The rock. The beach. Marko's and my secret place where we would talk about life. I sat down laughing at Marko. His rambling about our future outside of the gypsy camp we lived in was all he talked about. He was trying to convince me to leave with him.
"I am telling you Esmeralda. We are going to get out of here and live on our own with no parents,no one telling us what to do. It will just be me and you against the world,"he said to me. A sparkle was in his eyes as he said those words. Just the thought of leaving made my breath hitch in my throat.
"It would be nice Marko but we have families. People who need us. We can't just leave and forget about them,"I said to him. The sparkle from his eyes left and he had a look of disappointment in his eyes. He looked down at the sand and picked up a rock. He sighed before throwing the rock into the sea. He watch as the rock skipped into the water then he looked back at me with sadness in his eyes.
"I have something to tell you Esme,"he said to me sounding serious.
"What is it Marko,"I asked him while placing a hand on his arm.
"I'm...I don't know how to say this but I am leaving. Tonight. I was hoping that you would come with me but from what you said earlier made it clear that you don't want to go with me,"he said and I was in shock.
"For how long? You're coming back? Right Marko,"I asked him but when he didn't answer I knew his answer. That he was never coming back. Tears began to fill my eyes and I shook my head. He is my best friend.
"You can't leave me you are my best friend,"I said sounding completely selfish but I didn't care. Marko cupped my face and looked me in my eyes. I felt sparks from him that I have never felt before but I ignored them. I didn't want him to leave. Especially now that he was making me feel sparks for him.
"I have to do this for me Esme. I will always love you. You will always be my best friend. Maybe someday you can come find me,"he said with a small smile full of hope.
"Yes but if you leave without permission then the gypsy camp will take your immortality and you will live like a human. You want that,"I asked him and he nodded his head.
"As long as I get to live my life the way I want to then yes,"he said to me as a tear slipped out of my eye. I couldn't understand why he would want this. To leave. To leave me and live a normal mundane life. He brought his thumb up to my face to wipe away my tears.
"Shhh. Don't cry,"he said trying to comfort me as he brought me in for a hug.
"How can I not Marko? You're leaving me,"I said to him trying to hold back more tears.
"I still have a few more hours to spend with you. Lets just make the most of them before I am gone. ,"he said to me and I nodded sadly. We sat down on the beach,trying to be happy for our last few hours together but when it was time for him to go I tried to make him stay once again but I couldn't. I gave him one last hug and watch him leave on his motorcycle. And with that my best friend left me and I was all alone. There was one thing I also noticed when he left. I was in love with him. Marko,my best friend. Though it was too late,he was already gone.