Lyra sat on the bench in the botanical garden in silence just as she had every year on this day for twenty years now. Every year it had calmed her to sit here, to know Will was sitting right next to her, even if she couldn't see him. He'd always been there for her; she could feel his presence in her heart every time she sat on this bench. This bench in this garden had always been there for her, a quiet place for her to remember Will, to see his sad smile, to hear his tight laughter. Even in a different world, where they had shared their long goodbye, this place had comforted her.

But now it was not the same. The comfort and love was gone from it. He wasn't there. He was gone. He'd left behind the bench and the memories of things he could never have. He'd left her behind. No doubt he'd found a new love and started a new life. She had expected this would happen, a man like Will deserved to be happy. Still it broke her not to feel his presence. She'd never felt more alone. Tears streaming down her face she got up to leave the garden, she would never come back to this place. He'd moved on and so had she, though she hadn't wanted to admit it. He didn't have the time to spare in his new life for her. The truth was she didn't either, but somehow she'd always found the time. But she had a family waiting for her; she couldn't leave them any longer. She looked at the garden sadly before turning her back on it forever. As she left she thought she felt his presence in her heart, but when she looked again he wasn't there.

In his world Will entered the garden. He was late, he knew, but he hoped she would still be there. He would never miss this day, never. No matter what happened in his life he would always come back here. He needed her here, he always would. He only hoped she knew that.

Sadly he sat down on the bench. She wasn't there, she'd given up on him. As he'd entered he'd thought he had felt her, but he must have imagined it because it had quickly passed. He knew he shouldn't be surprised; a girl like Lyra must have an amazing, busy life. She had probably forgotten all about him by not and only came for the past few years out of pity or habit. Will looked at the garden sadly. Without Lyra it didn't hold the same magic it once had. Without her this place was dead, his heart was dead. Will got up to leave, he couldn't stand to be here alone, his family was waiting, and he had an obligation to them now. If Lyra had moved on then so had he. Sadly he wondered as he left if everything that had happened between them had ever really meant anything.

In her world Lyra wondered the same thing.