Chapter 2

His audacious orbs flashed and he yelled, "How do you know it's the right choice? You've never let me in!"

"You ridiculous child," she muttered. "Go back to your play pen. Let the rest of us, who know well enough the futility of optimism, live in the real world."

"Child?!" He crossed his arms and pierced her with his glare. "You're the one who can't see past her own gothic daydream! If only you'd...."

"If only I'd what? What is it?" she taunted.

"If only you'd love me," he whispered. "Do... do you love me, Ebony? That's... that's all I've wanted. That's why I chose you. Do you...?"

Something in his heart died when Ebony wordlessly turned her back on her and continued down the beach. Still, he hastened his step until he returned silently to her side

Joshua listened silently and solemnly. At last, when all the words had left her and she was at a loss for words, he reached out to her and took a deep breath to whisper back, "Ebony... I... I don't know what it's like, to live with your father's death... but... I'm sorry, Ebony. I wish... I wish I could help." Ebony's eyes began to burn, and she abruptly pulled him into a fierce embrace. His spheres widened at first, but then he too felt overwhelmed by emotion and succumbed to the warmth of her touch.

"You," Ebony whispered, her breath hot on his ear. "As long as you're here, I... I can make it." They held each other as tears trickled down cheeks and dripped onto the shifting sands to be carried away into the sea. With time and soothing embraces, their pain dissipated into a mist swept out by the ocean breeze and into the setting sun.

They basked in each other's quiet companionship for a few moments.

"The sunset is so beautiful, isn't it?"

Ebony lifted her head at Joshua's words to behold the dying sun's French vermillion radiance. "Mm."

After a moment of silence, he asked, "Do you think we'll be together forever?"

"Please... let it be forever," Ebony murmured in response.

"I would like that, Ebony. Let's be together forever, then." Joshua clutched her hand and sidled closer.

Ebony sighed with contentment and brought him closer. She gazed at the beautiful lemon-colored rays of the falling sun, thinking about everything that had transpired on this day and all that would pass between them.

"You'll hurt your eyes doing that," Joshua added.

Ebony looked at him instead. "I love you, Joshua."

"I love you too, Ebony."

Their lips met, and pastel strands met cement-colored ones, aflame in the dying light. The sand was their witness and the rumbling ocean their approving audience, and Joshua, her eternally faithful lover. Ebony thought to herself that nothing had ever been so perfect for her as this.

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