The water rippled outwards as the pebble hit the surface. With a plop it slowly fell down and it became a single pebble in the midst of a hundreds of other stones at the bottom of the lake. The moon shown lightly through the tall bowed trees, silence filled the whole place. For once the silence seemed loud.
He turned slightly away from her so his face was hidden from her. A breeze flew through the forest, sending shivers through both of them.
A thousand questions rang unanswered in his mind, many that he was afraid to ask. The news had just altered the path of his life. He blew a low silent breath and spoke.
'When?'
She turned startled that he had spoken.
Thursday she replied quietly watching his face. There was silence for several minutes, both were afraid to speak.
'I don't want you to go. ' He finally said looking at her directly. His cobalt eyes filled with hope and determination.
Her heart broke even more even as her father's pride tried to salvage it. She knew she had to be stronger about this and not do what she wanted and fall apart and into his arms.
'Me neither but I can't do this anymore' she whispered wrapping her arms around herself instead.
She wasn't sure if it was to guard against the cold or the thoughts of what was to be.
'Will I see you again?' He asked suddenly his demeanour different, more controlled. Inside he already knew the answer. Her family would never let anyone see her shame, her fall from grace. It would destroy them all if anybody found out.
She shook her head silently and said 'no.'
Inside she wished she could break the ties that held her down but she knew that they were both two young and not ready to handle something as great as this. If only...
If only she had been older, wiser and stronger. She wished she could touch him, reach out to him and feel his lips on her.
The lips that always had been curved into a smile were in a grim line which made her heart hurt even more.
She wished things had been different and the days that they had together had never happened if it would have stopped both of them from hurting this badly. She sighed, the light seemed to be fading and she knew it was time to go. Silent tears slid down her face as she turned round and whispered goodbye.
Unaware of Naruto's reaching hand she walked away.