It took a while before the two towns moved on from Lillian's disappearance. But even then, the two towns just weren't the same without her.
At least she was alive, right? But she might as well have been dead to them. She was gone and out of their lives.
Lillian must have had her reasons on why she left. What they were and why she didn't tell them, they did not know. Perhaps it was better that way?
Cam on the other hand, couldn't accept it, although he didn't show it towards the other villagers. He tried to move on - he really did. Time wouldn't stop just for him, anyway. He would get lost and left behind if he didn't move. However he felt as if his spirit was forever still, clinging to the past. His body was there, living in the present, but his soul wasn't. He was just an empty vessel.
How could she leave him like that? Without even saying some parting words? Or maybe it was his fault for not making it in time to catch her.
"Oh, Harvest Goddess. What are you doing here? And so early in the morning?" Cam demanded in shock, hiding the blush creeping on his face with his hat.
Cam always enjoyed early strolls around town before heading out. The town was rather quiet that Monday morning - he liked it. The morning light broke through the mist and made the dew on the leaves glisten.
The girl unexpectedly showed up, smiling at him. "I didn't think I'd make it in time to send you off." She handed him a hot cup of coffee. "Be safe in the city,'kay?"
Odd. No one ever saw him Monday morning, let alone take the time to make him coffee and see him off. He hesitated, but accepted the coffee and nodded. "Th-Thanks."
"Well... Bye, Cam! See you later."
"Yeah. See you, Lillian."
How could these people continue living, knowing that the farmer who used to live in Bluebell was suddenly gone and missing? He missed her random acts of kindness. He missed her. He missed her so much. Did she not love Ca- her life here?
"Do you ever go to the city to just escape the country life? To forget about everything?" she once asked him after finding out he studied in the city on Mondays.
He laughed under his breath. "I wouldn't say to forget. I mean, every time I'm there, I still don't forget about you... oh, or Ash or Laney," he told her. "But I do sometimes wonder what my life would be like if I lived in the city."
"I, for one, am glad you're here," she admitted.
"How about you?" He faced her and was serious as he asked, "Ever imagined living a different life?"
"Um... I don't know; the idea never crossed my mind. I love my life in Bluebell and Konohana! I wouldn't want to forget about you. I wouldn't want to forget anybody here. I'm not saying I want everything to remain the same, though. Fresh starts and some changes are always nice, too," she answered honestly.
Cam couldn't have agreed more.
He avoided speaking about Lillian, but those conversations played in Cam's mind over and over, keeping him up at night, distracting him at work, and even when he talked to his friends. Every day in Bluebell gradually lost its colour, until suddenly, his life was dull and dreary. He felt like even his flowers were wilting faster than usual and business was slow. Sooner or later the voices would drive him mad, or he would forget what her voice sounded like. Either way, he couldn't last much longer.
Fresh starts and some changes... Suddenly the idea of a different life was a pleasant one. He wanted an escape now. He needed an escape. Four seasons past when he found himself looking at the bulletin boards in the city and saw a flyer that caught his eye.
"Oak Tree Town, huh?"
Yes, that was the escape he needed.
A/N: Thanks for reading!
