Disclaimer: If I owned Trigun, I would be filthy rich. Judging that I am not, I do not own Trigun. The end.

A/N: BTW, this is a 'what if': What if Vash didn't defeat Knives? Well, this is sort of a song fic, but it's really a short, free-verse poem that I, myself, have written. Enjoy!

~Silently I stood… ~

Meryl sat upon the mouth of the well, gazing longingly to the entrance to town.

It was really late, and Meryl was wearing nothing more but her usual PJ's and a pair of slippers. A chilling wind passed over her, and she shuddered, but that didn't bother her too badly. All she wanted was to see him again, see him grinning that goofy grin he always had plastered on his face. It's been two weeks, and still, no word of Vash.

Milly tried her very best to reassure her 'sempai', but only in vain. No matter how many times he ticked her off, and no matter how many women he flirted with, Meryl would always take Vash to heart. But why? Meryl questioned her emotions herself.

~ …waiting for the dawn…~

The blackness of night was turning into a drowsy violet, a sign that it was giving into the evident morning. An hour had passed since Meryl came outside, but it felt like ages.

Hesitantly, but gaining boldness, a bird began to chirp. Soon, he was not alone, as another joined him. The air outside was so cool, so welcoming…it always made Meryl think of how carefree everyone around her seemed to be.

Especially Vash. Meryl reprimanded herself harshly, 'Why can't you just get him out of your mind?' But then, she could hear Milly's kind, yet firm voice, "Big sister always told me: never suppress it."

But it was so hard not to! She feared getting too attached to anyone as erratic as Vash; it's like they're there for one moment, and a split second later, they're gone.

~Here, waiting for you once again… ~

A silhouette of the mountains hid the awakening suns, their friendly rays calling the world to wake up. The skies above them blushed deeply, like a lovesick young girl. She felt a short pang of loneliness as the reddish- pink sky reminded her of that long, crimson trench coat. Meryl stared longingly into the depths of the sky.

It made her feel so small and unimportant. Despite everything, she smiled into it. It reminded her of her own self, with so many possibilities and paths to take.

Meryl's gaze returned to the forlorn gates, the gentle breeze arousing the dirt around it.

~ …but you never came back…~

And still, the entrance remained undisturbed. No goof-ball, peace loving, doughnut scarfing, compassionate, trench coat-wearing baka walking through them, no Vash coming back to Meryl.

'Maybe he got lost…'

Meryl knew that was only wishful thinking. She lowered her face to the ground, her hands placed over her chest. 'The longer I travel with him, the less I understand…' That was no longer true. Meryl knew all, after Vash had told her everything.

He's gone through so much and yet…and yet he's still able to don a jovial smile and act as if it's all better. But then…he's only pretending it's all better. She had to admit; things were just plain boring when that silly man wasn't around.

"Sempai! I've been looking all over for you!" Milly's familiar voice rang in Meryl's ears. A tone of worry and confusion intervened, "What are you doing outside in your pajamas Sempai? Are you okay?"

Maybe it was time to go in now, "I'm fine. Just needed a bit of fresh air…" She turned to go back to the home she and Milly shared, giving one more look to the old town entrance – still no one. She followed her cheerful friend, who continued a one-sided conversation about starting an orphanage in honor of Wolfwood. That was actually a very nice idea, one worth taking to heart. Meryl knew that Milly still hurt for Wolfwood, but remained strong for her friend. In that sense, Milly's strength was enviable.

~Silently I stood,

waiting for the dawn.

Waiting for you once again,

But you never came back… ~

Perhaps he would be back the next day, or the day after that…the suns showered the land with their golden rays of warmth, but to Meryl, they were of hope.

A/N: It's not too cheesy…is it? I just get these random urges to write these lil' blurbs o' mine, so…yeah. Please review, and tell me what you think! I love getting responses!!! ^__~