Futari

He held her small, sobbing body across his, stroking her head gently.  Under the cold, bitter night sky, their bodies shared a warmth that reached into their hearts.

Pete nuzzled against her ear and whispered, “I can feel your heart beating.”

Melina peered up at him, her face pale, her eyes yielding rivulets that trickled down her face, sparkling in the moonlight.  Her breathing was short and shallow yet remained controlled.  She managed a weak smile and said, “We have lost so many moments like these.”  She sniffed.  “I don’t remember what else I should say.”

“Then say nothing,” Pete said, his voice like the wind.  He leaned in and kissed Melina.

They remained that way for several moments, oblivious to the crickets chirping around them and the gentle swish of the trees.  When their lips parted (though reluctantly), Melina drew back across his lap.

“You’re crying,” she whispered, looking into Pete’s eyes.

Pete said nothing.

“Not on the outside,” she continued, “but you shed tears inside you.”  Then sadly, though curiously, Melina asked, “Why do you not let me see them?”

Pete burned under her loving gaze but found himself looking away.  For a few seconds, he focused purely on her beating heart and closed his eyes.  When he opened them, he saw that Melina was no longer crying.

“Why do you not tell me?” she persisted tenderly.  “I can see your furrowed expression whenever you reflect.  I am here.  Speak, my love, or you may forever let your troubles build inside of you.”

Pete ground his teeth together.  “I cannot.”  He felt Melina draw back a little and he met her unwavering gaze once more.  “I have seen too many terrible things.  I cannot speak of them.  I do not know how.”  He kissed her on the forehead.  “Perhaps one day will come when I will learn to voice my troubles.  But for now, all I can do is immerse in the solace that your company brings.”

He slowly lowered Melina’s small figure to the soft ground and stood.  He looked down upon her, as did the moonlight, and he felt his heart ache at her newfound tears.

“I will return again,” he spoke quietly.  “I must go.”

“You’ll come back…” Melina sobbed.  “I know you will.  And I’ll wait until that day, no matter how far it is.”

Through her blurred vision, Melina thought she had seen the moon caught in welled up tears in Pete’s eyes.  But once she had blinked her own tears away, he had disappeared.