"We all leave pieces of ourselves in each past lover, same as they leave pieces of themselves in us. Each time we're a little different, changed in a way. For the better or the worse. Changed."

Her eyes looked sad as she spoke, like she was remembering past flames that had once burnt so brightly, extinguished now. Just ashes left in her heart shaped box.

"How do you handle it?" I asked. "The pieces that get taken and left behind?"

"Your heart is like a puzzle," Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. "Each time a new love comes in, the puzzle is taken down and then rebuilt. Pieces of you, pieces of them, put back together in a new way."

She looked down at the tangled sheets around her legs, bathed in the glow of the moon. Her head propped up on her hand on the pillows.

"Then once the love has run its course, the puzzle is broken and needs to be rebuilt. That's when you lose pieces of yourself. Sometimes for the better, sometimes the parts you lost can be found again. Not quite the same, a little changed, but similar. Sometimes they're lost forever."

She smiles a sad nostalgic smile, as if she was remembering how she once was, comparing it to how she is now. How she had changed.

"So love can never be eternal?"

"It can be. It can change and evolve over time. If the two souls are willing to be entwined in that magical journey together. Not all souls are meant to be together. Some are just a passing fancy, giving you what you need at the time. Each love gives you what you need at that moment. Sometimes it's a new confidence. A push to lose your inhibitions. To open you to a new part of yourself. Sometimes it will harden you. Make you jaded. Take away your innocence. Remind you how hard the world is."

A tear slid down her cheek. I reached out and wiped it away. It sparkles on my fingertip, before sliding on to the scrunched up sheets. Lost.

She sighed.

"Everything is only as hard as you make it. Love is only difficult when you're not open to experiencing it. When you kick and fight, not willing to let the glorious whirlwind of passion take you over and lose yourself. Too many are afraid to let go."

I nodded. Her words resonated deep within me, making me see how closed off I could be, how sometimes we all fear the crazy love roller coaster because of past experiences. Because we've all been hurt in the past. Sometimes the hurt runs deeper, sometimes it's just on the surface, easy to brush off.

"How do you know whether the love is fleeting or everlasting?" Part of me was afraid of what her answer could be, it meant that I was only destined to spend one night with her.

"You never know." Her answer was simple and terrifying at the same time.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I didn't want to lose her. Be alone again. To lose that connection that we had forged.

She scooted the small distance between us and kissed the tears off my cheeks with her soft lips.

"You're worrying about things that haven't happened yet." Her lips soft between her words. "Why worry about what's going to happen tomorrow, next week, next year? Why worry that the connection with that person isn't going to last? Why not simply enjoy the moment. Enjoy that you have someone next to you, feeling their warm body against yours. Revel in the moment and live for the now."

Her words somewhat soothed me, as her lips continued to kiss me, making me forget my concerns and worries in that moment. Her arms tightened around me drew me in and pulled me on to her rollercoaster...

I breathed out and let my guard down. I surrendered myself to whatever may come.