Help with my novel Past or present tense?

well i am struggling with deciding between continuing my psychological crime novel in past or present tense. I only realized that i had started it in present tense after a few chapters, however i am also aware of the fact that readers find it bothersome and difficult to read a novel in present tense. This is why it concerns me and therefor, i am willing to do some editing and change it to past tense.

For further information, my character experiences a'lot of flashbacks in this story, and it also bounces back and fourth from a few main characters perspectives. What are your opinions on the matter? Here is the beginning of my novel in present tense, then past. Which one is more effective in your opinion?

- Present

The sky is taken over by a blanket of darkness and the light breeze strikes arctic cold against the faces of those who, out of no shear-free-will walk the avenues during these late hours. The fresh crispness of the air compensates for the nights out-of-the-norm temperatures. It is unmistakably beautiful as the stars light up the night sky, the way lights on a Christmas tree might light up a dimmed living room on the eve of Christ. Moon beams reflect off the trees as they dance in the wind leaving an eerie shadow upon the surrounding residences. He watches her with eyes of fire as the wind leaves tears trailing down his rather large but charming face, and the cold stings at his cheeks, reminding him of the frigid winter mornings he spent wandering the streets alone as a child.

As he gazes upon her with fervor, he keeps his distance. He knows he has to remain unseen fore if she sees him for even a moment, she may flee in fear, never to be seen again.

-Past

The sky was taken over by a blanket of darkness and the light breeze struck artic cold against the faces of those who, out of no shear-free-will walked the avenues during such late hours. The fresh crispness of the air compensated for the nights out-of-the-norm temperatures. It was unmistakably beautiful as the stars lit up the night sky, the way lights on a Christmas tree might light up a dimmed living room on the eve of Christ. Moon beams reflected off the trees as they danced in the wind leaving an eerie shadow upon the surrounding residences. He watched her with eyes of fire as the wind left tears trailing down his rather large but charming face, and the cold stung at his cheeks, reminding him of the frigid winter mornings he spent wandering the streets alone as a child.

As he gazed upon her with fervor, he kept his distance. He knew he had to remain unseen fore if she'd seen him for even a moment, she would flee in fear, maybe never to be seen again