query:

Entry Nickname: Beelzebub BasherTitle: Chasing EternityWord Count: 77,000Genre: Historical Fiction 


Query

Colin Harcourt is living the ultimate dream of mankind. He is immortal. He is blessed to live through events that have defined our daily lives, and doomed to follow the tragedy of time.
Colin has learned that life isn’t fair and living forever is not a dream, but a curse. Watching loved ones get old and die is too hard. He has learned not to fall in love. He forces himself to move to wherever danger lies, in a futile attempt to end his purgatory. His life is always one battle after another, preventing his thoughts from roaming to love, and keeping him from caring.

Beth was different. She came from nowhere filling his empty heart with joy. Beth taught him that no matter what, a life without love or compassion is a life not worth living -- it’s the loneliness that hurts. In the end love is the only thing in this world that eases our pain and makes us feel that our life is worthwhile, even if life never ends. Now after years of contentment, Beth too must die. Her time on Earth has to end.


First 250


Colin sat by his wife of sixty years bedside, fatigued because of the constant vigil and worry. Every day she became weaker. Colin feared every breath would be her last. Holding her hand, he dozed for a brief moment for some overdue rest. Death frightened him, not his death, but the death of a loved one. Being immortal had turned into a curse. Hey wasn’t ready. Everyone had to die, he knew this, but why Beth and why now. Beth smiled at her husband and attempted to subdue a cough but it exploded into a wracking, body-wrenching convulsion culminating with expectorating into her fine handkerchief. She opened the handkerchief now stained with fresh blood.

Colin nodded weakly, unable to speak.

She placed her husband’s hand in hers and raised them to her bosom, while he sat next to her on the bed. “I won’t be able to go to the theater with you my dear, the doctor was here today; it won’t be long.” Referring to their invitation to attend the theater with President Lincoln and his wife the following Friday. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Colin responded with uncontrollable sobs, his face in his hands. “Colin, you knew I was mortal. I have no regrets.”
“But…” Colin spurted but his wife’s gentle touch prevented him from continuing.
“Colin, I will wait for you in heaven. Even though you are immortal, my love will not die with me. It is yours for as long as you live and for long after.