The quiet of the night enveloped her as soon as she stepped into the forest. The moon provided just enough light to guide her through the trees and along the path she had walked countless times before. She almost turned around to smile at him, but then remembered that she was alone this time. There was no laughter, no whisper, not even a glimpse of brown eyes.
A fresh breeze curled around the trees and caressed her face soothingly. It was as if it understood her grief. The forest finally opened up, revealing the whispering river that had been haunting her dreams.
She fell to her knees at the riverbank. Her sobs ripped roughly through the silence and her tears fell into the water. She reached a hand into the icy river and let it curl around her, softly holding her there.
But suddenly the stream twisted and clawed and pulled at her, almost as if it wanted her near. Her tears lessened as she gasped in fear. Before she could move and pull away she heard his voice calling her. She turned, eyes frantically searching the forest, but realised it had only been in her mind.
No one had called her name. No one was searching for her. No one would ever find her.
She looked back at her reflection, her only comfort at that time. Instead of her own face, she found brown eyes looking back at her, glittering with unshed tears. Before she could react, they disappeared. His voice called her name, and she was desperate to hear the sound again. She reached forward and the water’s whispers turned into screams. Rumbling roars right where the river reached her arms.
She could faintly hear his laughter even through the chaos of the waves. She leaned forward in hope to grab that flicker and never let go. But before she could grab it, it slipped through her fingers and once again she was all alone. His laughter had faded, so had his warmth and all that was left, was the cruel cold of the river.
She sat there for a moment, caught between the forest she had met him in, and the river she had lost him to. She stared at her own image, flickering and changing. The wind howled louder, the forest was calling for her to return home. The water pulled tighter, knowing he was the only home she had ever known.
She pulled her arms out of the river, hearing the water’s upset roar and the trees’ relieved sigh.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she turned to the colourful leaves and towering trees.
« Thank you for leading me home, » she whispered.
Then she let herself fall into the river.
The forest’s scream was inaudible as the river embraced her.
She let the water flow into her ears, her mouth, her lungs. The icy pressure stole her breath. She heard her heartbeat fade and slow —
and without a second thought, she let go.
She lifted her gaze to the blurry sky, to the millions of stars that had long died.
Brown eyes met hers.
And she smiled.