Sunsetter [18]

Something called her to the river that day, but she would never say what. As she approached the bank, a ballet of swans turned and swam in the opposite direction. Their arrowhead formation pointed to the cemetery on the far side. Beneath an overcast sky, the birds’ reflections were dark in contrast to their white plumages.

Beside the water, a man rose from his haunches. Kristine had not noticed him there and was startled by his sudden appearance. He turned, evidently curious as to what had caused the swans to flee, and she gazed into his wonderous face.

A more handsome man Kristine had never seen. Locks of pure gold spilled in gentle waves over his sapphire eyes. His tanned complexion told of his time outdoors and his dazzling smile struck her to the core.

‘Hello,’ he whispered, breathless. ‘I’m Lloyd.’ Though his tone was soft, his voice was strong.

Not knowing what possessed her, Kristine ran to him and embraced him, her heart pounding and her head swimming.

From that midsummer’s day to the end of September, when the waning sun ignited the sky in splendorous hues of crimson and blush, she and Lloyd were together every minute. When they made love, she believed the angels wept at the beauty and poetry they created.

His desire for her knew no bounds and, in turn, she wanted him with her, on her, in her everywhere.

Life before Kristine was meaningless. Lloyd had drifted through a grey dream without care or direction. The passion she incited brightened his days with colour and for the first time he felt alive.

The bitter irony was not lost on him, that once he found a reason to live his body began to fade. At first it was weakness in his limbs or an ache in his chest, but as the weeks passed by he lost the will to eat or sleep. He bathed less frequently, not possessing the strength to cleanse himself.

But still he was moved to demonstrate his love for Kristine in every physical manner. Even when he could barely stand or clutch a fork, he was able to maintain his stamina to please her in all the ways she deserved. All the means she quietly demanded.

Until the final day, when the potent lust was powerless to move his loins and he was expelled from the material world.

Through the veil he watched her still.

His form was ice-cold and racked with sweet agony beyond words but always he looked for her, opening his mind to feel for her as a rose opens its petals to the falling rain. Unchained in death, he yearned to caress his Kristine one more time. He needed her touch on his skin, her cries in his ears, her love in his veins.

At his graveside, Kristine could feel his presence. She offered a prayer to any god who would pay her heed, begged that Lloyd be returned to her.

Without her, Lloyd had been lost in his world, beaten and trampled by the apathy and ignorance around him. Together they had risen, they had become as gods. Every sexual encounter they shared, every depraved contortion, had provided sustenance to her soul.

She wanted more.

Death would not hold him, Lloyd swore.

Though his body was in the ground, he could not move on. Love, which he once believed lasted eternal and outlived the fragile meat and bones of humankind, did not grace him on this side of the veil. His heart was empty, void. The colours that had shone so brightly were muted as his focussed only on one thing.

He needed to be with Kristine once more and, though his soul was weak, his lust spurred him on. Her body was an addiction and he saw nothing but her, only her.

Figures circled about Lloyd’s spirit.

They called to him, beseeched him to follow them home.

Honeyed voices led the trail back to The Mother.

But he was powerless to hear them, their words as sweet as salt.

And he returned to her, fell into her swaying arm.

Mesmerised, he loved her one last time, dancing into her with a longing that spoke of the golden days.

Stars birthed behind Lloyd’s eyes as he recalled the lust, the drive, the need to sate Kristine’s desire.

Their trysts were unhealthy, he realised too late. She was a drug he could not refuse; he, a helpless addict that even death could not calm.

Their final lovemaking climaxed in passion so intense, he felt his world burst aflame.

And with all of Lloyd’s eternal soul consumed, Kristine felt something calling her on.