Until Tomorrow
Love. Severus Snape didn't believe in love. His parents' abusive excuse of a marriage had effectively shattered any last hopes he had of the emotion. In fact, the young boy had already begun to become devoid of all such wistful fantasies. But when he first laid eyes on the young girl before him, the only word he could use to describe his newfound feelings was the word he no longer believes existed. Love.
Lily. Her name was Lily, and Severus didn't believe any other name could have suited her more perfectly. Like the flower that was her namesake, she was able to brighten all of her surroundings in a display of sheer beauty. Severus could become enraptured by her beauty for hours and yet he knew she was so much more than just a pretty face. She was equally just as intelligent, kind, and innocent as she was beautiful and Severus feared that she would never realize this. He couldn't bear the thought of Lily; his perfect Lily; ever having to experience the kind of pain and loneliness that he had grown accustomed to in his home. So he continued to watch her in awe. Always seeing her and yet so far away. As she joyfully ran down the hill back toward her home, Severus felt a pain in his heart give way to sadness. As he reluctantly got out from his solitary hiding place, he was filled with the intense emotion. Only the thought of seeing his precious Lily once again gave Severus the strength to make it through to tomorrow.