• The gentle breeze ruffled the blossoms adorning the single tree. A soft champagne colored petal landed in her hair, tangling in the swaying locks. Reaching up, she plucked the petal from her hair, bringing it up in front of her face to admire it. This was his place and she was invading it with her presence. A presence he no longer wanted around.

    Releasing the petal to the winds hands, she gave a disheartened sigh. It really was an ugly petal anyways.

    "You look nice here," a familiar voice commented. "The setting fits you."

    "No, the setting fits you," she replied, eyelids sliding shut. "I don't belong here. I don't think I ever belonged here."

    Fingers lightly brushed her sleeve, catching strands of her hair. Pulling away slightly, she turned slowly to look at him eyes squinted against the dying sunlight. He could still make her heart flutter slightly. But that felling she use to get when her eyes were upon him was gone.

    All that remained was an insatiable curiosity for him. She didn't understand him, sometimes it seemed like she never had.

    "I forgive you," he whispered, eyes slightly downcast. "I know you said some horrible things and your affection was waning at times, but I forgive you."

    Snapping straight, a scowl tugged at her lips. Forgave her? If anybody should be the one forgiving somebody, it should be her.

    "You forgive me?" Stepping lightly to the right, she studied him closely. "Why that is a wonderful thing. But I do not want your forgiveness. In the end, you are the one who should be asking for my forgiveness."

    Left eyes twitching slightly, it was clear his thought process wasn't following her words.

    "I don't understand what you mean." The statement was forced, a slight hint of anger breaking through. "Why ask for your forgiveness?"

    "Why? You broke my heart and now you say you forgive me. That makes no sense. You said your love was forever and that you would do anything for me. Yet, when it came down to doing something you turned away," she stated clearly, slowly circling around to his other side. "I asked, no, it was more like pleading for your help and you ran away. When I stated I had changed, you stated that you disliked it. Wanting me to return to the child I once was."

    Words slipped forth. It was too late to look back to the past. These words deserved to be spoken.

    "In the end, you broke my heart and to justify it, you stated that I would get a second chance. A chance to prove my love and that I really needed you. Suddenly it became quite clear what you wanted. Attention in any shape or form. Much less about love and much more about a want to satisfy your own needs. Break a woman's heart then say you will take her back if she begs."

    His response was silence, the only emotion was the slight tenseness in his stance. This was everything he didn't want to hear. Inward she was crying, outwards a small satisfactory smile was worming it's way across her face. It was time to prove that no matter what he thought, she didn't beg.

    Pride had nothing to do with it.

    "I will not beg to be taken back by somebody that thinks it's okay to break a persons heart. If you love something, let it go you say. If it doesn't come, it was never truly yours?" By now, her voice was rushed with overflowing emotions. "It doesn't come back because it has begun to doubt its self. You do not let go of what you love and expect it to return on it's knees, begging for a second chance."

    Tears welled in her eyes and she fiercely blinked them away. Spinning on her heels, she began to walk away.

    "Where are you going?" He called after her, now truly angry.

    Stopping, she responded, not bothering to turn around.

    "I am not a doll and I don't fit in a box. Your forgiveness is accepted, but do not expect the same in return." Glancing over her shoulder, she gave him the briefest of smiles. "I love you still. Yet, I want to truly be loved in return for who I am, not for the facade you place upon me."

    Nodding, she resumed her pace. Steadily, her feet carried her away. No longer would she sit idly by while he loved a facade.

    "Goodbye."