The Eternal Darkness by Steven A. Tolle Page A

chair and the chilly night air.  He was torn by his conflicting loves, knowing that he would have to forsake one to safeguard the other.  He could stay here with Hailyn, but that would mean losing his family.  He was still distressed by the thought of his parents never knowing his fate, the lifelong agony that would cause them.  But to spare them that, he would have to lose Hailyn forever.  The only thing he knew for certain was that either choice would break his heart.
    With the solitude bringing no comfort and the chill of the night beginning to become uncomfortable, he retired to his room.  Extinguishing his lamps, he crawled into the bed, pulling the blankets close.  His troubled mind would not allow him to sleep, so he stared up at the shadowy ceiling, wrestling with his choices.
    In the darkness, he heard the door between the rooms open just before Hailyn softly called his name.  “I’m awake,” he said gently.  He heard her cross the room and climb into the bed.  She slid over to him and clasped him tight.  He held her in his arms, taking comfort in her presence.  They lay there silently for a time, simply holding one another.
    “Jake,” she whispered.  “For myself, I don’t want you to leave.  I love you and want to spend my life with you.”  She trailed off and Jake felt her take a deep breath.  “However, I don’t want you to come to resent me for keeping you from your family.”
    “I would never do that, Hailyn,” Jake said, trying to comfort her.  “Whatever happens is because I choose to do it.”
    “You say that now, Jake, when everything is still new,” she replied.  “But what about in a year or two or ten?  As the years go by, will you still be comfortable with your decision?  You will miss all of those life events of your family – marriage, children, and eventually the passing of your parents.  I know that you are concerned for your mother and father regarding what has happened to you.”
    “Are you saying you want me to leave?” Jake asked, holding his breath for the answer.
    “No,” she said quickly.  “I just want you to know that I will understand if you choose to leave.  I have my family and I do not know how I would react if faced with parting from them for all time.  I will love you, no matter your decision.”
    “I know that,” Jake said gently, pulling her closer and kissing her softly.  He felt the tears on her face and soothingly wiped them away.  “I love you and always will.”
    They fell silent as both simply relished the closeness they had now.  After a time, Jake felt Hailyn breath fall into the regular rhythm of sleep.  However, sleep did not come for him.  When the sun rose and daylight brightened the room, Jake was still staring at the ceiling, tears staining his cheeks, holding Hailyn close.
    When the servants brought some food, they ate breakfast in silence, neither particularly hungry, simply staring into each other’s eyes.  After the meal, Jake neatly stacked his armor and weapons in the room, knowing that he would not need them back on Earth and they would raise questions he could not answer.  He held the sword that Norlan had made for him one last time.
    “Tell Norlan, Madalin and Cherise thank you and good-bye for me,” Jake said to Hailyn.  He felt the tears well up in his eyes as he spoke.  “They gave me so much.  I wish I could-” he cut off as the emotion got the better of him.
    “I will, Jake,” she said soothingly, coming over to hug him despite the tears in her own eyes.  “I will tell them everything.”
    Kissing her, he broke their embrace and put the sword down with a regretful sigh.  He went through the rest of his things, digging through his saddlebags.  As he reached down deep in his bags, he felt a familiar object and pulled it out.
    It was his phone.  It had been so long since he last held it, he had forgotten it was there.  He tried the power, but the battery was dead.  He shoved it into one