Warm, Lonely Days. Cold, Lonely Nights.

Reeds folded under me as I sat down. They had been allowed to grow recklessly. Standing, they came at least to chest height, some even brushing my shoulders. Now I was sitting, however, they towered above me. I looked up, the crazed evening sky framed in a ring of green-topped reeds. At my head, the sky was sliced through in long, jagged clouds. Parts of it were silvery, where pale, azure sky bled into the golden tones of the sunset. As the sky drained towards my feet, it turned a vague lavender, a rich salmon, and wild, crisp amber. 1

There was a steady, welcome drop in temperature, not enough for me to need my cardigan, but enough to ease the uncomfortable warmth. I sat in silence, listening to the sound of the approaching twilight with trepidation and excitement. I made sure that I could still see the sun, distant though it was now. He was late tonight, though I hoped not too late.2

The day was ending slowly, but it was still ending. I knew that, soon, I would have the one moment I had endured the daylight for. Those few minutes, when the sadness ebbed away and I could feel truly happy. 3

There was a rustle at my head, and I sat up. Twisting in my seat, I saw a ripple in the grass. Slowly, his image formed in the approaching darkness, haloed in blossoming stars. He carried the night behind him, and wore it beautifully upon his bare shoulders.4

Despite facing the sun, he was shadowed. Silvery light picked out the details in his toned chest, and angular, stubbled face. Where his eyes should have been, there were simply pools of darkness, and it was only when he looked down at me that I could see them clearly. As always, they were icy and understanding, filled with something edging on adoration. I took his cool hand in mine, and vainly tried to warm it. 5

Pulling him down, he knelt at my side and we took a moment to look at each other. His face was tense, and at this level his eyes seemed doeful and longing. I tried to appear warm, but this succeeded only in making him feel worse. Without a word, he threw his arms around me, and held me close. His body was cold against mine, but I liked it. The days were too warm without him. 6

He smoothed my hair against my back, and pinned my head to his shoulder. Likewise, I clasped my hands behind his back, knowing he would soon leave, and wishing that he wouldn't. We tried to absorb as much of each other as we could, both feeling the tug of time pulling us apart.7

Before I had even realised I was crying, I watched one of my tears run down his back. He shuddered, and stroked my pale, yellow hair when he realised what it was. His deep voice shushed me, as the single tear turned into a hundred. Though he knew we couldn't waste time, he allowed me a few moments to weep. 8

I stopped on my own, as I always felt embarrassed when he had to quieten me. I looked down his back at the black ink that decorated his shoulderblades. Absently, I felt my own marks, which covered half my face in scar-like white lines. These, alone, were symbols of our connection, and subsequent separation.9

Releasing him, I traced his tattoo with my fingers, and felt goosebumps rise up under the artwork. He shivered and took my hand, slowly kissing the palm. He looked up at me, his eyes intense but unreadable. The dying sunlight made his eyes glossy and marbled with wild copper streaks. It played around the shadows in his hair, where it tufted up in odd places.10

Something told me that I was going to have to leave him very soon, and we hadn't even spoken yet. I lay on the ground to watch our last, few seconds together. The sun was almost gone, swallowed almost completely by the horizon. He cuddled into my side, and rested his arm across my stomach gently, as though he would crush me. I pulled him closer in reassurance, and he gripped me more tightly. 11

"I hate this." I whispered, my voice cracking. More tears bloomed in my eyes, but I didn't bother stopping them. Our little circle of crushed grass slowly fell into shadows, the light draining from it. 12

"I know." His eyes glanced away from me, towards the dull, grey orb that sprouted in the darkening sky. We could both feel me fading.13

It grew rapidly colder. The reeds brushed against each other in the breeze, causing a low, rasping that reminded me of the sea. Slowly, the sound grew quieter. My grip on the surroundings weakened, but I held him tighter. I stole the last seconds of light to speak one, final time.14

"I love you."15

Though I couldn't turn back, I knew he was watching. The sun shone brightly in its final moment, and with tears in its eyes, the moon said:16

"I love you, too."