The twittering of birds rings sharp and clear through the empty garden. There is no breeze here. The still air is cool and light, and the morning sunlight flickers through the branches of the trees, casting dappled patterns of shadow across the carefully trimmed grass. Crystal water splashes over smoothly polished stones in an artificial stream, the soft trickling sounds adding to the picturesque aura of the garden.

I realise, not for the first time, that I don't care about any of those things.

Sapphire eyes that do not see, and yet always seem to stare into my soul. As she turns to face me again, I feel as if I am standing at the edge of some vast ocean, and I feel myself slipping.

How the lines of her face seem to flow like soft sand blown by desert winds, as if only nature herself could achieve something so beautiful. When she smiles, the sun is so easily eclipsed by her radiance.

"Are you okay?"

A little too late, I hear that melodious voice calling to me like a siren's song. I can but shake my head to clear out my own childish fantasies; her hold on me is far stronger.

"S…sorry," I stutter so awkwardly, and yet it brings that laughter to her lips again that always delights my ears.

"Poor Hanako," she replies in that soft voice. To hear her tongue caressing my name in such a way brings a flutter to my chest. "Perhaps it was not best to rouse you so early this morning. If I had taken the time to think of how hard you must be working lately…"

"No, of course not! I'm more than happy to be here with you, as long as you don't mind."

Does her smile widen slightly at that, or is it my hopeful imagination?

"Having you here makes the garden feel so much more alive, my dear Hanako." Now I know she's just trying to make me blush. "You always make my day seem brighter, and for that I fear I do not appreciate you enough." It's working.

Oh, if only you could see the way your words make me blush. If only you could look into my eyes and see how being here with you makes me feel. Words cannot express this.

"Thank you," I reply in a very small voice indeed.

This scene of tranquil beauty does not need petty conversation. Watching her form move with unheard rhythm, her body flowing like the water that trickles along its stony path, that is enough. The sun catches her hair with every graceful movement of her head, setting it ablaze with ripples of golden light. I can do nothing but sit and watch as she becomes one with the nature around us.

"…"

My mouth opens to speak, but my tongue is frozen, lost while my mind races to catch up.

"Lily."

I whisper her name to myself, knowing full well that she will hear it. That mesmerising gaze turns to me.

But I find myself lost for words. Something inside me is clawing and screaming to escape, to burst forth from my mouth, but the words to set it free do not come to me so easily. I can only stare back into her unseeing eyes, lost forever.

The moment passes in silence, and I regret nothing. Her smile is enough to satisfy the unnameable longing.

For now.