• She stood on the stage, eyes closed, moving in rhythm with the music that flowed around her. With well practice ease she slipped her hands thought the air, ebbing and flowing with the tide of notes, making her body move as though it had been made of nothing but the music. She loved how this song seemed to take her over, controlling her actions. It let her slip away from herself for a bit of time and be free from the pain and hurt. It wasn't like other songs she danced to on a whim, where the steps changed each time. No, this dance, and this song, were always the same from the very first time when she was thirteen and first danced to it.

    Stepping deeply to the side, she thought about the events that had forced her to realize she needed her song. Driving her to seek out the one place she felt she could give herself completely and wholly to the part of her she was most scared to show others.

    Lifting her arms to be symbolic wings, she let herself be free of all the bottled up emotions in side of her, letting her mind return to happier times.

    "Why do you say that?" She asked, feet dangling lightly in the cooling water.

    "Why not? I mean, doesn't it make sense to you?" He replied from his position in the tree above her.

    "I guess it does, but still..." she trailed off, unsure of how to put her thoughts into words.

    "I know. I won't tell anyone until after I've got every detail worked out. But still, I thought you should know what I'm working on." He said, dropping down to the ground. Sitting next to her, he took her hands in his own. Surprised, she looked up to meet his eyes. "Please promise me something?"

    Taken aback by the urgency in his voice she nodded. "Promise me that no matter what happens, you shall take care of my notes. Don't let anyone else read them! And keep my house for me." Not understanding why he was asking such a thing, she agreed. Worried look still in his eyes, he let her hands go, and was content to just sit next to her, watching as she went back to weaving the long blade of grass besides them together into a basket.


    Smiling in pain, her heart ached as she realized that had been the last time they had been together so freely. She shook her head as her mind continued to recall the event of the day, including the shock of being pushed into the water. She had been so furious with him for the first few seconds, and has called him so many things. So many things that weren't at all what she had meant. She would have given anything to take back those words now.

    Twisting her arms around, as a snake would, her mind traveled to the next time she had visited that small bend near her home. It had been with him, but thing had changed so much.

    "Why? I don't understand!" She cried, struggling to come to terms with the news.

    "Because. I'm dangerous, don't you see? Farentia, I nearly kill a man today!!! If I can't control it now, then I never will be able to." He said, turning to look down at the frozen water. "Soon everyone will find out. And they won't stand to have a freak like me around. They'll kill me, or turn me into some type of experiment. No, it's much better than I leave now, with everyone thinking that I'm just a normal boy."

    "But, how will you survive?" she asked, desperate for some way to keep him, there, with her.

    "Hey, I've been on my own for a lot longer than this. Don't worry, I'll be fine. And it's not like I won't be able to talk to you. I'll write to you every day." Stepping forward, he slipped his finger under her chin, and lifted her head. "It really is better this way."

    "But... I need you." She said, realizing the truth even as she said it.

    "And you'll have me. I'm going to write to you every day. Sometimes more. I swear!" He said. Realizing that he was going to leave no matter what, she sighed.

    "Well then... I hope you have a good trip." She said, voice thick with unshed tears. Nodding his understand he turned away to grab his bags.


    Oh the pain that day had brought for her. She had followed with him, barely keeping back the tears as he walked to the edge of town, and as far as she knew out of her life forever. She had run back to her house, the tears streaming down her face. Going to her room she found a letter laying on her pillow from him. Inside it told her how much he had appreciated her friendship. Wrapped around the small letter had been one of his most prized possession: A small crystal necklace that had belonged to his mother.

    In that moment, she realized that she had loved him. Laying down, she cupped her hands around the small object and cried her self to sleep. Her life had been hard without him, but as he had said he wrote. At first she got a letter or a package every day, but slowly she heard less and less from him, and then not at all.

    Taking small steps to the side, she realized that it had been almost five years since she had last heard from him. She had grown quite a bit since then, and had even gone to college.

    Oh Quetiun, why did you have to go!!! I've always had you to rely on and talk to. I used to be able to send you letters, and although you didn't write back, I still knew you got them. But today I had one come to me, unopened. Where have you gone? She thought, heart in anguish. And then today in the paper, they said that two men were shot in Kluxton. I'm so scared because that's where your last letter was postmarked, and the men they described fit you and your friend. I don't know what I would do if you were dead.

    Tears were now streaming down her face as she continued to let the music move her, playing with her emotions as though they were toys. Each time she danced the song it was different. Sometimes the music lead to a place of peace and tranquility, and others it lead her to a place of joy. This time was unique. This time she found herself filled with all the emotions she could dream of at once. Each step, each movement was something all it's own, yet it flowed together to become one beautiful and almost complete piece.

    Almost. She had always felt as though something was missing when she danced, as though there was some piece of the song that wasn't played, so she couldn't dance to it, though she knew the song was a full form. Still, she had always ignored the filling, chalking it up to her haywire emotions. Opening her eyes, she looked first left, then right, swaying that direction as she did so. The lights of the stage glinted off of the small ring located on her second to last finger on her right hand. Bringing her hands together in front of her, she looked out into the dark theater, mind once again falling into the past.

    Sitting down, she ripped open the envelope hungrily. Unfolding the single piece of paper, she quickly scanned the small letters, saddened by the shortness. Returning to the top, she read:

    My Sweet Farentia,

    I know it has been quite a while since the
    last time I wrote to you. I'm afraid any reason I could give you
    would only be excuses, and you deserve better than that.

    I did receive your last gift package, and
    was glad to hear that your mother recovered completely from
    her sickness. I hope that you in return did not become ill.

    I have met a man whom I think I may
    be able to trust enough to explain why I am always on the
    move. He is a frequent visitor of my bosses, and seems to
    always take notice of me. Last time he was in he invited me
    to go to a dinner with him. Upon arriving at our rendezvous
    location he treated me to a nice dinner and asked many questions
    that seemed to suggest he already knew. He offered me a job
    working in the afternoons at his home, helping him with some
    minor projects. I have accepted, and am grateful for the bit of
    extra money, because it made it so I could finally buy you
    something I have longed to give you for a while now. I was
    able to get enough of the money together, and have sent it to
    you in a package which I will send with this letter.

    Be well my dear, and write often. I love hearing from you!
    Yours

    Quetiun

    She set the letter down, wondering for a moment about this strange man that he had mentioned. Thinking nothing of it, she went to where she had set the rest of her mail, and picked up the small five by five box that had arrived. Pulling at the string that adorned it, she slipped it out of the brown paper it had traveled in. A little wooden box sat in the palm of her hand. Opening it, she gasped as she saw a beautiful ring glistening in the sunlight. It appeared to be made of silver crafted into a vine of ivy, with a diamond in the center. Slipping it out of the box, she placed it on her left hand for a moment, wishing that she could leave it there. However, because she didn't want to cause talk around the town, and didn't know for sure how it was intended, she slipped it onto the other hand, sighing. Walking into her room, she slipped the small box into one of the few hiding places.


    Despite the fact that she had placed the ring on her right hand, she had still been the cause of many rumors. Most people didn't believe her when she said that it had just been a friendship gift from her oldest friend, and claimed that she had secretly been married to him. However, after about two months of accusing her of being married, and her saying the same thing, they finally stopped talking to her about it. I think they still expect me at any second to announce that I'm pregnant with his child. I mean, not even the men of town flirt with me like they used to. They all treat me like one of the other married girls. If I got to the dances I just get ignored, or all the girls twitter behind their hands about how I'm cheating on my husband. What none of your realize is how much I wish you were right, and I was married to him.

    The music swelled, then dipped into a slow and sad piano solo, causing her to close her eyes at the pain that once again flooded though her. Faltering slightly, she felt her body shaking in hurt and pain. Unable to contain her emotions, tears started to stream down her face as she realized her worst fear may have come true. I may have lost him forever!!! I may have lost him, and he'll never know that... how I feel for him.

    Hearing the music lead towards another swell just before the ending, she moved once again though the last steps of the dance, which reflected the first part. Crying, she let herself slip away, mind going numb. Lifting her arms, out stretching them to once again be free, she imagined she felt a hand slip into her own, gently leading her from one step to the next. Never turning around, she let her mind continue to create the fantasy, allowed herself to be lead, as she had many times before.

    Slipping through the steps, she realized that the hands were completing the dance in a way she had never thought possible. Spinning, skirts flairing around her, she felt herself being held in place. "Oh Quetiun." She sighed, wishing it wasn't just her mind that was dancing with her. Turning towards the front of the stage, she stepped forward, right hand lingering slightly in that of her partners. She felt a slight pull on it before it dropped next to her, free. Turning back around, eyes still closed, she held out both her hands. Feeling them accepted, she stepped slowly forward. Her right hand was let free, left was only held by the palm, before they both returned to being held. As the final bars of the song that had for so long helped cut though the air, she hung her head, just wanting to be held, wanting to know that everything would be okay.

    "Shhh, it's alright. I'm here now, and I'll never leave you again. Don't cry, I could never stand to see you cry..." she heard him say, as she knew he would if he were really there.

    "I know... I just can't help it. I love you so much, and now you could be gone from me forever." She replied out loud, still in a slight trance from her dancing, keeping her eyes closed.

    "How could you have lost me? I'm right here." She imagined how it felt to have his hand slide along her skin, tracing her jaw line, and she shivered slightly at the realness of her dream. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she realized that she had once again let her mind run away with her. Turning her head, she silently berated herself. You really shouldn't let your mind get away from you like that.

    Taking a deep breath, she was trying to recompose herself when she felt a finger slip under her chin, lifting her head. Squeezing her eyes tighter so that she wouldn't open them and dispel the fantasy, she decided just a few more seconds wouldn't hurt. "It's okay, I will never have to leave you again." She heard whispered into the now silent air just before she felt a slight pressure on her lips. Instinctively, she pulled away. Leaning forward, she rested her forehead against his.

    "Why can't you be real?" she sighed, stand tall, finally breaking herself free of the daze she had been in.

    "What do you mean?" Asked a familiar voice from in front of her. Opening her eyes, she gasped as she saw the face that had been haunting her dreams for weeks now. Lifting her hand to her mouth, she stared in amazement. His light hazel eyes looked at her in worry. "Are you alright?"

    "I-is it really you?" She asked, voice full of tears.

    "As far as I know. I know I do look a bit different, but I guess having more than enough money to dress nicely, and have your hair all the same length will do that to you." He said, amusement in his voice.

    "But, you're not a dream. I won't wake up from this?" She asked again, still not quite sure. Rather than reply he slipped his hand behind her head, and kissed her. Realizing it wasn't a dream, she returned the kiss, joy flooding though every fiber of her being. Wrapping her arms around him, she lead her head against his shoulder, grateful for the comfort her brought, biting her lip slightly.

    "I'm sorry it took me so long to come back. I just wanted to be sure I could... control everything before I did." He said, holding her close. "But now that I am, I'm here to stay. For good."

    "Really?" She asked.

    "Really. Hey, why are you crying?" He asked, lifting her face to look at him, worry in his voice.

    "Because I read in the paper today that a man was shot where you were living, and I was so worried it had been you. I thought I had lost you, and I love you too much to be able to. But now that you're back..." she trailed off, unable to explain how she felt. Opening her eyes wider, she realized what she had just said to him. He seemed to have not heard her, or chose not to comment on it.

    "Well, I'm just fine. See?" He said, wrapping his arms back around her. Leaning in, she sniffled slightly, trying to get in control of herself. Interlocking her fingers with each other, she realized her ring wasn't on it's usual finger. Stepping back, she looked down at her hands.

    "My ring..." She said, voice quiet in surprise.

    "You were wearing it on the wrong finger, so I fixed it for you." He said, taking her hands in his own. "I guess I did assume a bit, but I'm sure you're okay with it."

    "Are you... Do you mean..." She said, thoughts racing.

    "Yes. I know that it's been a while since you've seen me last, and I realize that when I sent you that ring I was unsure of your feelings, but I was almost positive. The day I left you seem so forlorn that I was sure you had feelings for me. I would have asked you right then had I not have been a danger to the both of us. I was so scared when I saw you had it on your right hand. I thought that meant you only wanted me as a friend. Then you said my name, and I knew that everything I thought was true."

    "I put it there so that everyone wouldn't talk. It didn't do much good though."

    "Oh? What type of things were said about us?"

    "Just that we were married. They couldn't prove anything else, so they left me be. Though I was treated differently." She said, realizing that everything she though had been cruel had just been out of respect for her.

    Slipping down on one knee, he held her left hand in his own. "Farentia, would you do me the honor of making all the rumors true by becoming my wife."

    Lifting him to kiss her she breathed "Yes Quetiun, oh yes."