The bench
Two children once sat at a bench.
"Hello"
"Hello. I'm ___. Nice to meet you.
"I'm ___. Nice to meet you, too."
* * *
Then, many years later, two teenagers met at the same bench.
"Hi...do I know you?"
"I don't know. But I have a feeling that I know you."
* * *
The next year, they met again.
"You here again?"
"Seems so. You always here?"
"No, just once a year. You?"
"Same."
* * *
The year after that, ___ went to the bench, hoping.
"Hi"
"I hoped you'd be here."
"Then I'm happy I didn't disappoint you."
* * *
Year after year, both ___ and ___ went to the bench, and slowly, something started to grow.
"I missed you."
"Missed you, too."
"Promise you'll be here next year?"
"Always."
* * *
But, the next year, when ___ came to the now old bench, ___ wasn't there. So ___ waited.
"You're late."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. You look tired. Not sleeping well?"
"No, I'm fine."
"If you say so...Um, ___? T-there is something I want to tell you."
"What?"
"I...I-I lo-...No, forget it."
"Okay..."
* * *
When the next year came around, ___ didn't show up.
So ___ waited, like the last time.
But no one came.
"Maybe ___ couldn't make it this year."
* * *
___ came to the bench every year, and sat alone on the bench.
"___ promised me always, so I'll wait."
* * *
A long time went by, and the bench started to loose its paint and the iron rusted.
"That bench looks horribly lonely. Why don't you take a walk with me?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't. I'm waiting for someone."
"Are you sure?"
"I...don't know. Do I know you?
"I don't know. But I have the feeling that I know you."
* * *
And then the two went for a long walk, and on the crumbling bench, only the remnants of a long wait was left.
