The whole forest looked gloomy as if all life was frozen, drowned in the subtle darkness of timeless reality. Rays of lights were trying to reach through the thick cover of the leaves hardly piercing it and descending like shiny swords into the ground below.
They were staying there for what it seemed to her as an eternity. Sitting under the enormous crown of the tree, which she decided looked like a sentinel on post, the girl was staring at the tall slim figure standing with its back to her. Despite them being a few steps away, she felt as if entire worlds were separating them. They hadn't exchange a single word after what had happened and this silence was making her nervous, tying her stomach in a knot. She didn't know if she should talk to him first, whether he was ready to face her questions and if he could answer them at all. Why didn't he tell her? It's true they weren't getting on well but it wasn't only her fault, no, in fact he was the only one to blame and he knew it. She couldn't stand it anymore, they had to talk. She bit her lower lip and while trying to arm herself with what courage she could, he suddenly turned around and without looking at her instructed in a flat tone: "We are leaving." That caught her off guard and before she could utter a word, he started walking on the path that was leading north.
It took her a mere second to comprehend the situation when she stood and commanded: "Stop!" And he did, dead in his tracks. One could see the insecurity reflecting in her wandering eyes as thoughts were running through her mind, chasing each other, losing themselves in this feverish race. She was panting heavily and it took her a few seconds until she realized that he hadn't turned around. "Look at me!" she shouted desperately. He didn't move an inch but laughed bitterly. That was the final straw that fueled her anger. She ran towards him recklessly – an impulsive act taking the lead before any sane thought could emerge from the depths of her blank mind. His movement was swift and graceful and before her hands could hit him, he had them in a firm grip. Her eyes widened in surprise and she gasped at the contact of his cold hands tightly holding her own in place.
The young man was covered in sores and cuts, but looked remarkably composed and his face remained still as he took her sudden outburst in stride. His stare finally caught hers and hold it – the darkened cloudy sky finally met the pure waters of the wild stream as their eyes bored into one another, drowning in a silent debate, eventually melting in the close presence of the other. The girl felt her eyes tearing and looked away as to hide what he already saw. His grip loosened a bit, yet he still hold their hands between their chests. The look in his eyes softened as he sighed quietly, before closing his eyes for a moment. "I have no other choice and neither do you." The words pierced through her skin and left burning marks in her soul – she just squeezed her eyes tightly and a few diamonds slipped from their corners. He saw how much pain it caused her and it made him feel hollow within. A scourging fire burst into his heart as well as some other feeling he couldn't recognize – a sudden need at which he instantly leaned forward slightly but stopped horrified at the realization that for a brief moment he needed to comfort her, make her feel safe. But before that moment could turn into something he'd regret, it was gone.
And so was he. She felt the cold air of the forest surround her when she realized that he was no longer in front of her. A silent but firm whisper, a soft yet denying any protest command reached her ear: "Let's go."