There is no better time than the present.

I suddenly found myself searching the road around me for some place, some sort of little offshoot from the road where there were few or no people present. Like a light shining down from the heavens, I saw one within a minute-- near the apartment complex where Alden stayed, a desolate petrol station on the little-used intersection. Turning almost too sharply, causing the blonde beauty in the passenger seat to give a tiny yelp of fear as we crossed the oncoming lane and came to the shadows at the side of the building.

The more world-wise people I knew would have grown afraid at this, would have gotten defensive, something, but Alden simply inspected our surroundings in confusion before turning to me with a quiet, “Why did you stop here, Jean-Jacques?”

I shifted the car to a park, turning off the engine and assuming a more relaxed position in my seat. “Because, Alden... I have something to tell you.”

He only tilted his head in response, an expectant smile gracing his lips. I felt like a child with stage fright, my heart resuming its anxious pounding in my chest, rising to a fever pitch where I started wondering if Alden could hear it too.

“Ever since I met you, I can’t help but to admire you.”

Alden’s eyes lit up, some emotion I could not outright detect coming over him.

“And I guess what I really wanted to stop to tell you was...”

His hands tensed on his seatbelt.

“I’m very deeply in love with you, Alden. I have been since I first saw you.”

The angel’s delicate hands flew to cover his mouth quickly; eyes of emerald watering over so that they shimmered like the sea. “Is that... true?”

I nodded, lowering my head, fearing his rejection already. Yet his small, warm hand reached out, pawing at my shoulder meekly.

“I can hardly believe it,” Alden said, “It’s like a dream come to life...”

My gaze immediately turned back to my love, who had undone his seatbelt and was moving close enough to me to rest his head on my shoulder. He went on, “I’ve felt the same way... for some time now. I’m not sure how long.”

I don’t know when I had undone my own restraints, jerking the key out of the ignition to turn my auto completely off. Letting the keys drop, I slid my arms around Alden’s body, turning more to face him. “Y-you do? That’s...”

“I don’t know what to say.”

Resting my forehead against his now. “Then perhaps we should say nothing.”

It was like wildfire as our lips met, every second that passed, every caress of our fingertips against each other was simply throwing another bale of hay into the flames. I pressed to deepen the affection, he easily gave way to my insistence...

I don’t know when I realized we were in the backseat of the auto. I had been so lost in my happiness, in my emotions and even my actions that I didn’t notice until what seemed a moment later that we were in the back, lacking many articles of our clothing, and in that instant, the law, everyone else’s thoughts, everything against us didn’t matter. For there my love lay beneath me, clinging to me in passion, his beautiful voice pleading as best he could between ragged breaths for me to never stop...

I awoke in my bed, more tousled than usual. I clung tightly to my pillow as if it were a lifeline, my sheets twisted and cast upon the floor. What a lovely dream.

Grumbling at the sunlight that poured into my window, I used the pillow to block the rays away from my eyes while I attempted to focus in on the hands of my bedside clock.

Late! Josaine will have my head for this...

Falling disgracefully from the slightly displaced mattress, I came to a stand on the dusty floor, amongst a few remnants of the food containers from whence supper had come yesterday evening. Kicking the objects aside, I searched for a towel amongst all these items, for I already knew there were none in the bathroom itself. One of these days, I will have to get some laundry done.

I’m afraid today’s shower will be somewhat cold.

Time continued to pass me at a rate quicker than I could keep up with. Most call it a symptom of growing old. Three more times that year, Alden received roses, once with a bottle of highly priced imported champagne, on his doorstep, each time from his “Secret Admirer”.

Summer came and it was time for me to leave, my work at the school done until the next autumn. Josaine and I were traveling back to Lorient to do more work on the new clinic, to knock down walls, build new ones, and the like. I would desperately miss Alden for the season, and I made a resolve to come at least twice to visit.

I told him of this, and the way his eyes lit up with cheer when I promised to come see him made the long rides, the cost of tickets, and the entire list of other troubles attributed to trips like this, more than worthwhile. And in the most physical gesture we had yet shared, the little blonde I loved threw his arms around me right there in the train station.

Although his face was somewhat buried in my clothing as he held me tight, my hold on him firm as well, I could still hear him say, “Thank you... for everything. I’ll miss you so much, Jean-Jacques.”

“I’ll miss you too, Alden,” I said, taking in the scent of his soft hair, savoring in the sensation I would surely feel heartsick cravings for while away.

“Promise me you’ll come and visit me soon.”

I patted his back, still attempting to recover from the rush of emotions. “I promise. In a few weeks I should have enough free time. I shall write you often, alright?”

“Alright.” The boy pulled himself out of my grasp, me being so lost in the moment he almost had to forcefully perform this task.

“Last call!” cried the woman next to the train door. It is time.

“Take this,” I urged, handing over a small cardboard box to Alden. His emerald eyes looked to me in confusion.

“What is it?”

“Open it when the train leaves.”

The train pulled away all too fast for my liking. I sat there in the uncomfortable train seat, attempting to relax, watching from the window. And just as we pulled around the bend and I got my last glimpse of the platform, Alden stood there, in his hand was undoubtedly the contents of the box.

I had picked it out special from the shop in the outskirts of Antwerp. It was carved out of silver and hung on a thin black rope, a most revered symbol of Buddhism, the Eternity Knot. My research of the Mahayana tradition taught me it represented eternity, as it had no beginning and no end, and I found in it, a more personal meaning.

Love itself has no beginning, and no end, and it is just as complex as the perplexing turns and ways of the Eternity Knot. Love, as an eternal knot that I, like a small child learning to tie his shoes, had gotten my fingers hopelessly entangled in. Nay, not just my fingers, but the entirety of my body, mind and soul. It was a hopeless cause, for my bonds, as delicate as they seem in appearance, cannot be cut by even solid gold scissors fashioned by a deity. Nor do I wish to be disentangled from the miraculous web love weaves.

Forever tied I remain, and willingly so, to you, Alden.