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Forever Without Her

The Ultimate Sacrifice

By Margaret ClevesPublished 7 years ago 9 min read
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There is great love in this world.

I have seen it. It really does exist. However, true love it seems, is only found within few hearts.

Odd, isn't it?

Many think they love with all they have. What they don't consider is that love usually takes all we have, even if we have nothing to begin with.

You see, there was once a great uproar. People were very angry with me. I mean, I get it though... after all, I was taking away their loved ones.

I was taking them all away, or so the people said in their prayers.

They prayed that I may let this one live... or take their pain away in death. All their prayers were the same. So seemingly selfless, and all about the love they carried for the person. However, I am all merciful—so I offered them an alternative.

It was an unpopular alternative. Some used it, most didn't. And soon, it was all but forgotten. And that was centuries ago.

Now, it's mostly a legend. And somehow, so am I.

So this story starts and ends, with a young girl, her name was Aiko. In this case, a very sick girl. But she was foolishly loved by young boy who we'll call Jack. And you'll see how that will make all the difference in the world.

But she was dying, slowly and painfully. It was agonizing to watch this for Jack. He tried to come up with remedies that could save her, to no avail. Her family had all but given up on saving her. This infuriated Jack, he felt as though he was the only one in the world who seemed to care about Aiko.

He was not. He did not know me at this point in his life, so he did not know that I too cared, more deeply and more carefully than he. Aiko knew me however, she had known me for many years. She would call out to me when it was dark or when a storm came, I could do nothing until she felt safe and protected. We would have long talks and walk for miles at the foot of mountains. Yes, Aiko knew me. And I knew she did not fear death. Not as the others did. For someone so young, she was beyond her years in wisdom and strength.

She loved Jack as he loved her, it was pure. After all, it was the love of a child. They wanted nothing but the absolute best for one another. So when Aiko fell ill, Jack made it his mission to save her.

Every day, he brought different herb blends and elixirs to her bedside. Most, she tried, just to appease him. Some were too vile for her, like the blood of the youngest calf. She was not too pleased when Jack brought her a large cup filled with warm, sticky blood. This went on for months.

Until one day, Aiko did not wake up. She had drifted in her sleep to me. I found her at my door, knocking softly. It was such a joy to see her again.

Jack was distraught beyond recognition. He knew me now. But not as Aiko knew me. Not as she had tried to explain me to him. I was evil to him now. I had stolen his love not only from him, but from the world.

He cursed my name to all, explaining not to believe in me, for I would only destroy those who deserved life. Jack was foolish enough to believe that you deserve anything at all.

The days grew short and the nights were wretched with cold and snow. Jack sought out help from the monks that lived high in the mountains. He believed this was his last chance. The monks enlightened him about my offering to mankind all those centuries ago. They told him about the fabled mountain of God. He laughed at first, who could be so ludicrous as to believe such a tall tale?

He believed the monks were mocking him. He believed the legend had been made up, to give hope to those mad enough to consider the offer. And yet, madness sunk in.

Jack began to play with the idea. It didn't seem too tall of a tale now.

Do you want to know the offer? Let me explain. You see, it was simple in nature.

Sacrifice your life for the one you lost. They would take your place on this earth and you would take theirs. It was entirely fair. A life for a life.

As I said, many were not happy with this offer. They did not want to give up their own lives! But something had changed in Jack... he wanted Aiko to liver her life as she had wanted. Her happiness and her chance for a long life even if it was without him, seemed more important to him than anything else. More important than his own life. But you see, what's the difference between who you were and who you are now?

Jack made up his mind. He was going to sacrifice his own young life for Aiko. He did not tell a soul. He packed a small bag for his journey to the mountain of God. He did not feel fear but he felt sure this would be it, the answer he had been searching for. He had hope, he even had hope in me.

The journey was hard, and not for the faint of heart. He traveled tirelessly though the rough terrain, with only thoughts of Aiko. For such a small person, Jack traveled very long, alone as he thought, but he was not.

He was never alone.

He lost track of time itself, days melted away and became weeks. He did not know at the time, but his birthday passed as he traveled. Yet, he was long from adulthood.

Finally, he saw the mountain's great peak over the hills leading there. But the journey was far from finished. Jack's greatest struggles were yet to come. As he came to an opening in the side of the mountain, he fell to his knees. He had indeed arrived at the mountain of God. Even if he could not see anyone or anything. The opening in the mountain was humble in nature. Many stories of the mountain contain endless caves filled with treasure to tempt mankind. Walls made out of the purest gold and jewels covering the ceilings. But there was no such thing.

There was one opening, it was dry and pitch black at night, only the light of the sun illuminated the inside. The ground was dirt, as was everything else. It was not the elegant tale that many had woven.

There was a singular tree in the center of the area. It fairly small, but its leaves yielded the most brilliant colors of green. Even though the tree was small in size, it was strong and sturdily kept in the ground. Its roots passing miles into the mountain. It could not be moved by man.

Jack was unsure of what to do next, he approached the tree steadily. Suddenly, the gravity of his decisions overcame him. He wept.

He wept for his family he had left behind, and for his foolishness. He wept for Aiko, that her death was for nothing. He wept until he fell asleep at the foot of the tree. Taking whatever shade he could under the brilliant leaves.

As he slept, a strange thing happened. He felt... conscious. He understood where he was currently and what he had set out to do. He felt a soft, warm weight cover him. He felt—relieved and calm. It was such a comforting feeling. He thought to himself that he would feel 100% content if he could stay in this moment for the rest of his days.

Then I spoke to him, "Jack." I called out gently as to not startle him.

I could feel his mind searching for me, he responded finally in a hushed but understanding tone, "I've come to sacrifice my own life for Aiko's life."

Of course, I already knew this. I commend him on being the first man in centuries to have entered this mountain. I tell him he can have his desire.

So I tell him it will be painless for the both of them and how Aiko will awake in her hometown with no memory of having died, along with her family. Jack nods, agreeing with what will happen. I ask him one more question,

"Tell me something first, Jack. Is it better to give up one's life in place of another's as to not live a day without them? Or is it more courageous to live on this earth without them so they won't have to live a day without you?"

Jack seems unsure. He seems irked but his idea of Aiko then having to live on without him, and the pain that would cause her.

I call out again, "Jack, do you recall the feeling of warmth and safety when you first fell asleep?"

He nods fervently.

I explain to him how that is exactly how Aiko feels every day in death. She is at peace. She is not afraid, she is not sick, she is no longer dying.

Jack is weeping again. He had not thought about any of this. He feels a new sense of comfort knowing that Aiko is at peace. He could not bear the thought of taking her from paradise.

Jack is awake now. But I am gone from his mind. He knows he still has a choice to make, he still could bring her back.

Instead, he walks out of the opening in the mountain. His thoughts heavy with his decision. He decides to make the ultimate sacrifice. To live without her so that she may be at peace.

Jack beings to speak aloud, undoubtedly to me,

"I have been greatly loved in this world. And I have been good because of it. That it may come again. And this time, that it may stay."

Jack thought that if he could have saved her, she would have lived a much longer and fuller life... but now he has saved her and she will live forever.

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