn’t be there.How would I live without him? He’d have to move on in a few yearsfor people would notice that he never aged, and then what would Ido?

I breathed in his sweet scent and tried to commit it tomemory. The thought of him having to go through infinite lifetimes inpain was unbearable. I’d only have one life without him;he’d go on eternally.

“Delilah,” his voicewashed over me and warmed my heart. “Look at me.” Icouldn’t disobey and leaned back to gaze at him. His eyes werefull of such intensity that I melted in his arms. I leaned in and hislips met mine. He kissed me hard, harder than he’d ever kissed me,and I knew he was pouring his heart into it. I was, too.

I smiledagainst his mouth and felt him do the same. My grin broadened and Ileaned back to look at him. His mouth spread into one of his gloriouscrooked smiles and I brought my hands to my face, my cheeks hurting fromthe strain of smiling. I laughed breathily and shook myhead.

“What?” he asked, his voice husky, his lipsstill stretched in a smile.

I shook my head again.“It’s embarrassing.” What was I supposed to tell him?That his smile made my insides turn to mush?

He rolled his eyesgood-naturedly and said, “Everything with you isembarrassing.” He grabbed my chin and drew my face closer tohis.

“Tell me,” he breathed, and I was temporarilydazed.

I also totally lost all of my resolve. “Yoursmile,” I started.

“Yes?” heprompted.

“I love it.”

His grin grew into oneof triumph and I pouted at having given in. He placed a kiss on myforehead and then on my mouth.

“I love you,” hewhispered against my ear. I brushed his obsidian hair away from hisforehead and smiled down on him, my face no doubt glowing brightred.

For some reason I laughed, then said quietly, “I loveyou, too.”

If possible, he smiled more breathtakingly thanever and pulled me to him.

“Those words from you willbring me happiness forever. No matter how long forever may be.”