Part 3: Mirrored Images
She buried her face in the pillow, muffling the sound of her sobs with its warm comfort, her tears slowly soaking into the soft material. She remembered every moment she spent with him.
It had been an hour or two- they were slowly walking along the river side, watching swans gracefully pass by as their conversation carried into the soothing autumn breeze.
"Have you come far?" she asked, trying to hide her embarrassed smile.
The boy tilted his head. "Quite far. I've been travelling for a long time, so I can't really remember where I first started from."
"Really? How long as it been?"
She gazed at him intently. His eyes were so deep- he always looked as if he were thinking about something- even when he was in one place he was still journeying with his mind. His long hair moved gently in the breeze. Slowly, she edged her hand towards his, lightly brushing his fingers with hers.
A tiny stroke, almost invisible.
He drew his hand back slightly. "A long time. It's hard to say."
Blushing, she moved her hand again. "I've lived here my whole life. I've barely been outside the village, except to travel to the city for school." She stretched her fingers towards his hand, hoping for an approach that could allow her to touch, to hold it firmly in hers.
He twitched slightly, moving away. She held her hand and rubbed it gently- it was getting a little cold, but buzzed from the drive of her emotions.
"A-are you cold?" she mumbled, pulling her jacket closer in. "The wind here bites quite a lot, and you're not wearing gloves, so..." A tingling wave of anticipation crept down her spine as he drew breath in to reply.
"There's something I like about the cold." he replied quietly. "It's almost comforting, feeling it on my skin as I walk."
She blushed again. She must look like an idiot. But more than anything she wanted to be close to him. "Well, but... I'm getting rather cold, and I'm wearing a scarf. I just thought that..."
She stopped suddenly, her cheeks almost glowing red. He stopped and looked to her quizically.
"Do you want to wear my scarf? It's quite warm, and I'm really quite used to the cold," she stammered, determination in her eyes meeting his soulful gaze once again.
There was a tense pause. The boy stepped closer...
* * *
He was dreaming again. He could feel it. He always dreamt of his memories.
"How long has it been?"
The boy could feel her fingers playing over his. Startled, he drew his hand back and kept it closer to his side. Was that an accident?
"A long time," he said quietly, almost trying to retreat into himself. He didn't want to run away from her, but this was unexpected. He glanced over to her and saw a glimmer of disapppointment flash over her eyes.
Do you really want this already?
"It's hard to say," he added, trying to curb his air of avoidance. It wasn't that he hadn't been seeking contact, but...
She was blushing. He could feel her hand move closer again as she began searching for a way to reconnect. Her voice was a little wavy- he could tell her mind was distracted.
"I've lived here my whole life." Her fingers touched his and tried to slide between them. "I've barely been outside the village, except to travel to the city for school."
Slowly enough to keep her from noticing his retreats, he drew his fingers into a ball. She withdrew her hand and clasped it in her other, as if trying to console it.
"A-are you cold?" she stammered. "The wind here bites quite a lot, and you're not wearing gloves, so..."
No. I know what you want, but I can't give it to you. Not yet.
"There's something I like about the cold." he replied quietly. "It's almost comforting, feeling it on my skin as I walk."
He wasn't watching her, but looked ahead as they talked, focusing on the pathway the were taking. Suddenly, he sensed her slipping back. Turning, she saw her holding her scarf out to him, arms outstretched, barely making eye contact. And then he saw something he'd rarely seen before. In her eyes, her face- something touchingly beautiful. Stunned slightly, it took his body a few seconds to decide what to do.
Can I risk this? Will I hurt you if I decide either way?
She shuffled her feet slightly, still offering the scarf to him. Her beautiful humanity presented to him. In this way, she looked perfect. Perhaps against his rational judgement, he stepped forwards. But even rational judgement could not keep him from smiling.
"Actually, that would be nice."
He awoke with a start. Behind him, he could hear raised voices.
