"There once was a little old man, there once was a little old man." The petite girl mumbled as she walked along solemnly, her feet falling one in front of the other and her limp arms dangling by her side. The girl was balancing on a large tree stump envisioning her dreams. Where she would go... what she would be, in her endless world of fantasy. Where she went when she went there. The journeys she went on. She was lost so deeply in her mind she didn't even notice the end of the stump. Tumbling off and twisting her ankle. But in her world there was no pain; so she just kept walking. She'd go on for hours like this, miles...just walking imagining. No one could break into her world. Not Thea babbling about the boys or Wendla's endless twirling in her fairy dress. No, no one. Not the shrilling voices of her parents night after night. Their voices piercing her ears; endlessly ringing, never completely forgetting what they said. No, not when she was there. She blocked everything out. One day she would be with Moritz, playing pirates. The next she was five rolling down the big hill, up in the vineyard with Ernst. She would go to marvelous places...any where and every where. No one got in. Until one day she was walking and he bumped into her.

Splat

Two pairs of teenage feet, released from their owners, connecting fiercely with the pathway.

"Watch where you're going!" Barked a defensive blonde.

"I could say the same to you." Retorted Ilse

"What were you doing, pacing blankly around?"

"Blocking out the world...freeing myself. She said twirling around with her arms widely spread.

"Freeing yourself?" He chuckled "From what?"

"Nothing to concern yourself with, now leave me alone" She demanded

"To do what? Run into someone else? Fine have it that way." Stated the blonde, turning to walk away.

"Hanschen, wait! Would you like to play pirates...like we used to?"

"We never played pirates, you did. With Moritz, Melchior and Wendla. What you're picking me now because they are all gone?"

"No, that isn't how it is Hanschen." Pleaded Ilse... tears panging at her eyes threatening to pour down.

"Then how is it?" He laughed with a strange satisfaction

"I...I don't know. I just wanted to know if you'd like to play that's all." She candidly stated

"Look, I'm late to meet Ernst; I can't just leave him there waiting to play a child's game with you."

"No, I'm sorry"

"Maybe some other time" Hanschen replied showing some emotion in his tone

"How is Ernst?" Called Ilse after Hanschen

"He's doing very well; his studies have improved quite remarkably thanks to me" Smirked Hanschen

"Well I'm glad to hear that. Will you tell him I say hi?"

"Yes I will." Nodded Hanschen continuing on his path

Ilse watched as Hanschen walked away, not looking back for a second. She wondered how he had stayed so much the same. She'd changed hadn't she? Were all of the people she had once known in the village just as she had left them? Hadn't the accidents changed them at all? She began placing one foot in front of the other and swaying with her arms out. Then stopped and looked to the sky. Just staring, analyzing the clouds that were looking back at her. Whispering to them the thoughts that were piercing her mind; searching so desperately for an answer. Only to hear an ominous rumble; followed by rain doublets tricking down from above. She collapsed on the ground, stuck out her tongue and laughed. She loved the rain, it made her happier then the sun ever could. She just lay there on the path all night.

Thanks, for reading! Please, please review, I'd really enjoy getting feedback.