Reaching into the square cavity that served as storage place for their Age he felt his hand come across the cold leather of the hardbound book. Grasping it with his hand he pulled it out and looked at the cover. The smell of moist leather roamed in his nose as he slowly scanned the cover, noting the engraved number that stood out from the brown leather. Branded into it was the name Lee'ahnis; a name he and Mee'rah had chosen for their Age. He opened the book slowly, remembering how he had done so many times with Mee'rah. He flipped to the second page and there it was: his paradise. The small window like panel occupied the top quarter of the right hand page. The image that was shown in the window was that of Lee'ahnis. It was the clearest picture; its brightness lit his face with hues of blue and green and cast shadows that danced a peaceful ballet on the wall.

     The view through the small window was constantly shifting as if he was looking through the eyes of a bird flying above the land. It was a simple Age; nothing fancy at all. Most of the land was covered by a meadow. The window suddenly shifted to show a small grove of trees to the south of the small island. There were no buildings or any sign that any being had lived there other than the wildlife. His island paradise was right there in his hands. All he had to do was place his hands on the window and he would appear in that world like magic, leaving D'ni to its own tragedy. But he could not do that. Not yet.

     Closing the book, Adiemus looked up into the dark silent street. He hoped to see Mee'rah running to him at any moment. His heart thudded in his chest with the anticipation of seeing her. "She should have been here by now," Adiemus thought to himself.      And like magic, there she was running down the dark street. Her face was concealed in the shadows. He could hear the flapping of her flowing gown as if she was running into the wind. When she was two building away she turned left and was gone with only her footsteps echoing after her. Adiemus slumped against the wall, fooled by his emotions.

     He stood there, trying to fight away the lonely feeling that had suddenly washed over him; but it lingered with him. He could not bear the thought of living the rest of his life alone; he could not survive without Mee'rah. A life without her love would be meaningless.