Truth

Lily stood at the edge of the lake, watching the sun go down behind the forest. Who could have known that her life could come down to this? There was way too much confusion, too many thoughts spinning around her head at one time. Why did it have to be like this?

A flock of swans paddled their way slowly across the water. A small breeze of ruffled their silky white feathers, causing them to fluff up and loosen. Softly one feather flew off a nearby swan and landed gently at Lily's feet.

The day was perfect for relaxing, something Lily needed desperately. As she rested her head upon the trunk of a tree, Lily hoped she could rest and let her body unwind. Slowly, her mind began unfolding each thought in turmoil as it tried to sort them out. It had been bothering her for so long,

"Lily?" a gentle voice called. A girl was heading across the green field, which separated the lake from the school. She approached Lily cautiously, almost timidly, as if afraid the sitting girl would attack.

"Hey," Lily responded despondently. She wasn't supposed to be like this. Why did she have to hurt others? She studied the ground, her eyes sad.

"I thought I'd find you here," said the girl as she kept her distance. There was fear in her voice as she muttered, "You've been avoiding me." It was a quiet mousy statement; the kind that Lily didn't like. It meant that there was something the girl needed protection against. She couldn't give that now.

Silence resonated around where the girls were, not even the sound of the swans bathing gracefully in the water could be heard over the deafening silence.

"I need you to tell me yourself. From your mouth," the girl demanded, the tone of her voice straining as she fought to keep calm. Her eyes glistened as she tried to hide from the sadness that threatened to overwhelm her.

"Charley," Lily whispered, "You don't need me anymore. Live your life the way you want to. You don't need me." It pained her to say these words, even though they were all true. In reality, Lily had also needed the protection Charley's companionship offered.

"You can't be serious to think that." Charley was genuinely shocked at the older girl's reply.

"Why can't I?" Lily asked.

"Because you need me as much as I need you." The statement was said with the conviction of someone who knew they were right.

"That is true." Lily smiled sadly. Perhaps she had underestimated her lover. "But what else is true, may not be what is the most pleasant."

"They were right."

"Indeed." Lily sighed and finally looked upon her former lover's face. "No one can avoid fate."

"You know I'll miss you," Charley's voice was as quiet as the whispering breeze through the trees. She stepped away from Lily.

"It's not a lie that I feel the same way. I cannot deny that."

"I will always love you. Maybe because of this we cannot be friends just yet, but sometime in the future..." her voice broke for a second before she continued, "this relationship will bring us close."

"And I will always love you too. Now, go back before your friends start to worry about you. It will be dark soon." Lily stayed in her spot, leaning against the tree, turning away from Charley'sfaced and gazed upon the lake once more.

"Good-bye," Charley whispered. It was a small and futile gesture, but she walked up to Lily and brushed her warm lips upon Lily's cold, wind-kissed ones.

"Goodbye," she sighed.

Another breeze tickled Lily's face. Night had finally fallen and the swans were gone.

"I really think you ought to come to bed," a male voice said from her right. The voice was warm and protecting; her new love stood calling her from the protection of the cradling tree.

"James. You're late," Lily responded, a sly grin lighting up her face.

"Yes, I know. I'm sorry" James made a sad face as he gathered Lily in his arms. She snuggled against his shoulder, looking up at the starry canopy that covered the green field. "Stupid teachers. They always seem to be at the wrong place at the wrong time." James murmured into Lily's hair, tilting her fact up so that he could kiss it.

"The other students are talking about us," Lily told him after he released her.

"Let them be jealous. I've got you now. No one will come between us." James promised Lily, "No-one ever will."