The sunset slowly fell behind the hill. A bird stood on a tree branch watching her babies devour the meal she had given them. The clouds reflected off the sunset as they floated in the sky. The day was slowly fading as Lilly and Oliver sat beneath it all.
Lilly stared gently into Oliver's eyes. It was the perfect day to spend with a special person, and that was exactly what they were doing. "Oliver," she managed to get out with a cracking voice. She opened her mouth to continue but something about him made it impossible. Words flew in and out of her head until she could find what she wanted to say to him. After a moment of silence, she had found it, but was too shy to say anything.
"You can say it," Oliver said, reading Lilly's thoughts.
She nodded as she took a breath. "Oliver," she repeated, "You were my best friend since we were one." She placed her hands in his. "You mean so much to me. And..." Her voice trailed off, but she managed to overcome it, "You've always been there. And I love you so much." She leaned over and kissed him.
Oliver embraced the feeling of Lilly's lips brushing against his. It was one of the most amazing feelings in the world. So many years they had spent together, and this was the best one of all. When the kiss ended, Oliver smiled. "Usually it's the guy who does that speech."
She laughed. "Yeah, but this is our little story."
Oliver gradually wrapped his arms around her as they got closer. "I love our story. But almost as much as I love you." He leaned in again to kiss her, but she lifted her hand to his chest to stop it.
A tear fell slid down her cheek. "But I'm sorry," she said. "I should have told you this before." She took a breath, and saw the worriness in Oliver's eyes about what she was going to say next. "I have leprosy."
He stared at her blankly, wondering if this was really true. How could his best friend, after knowing her for 14 years be telling this to him now? "But, but," he stuttered out, "But you're always been so fine."
She nodded. "I'm sorry Oliver. But I was just pretending. I've never been fine."
Oliver noticed that she had started crying, and he began as well. "But when?" he asked, trying to make himself sound strong.
"A few months ago. I'm going back to the hospital tomorrow."
"Is that where you've been after school this whole time?"
She nodded.
"And when you were absent in school?"
She nodded again.
"How long will you be gone?"
More tears started to slip down Lilly's cheeks, which she tried to hide from Oliver. She looked down at the ground, knowing Oliver already had an idea of what her response was going to be. "Forever."
And that was it. Oliver jumped to his feet and ran down the hill, sobbing.
Seeing that he left, Lilly got up and followed him. "Oliver, wait!" she cried. She ran as fast as she could, but Oliver was still farther. She felt a wave of energy flow through her, but gradually it passed, throwing her to the ground and leaving her unconscience.