The Last Storyteller (First Edition) | Page 54

"We are like that fish," she said. "We get out of the water and someone, much like death, throws us back in. In this world, we are actually out of water but death takes us back to life. Death, in fact, is the real name for life. The rest is all sand! The desires we have are just love for sand." My heart began to beat more rapidly. Neeha seemed to have a strange power over me. She had changed my mind, my feelings, and my outlook on life. We walked hand in hand along the seashore, looking out over the ocean waves. We no longer spoke. The sweet confusion grew. My manhood bloomed with the desire to be closer to her. I was overwhelmed with the frightening but wildly exciting desire I suddenly wanted nothing more than to love her forever. We stopped and looked at each other. In the twilight of early morning, I could see her eyes glitter as if accepting my silent commitment. I took her face into my hands. She closed her eyes in surrender, and I softly placed a kiss on each of them. My heart leapt with joy. "You are so beautiful!" I whispered. But then I sensed a change in Neeha's manner, a sudden distancing. She pulled away from me and looked at the rising sun. She said softly, "Yes, but this beauty is for the beasts." And she walked away. I stood alone on the sands of time waiting for someone to come to throw me into the water. The End Page | 54