Love's Salvation

Once I had a true love,
he said.

Once I was a Prince Charming.
His eyes glistened now, brimming with memory.
I found her in a meadow, the like of which you've never seen. Flowers and grasses whispered soft melodies with the wind, and sunshine alighted everything with a warm and benevolent glow. She lay in the middle of this glory, hardly moving, looking somehow both out of place and at home on this Earth. My horse was oddly calm as I led him towards her, and when I dropped his reins he simply stopped. Stopped and watched the fragile figure, her slight chest moving gently in tune with her breathing. As I approached, I saw the tears glistening on her cheeks, in her eyes, leaving a shimmering trail of heartache and joy, pain and pleasure. I fell softly to my knees, almost as if the Earth was waiting to catch me. It was then that she met my gaze, and I hardly remembered who I was. Such a world I've never known as what I found in those sky-blue eyes, still bright, though somehow I could see that they were becoming dimmer, clouded.
Triumph called my name, and for the first and last time I truly saw what it was to be a son of Adam. The blessing of life given to us, the promise of something eternal, something greater.
Sorrow called my name, and for the first and last time I truly saw what it was to be so flawed, so imperfect, so human. The pain we are bound to inflict upon ourselves and each other, betrayal a way of life.
Another diamond tear clouded her vision, and without conscious thought I reached forward and brushed it from her cheek, from the present and into the past. As I touched her, and thus told her in words unspoken of my love, she began to glow ever so softly. Her eyes became clear once more, and while she still held my gaze I saw the past, the present, the future. The Truth. Elegant white wings suddenly cascaded down her back. With a small smile, she looked away, before her sight could blind me. As it was, I had to close my eyes against the light, and so I only felt a warm and gentle touch upon my shoulder, a sudden breeze caress my face and ruffle my hair before cold air returned. I opened my eyes to the World and saw it forever diminished in comparison to her beauty, but it was at the same time precious and worth protecting. I turned from the now unremarkable clearing and walked back towards my horse.
I never forgot her love,
he said.
I never forgot her gift, because I lived my whole life in search of such love, and never found it. I am forever grateful,
he said, the light of the flickering fire illuminating his tears,
that I was even given that glimpse.