Alone, he sits, in the middle of a room. It could be any place, any time....he knew not where or when. Staring east out a window, he closes his eyes. Everywhere around him, he is surrounded by pictures each of the same young woman. Everything in this room in fact holds some significance...each a reminder. A reminder of her....of his life.

His life, so long ago removed...taken from him in an instant...the loss of all reason...of all thought. It was his choice yes, but an irrational one. Had he thought of the life he would have lost, his choice may have been different. But he has to live with his pain now....for all eternity.

He stares at himself through his own eyes, seeing himself. Was it worth it? This immortality? No, he thinks...no. He has lived much longer than anyone he's ever known. Immortal, yes, but alone. The pain. Did the others also feel this pain? Did they too feel the loneliness, the sadness....how did they cope with it? Create others like them? Did they Embrace their family members....their dogs, their cats...only to comfort themselves in this immortality?

He had that choice. So long ago, he had the choice...and he let it slip through his fingers.

He closes his eyes again, taking in the images around him. Her voice...God her voice...like choirs of angels. No...fool. Not angels. That is only what your mind had told you...what every mind of every lover tells of their mate. But yes, her voice had been soft and sweet. And her body, how warm it had been. Even when she said she was cold, I could feel the warmth of her body...her smooth curves pressed up against me, yearning for asylum from the cold. I used to love the way her long blonde hair fell against my face as she lay in my arms, both of us holding each other tight... blocking out the world around us.

Was it love? Hah...how funny. Mortals used to believe that only with experience will you be able to find love. "You're too young to know what love really means..."

He chuckles to himself..the irony of the situation. Finding himself in this room of images, of sights and sounds that only he can hear, in his head....the voices of memory swimming all around him. "Too young to understand.." he chucles again, drawing out the words. "If they only knew..."