Though she always kept true to her desire to see him, she could never look him in the eye, much less say a word to him. But, she vowed, today it would be different. She had promised herself, and secretly she had promised him, too. She knew it, even if he didn't. She warned herself that today would be the day, and the threat was real, for she treated herself with as much domination as she did anyone else.

The moment came, and she waited.

Please... Come back... Just this once more. I'll show you how I feel.

The girl continued to wait. She waited, but the young man did not show.

He's never been late...

Though she continued to wait for him, an hour escaped, and then another. More and more people left the library, but she refused to leave until the last librarian ushered her outside with him. He inquired and prodded, if something may be ailing her, for she looked sick and fatigued. She, with an absent mind, acknowledged his concern but walked away silently through his continued inquiries.

She came again the next day. Months came and went, but the desire remained strong in her heart until the very last day. The young man never showed, and the heartbroken girl finally ceased her visitations.

♥♥♥♥♥♥

The sky in the midst of December was dark and dispiriting with not a star to be seen; the world underneath it, however, glittered with the lights and decor of the holidays soon approaching. Every street of the city resounded with the laughter of young children, the gossip of elders, and the escaped whispers of lovers. Kai, disheveled and sweating despite the cold, heard none of it.

The youth was struggling to keep himself upright on an ornamented lamppost as he looked around him in the fashion of a desperate, inexperienced thief. His hair was wet and in disarray as it swayed with the motion of his body. He knew where he was; his intent eyes searched for something. In the distance, shouts of mild concern from some of his family and friends echoed through the streets from the shop he'd just left, but Kai heard none of it.

From months of being nowhere but a hospital bed, and his only recent recovery, every few steps were a trial to take. Still, for minutes he walked on.

This is nothing. Kai continued on through agonizing steps and confirmed a certain time on his watch. Falling snow faintly blurred his vision as he gazed upon the tallest building of the district. Looking on it, guilt came upon him as he remembered the promise he'd so many times broken. The thought of it pierced his soul. He tried to go on, to get to his destination, but his body would not react. His mind seemed stunned by some unseen blow as he began to feel an intolerance to everything around him -- the sharp wind, this cold; the loud voices and the resonant laughter; the people... His own head was spinning as he began to feel unbearably nauseous.

Kai had felt it coming. The clouding of his mind, the pain in his legs, the weakening of his entire being. As he felt himself collapse in a slow, blurry white motion, he caught a faint but familiar vision, though his mind was fatigued and did not dwell on it.

More footsteps. No, now someone was running to him. Just let me rest here...

A light embrace; firm arms, now lifting him; a gentle touch; the warmth now caressing his face.

Kai lay motionless. Someone was speaking to him. His mind, numb, slowly searched for recognition of the voice, but found none. He wanted nothing more than to drift off now, to be left alone, but another gentle stroke on his cheek seemed to fill his entire body with warmth. Painfully he opened his eyes, but they failed to focus.

He strained to bring his mind together to hear the quiet voice next to him. "...It is you..." it seemed to say. He tried once again to bring his eyes into focus. A hazy picture was before him, but one look into a distinct pair of almond-shaped eyes, as dark as the December sky, and at once he knew his rescuer.

Kai struggled to sit upright in the small arms that were holding him. He was staring into the face of the girl he loved as she prodded him to tell her if he was all right; if he was in pain. He did not answer her.

"I'm sorry..."

He began to open his mouth, but the girl spoke first. "I waited for you," came her voice, halcyon, nearly a whisper. As quiet as they were, and so simple, her words overwhelmed him.

"I'm sorry... I wanted to see you..." Kai began, but at that moment the girl smiled, leaving him breathless -- not from the pain in his body but from the pain in his heart. It was a smile so beautiful, and so rare, he could hardly believe it existed there for him. It seemed to echo both of their thoughts.

Finally I've found you.

___________________________________

Biographical Profile on Nadine llona Baier

Nadine was born in Altheim, Germany, but moved to the United States with her family at age seven.  She is still a student at the moment, studying English and enjoying writing as a freelancer. She particularly enjoys crafting contemporary and paranormal romances. A few of these have been published online. She currently lives in Apopka, Florida and continues to write and hopes to further her career in the field.

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