Lucas's gaze was a bit misty, as if he could see, through the sea in front of him, every bit of the past in that distant small village.
"Back then, life in the village was peaceful and beautiful. Every day, I would follow my father to work in the fields, watching the crops grow little by little, and my heart was full of expectations. In my free time, I would play with a group of peers by the brook in the village, and our laughter would echo throughout the whole valley." As Lucas spoke, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, but there was a hint of bitterness in that smile. "However, a sudden disaster shattered all of this."
Evelyn sat quietly beside him, her eyes always fixed on Lucas's face. Although there was still some shock and pain lingering in her heart, at this moment, what she felt more was heartache for his past. Unconsciously, she reached out and gently held Lucas's hand, wanting to give him some comfort.
Feeling the warmth of her hand, Lucas held her hand a little tighter and continued, "One night, a group of mysterious visitors came to the village. They were dressed in black robes and moved in a secretive way. At first, the villagers just thought they were passing travelers and enthusiastically wanted to offer them hospitality. But who would have known that they were a group of evil vampires who launched a bloody attack on the village under the cover of night." At this point, a flash of pain and hatred appeared in Lucas's eyes. "They were so fast and incredibly powerful that the villagers had no power to resist at all. I watched helplessly as my relatives and friends fell into pools of blood one by one. The screams and the smell of blood still haunt my mind and won't go away even now."
Evelyn's eyes turned red, and tears welled up in her eyes. She could imagine what a tragic and desperate scene that must have been. She gently put her other hand on Lucas's arm, silently offering her support.
Lucas took a deep breath to calm his emotions and then went on, "And unfortunately, I caught their attention. Originally, I should have died in that massacre too, but one of the vampires seemed to have other ideas. Instead of killing me directly, he turned me into the same kind of being as them. Since then, I've been forced to embark on this long and lonely journey of immortality. I hated the changes in myself and also hated those vampires who took away my original life, but I was powerless to change any of it."
"At the beginning, I just couldn't accept that I had become such a monster that lived by sucking blood. I tried many times to end my own life, but the special physique of a vampire made me fail time and time again. I could only struggle in the darkness, watching the years pass by, watching the world around me constantly changing, while I seemed to be forever trapped at that painful point." Lucas's voice became even lower, full of helplessness and vicissitudes.
"As time went by, I gradually learned to control my desires and tried my best not to harm innocent people. I wandered through this world, witnessed countless joys and sorrows, but in my heart, I always felt like an outsider. Until I met you, Evelyn." Lucas turned to look at Evelyn, his eyes full of deep affection and complex emotions. "You are like a beam of light shining into my dark and lonely world, making me feel the warmth again and the beauty of being alive. I didn't want you to know my secrets, afraid that I would lose you. But unexpectedly, you still noticed."
Evelyn's tears slid down her cheeks, and she choked, "Lucas, I... I don't know what to say. I'm so heartbroken that you've gone through so much pain. But this matter is really too hard for me to accept. I never thought that you would be... would have such an identity. Then what should we do in the future?"
Lucas gently wiped away the tears on Evelyn's face, his eyes full of tenderness and determination. He said, "Evelyn, I know this is very unfair to you. If you want to leave me, I won't blame you. After all, with an identity like mine, I shouldn't have expected to have love. But if you are willing, I'll use all my strength to protect you and love you. Even if I have to fight against the whole world, I don't want to lose you again."
Evelyn looked at Lucas, with mixed feelings in her heart. She loved the man in front of her, but his identity was like a huge chasm lying between them. She fell into deep thought, and memories of the wonderful moments spent with Lucas kept flashing through her mind. Those in-depth conversations in the gallery, those strolls in the moonlit garden, those affectionate words and gentle gazes, were they all going to disappear because of this cruel truth?
The sea breeze seemed to sense the heavy atmosphere between them and blew even more fiercely. The waves crashed against the rocks, making rumbling sounds, as if sighing for their love full of twists and turns.
After a long time, Evelyn slowly opened her mouth. Although her voice was still a bit trembling, it carried a different kind of determination. "Lucas, I... I'm very confused right now. I need time to think it over carefully. All of this is too sudden for me. But I know that I love you, and this love isn't something that can be easily given up. Give me some time, okay?"
Lucas looked at her, his eyes full of understanding and reluctance. He nodded and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you. No matter what decision you make, I'll respect you. I just hope you'll be okay."
Evelyn stood up. The hem of her dress was lifted high by the sea breeze. She took one last look at Lucas, her eyes full of attachment and pain, and then turned around and slowly walked towards the seaside. Lucas sat quietly on the rock, looking at her departing figure. That lonely figure looked even lonelier in the afterglow of the setting sun.