Every year is the same. One day a year, the man comes and visit the girl. They wander around the forest and admire the flowers that she grew in the clearing near her vegetable garden.

Some years, they make a day trip to the beach about an hour's walk away, where they walk along the beach, their feet bare and wet in the ocean's cooling embrace.

For the first few years, the man acted as a paternal figure. He would asks how she was and makes sure she was taking care of herself. That paternal feeling only lasted so long.

Like a ritual, every year he offers to transport her to a village so she could be with others. Every year, she refuses.

"A girl like yourself, all alone? Surely you want more company than what I can offer."

"A girl like myself? What does that mean?"

"What it means, my little firecracker," he pauses and brushes her hair off her shoulder, "Is that you should see people. Make friends. Find a nice man and settle down."

She looks him in the eyes. "I don't need to. Your company is enough, if only for a day. All whom I care for is you."

He stares at her, an unreadable chaos of emotions clanging against each other in his eyes and unprecedented amounts of wisdom hanging in his dark circles.

"Kiseki," he sighs, his voice strained with reluctance, "I have not been honest with you."

"What do you mean?"

"There is a terrible war going on, with no end in sight. Your land is in trouble. You need to leave and save yourself."

"But if I leave, how will you find me?"

A half smile, half grimace slowly grows on his lips.

"I won't. We will never be able to see each other again."

Her eyes grow wide. "No! Why wouldn't you be able to find me? You always find me!"

"I will be unavailable."

"I won't do it!"

"You must!" he bellows, regretting it as he watches her flinch at his outburst as tears begin to form. His voice softens to a whisper. "I could never live with myself if I did not protect you, whatever it takes. I made that promise to you long ago."

Her eyebrows crinkle in confusion and she starts sobbing. "Please, don't leave me. You're all I have."

She takes his hand and brings it to her chest. "I love you."

"You love what you cannot have."

"And why not?" She affectionately strokes his cheek until he grabs her hand. He opens his mouth to respond, but chooses to close it and nuzzle her hand with his nose. After kissing her palm, he releases her hand and looks at her with misty eyes.

"We are not the same. I have kept much from you."

The sunlight dims and a tear streaks down her cheek. The sunlight always means that he must leave. "Is this really goodbye?"

His eyes give her all the answer she needs.

He walks away, his figure fading into the forest as her sobs ring in the background, haunting him.

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