In the middle of the forest, on the bank of a creek, sat a young woman. Her gray pullover and worn pants were camouflaged against the backdrop of crunchy autumn leaves. Cold mud seeped into the seat of her corduroys, but she didn’t get up.1

A tall, dark-haired man watched from across a quietly murmuring stream. The sunlight slanted through thin brown trees, reflecting against water and making it appear almost silver. The man stood partly hidden behind a tree. He watched tears tumble down her face. She was completely still; or were there very faint shudders sliding over her neck and shoulders, down her back?2

He stepped away from the tree and moved toward her, out of place in his tailored suit and shiny black shoes. Nature seemed to reject him. Rusty-gold leaves crackled noisily under his soles, and a chipmunk scampered through his wake. A chattering squirrel dropped acorns from above. He cleared his throat.3

She twisted very slowly, he waited to see her face, both knowing what they would see and yet growing fearful. Finally, briefly, their eyes met. He noticed three creases in her neck as she looked over her shoulder at him. He found them oddly adorable.4

Their eyes bore into the others and it seemed to be a stalemate. They both had beautiful pairs; his the color of a Caribbean sea at twilight, hers a deep coffee bean brown. Their gazes were equally intense; hers never flickered even as he moved closer, the tip of his shiny black shoe poking her back. He waited. Her breath let out, and then she was standing, long corduroy legs stepping away. One more neck-creasing peek over her shoulder and she disappeared through the trees.5

Inexplicably, it started to rain. Wet, gray lines slashed into his well-made suit and coated his fine hair. One tear slid out of a navy blue eye and melted with the rain onto the olive skin below.