A Girl and a Boy

They were just a happy couple. A girl and a boy.

A girl and a boy. They were in the park on a warm, sunny summer day. Birds chirped and a light breeze tickled the long stands of grass on a field. The sun shone in blinding beams, and not a cloud entered the sky. The trees were fully clothed with vibrant green and housed the happy little critters that had come to play.  Under a large oak tree and surrounded by other happy faces of families enjoying the beautiful day, a happy couple sat. A girl and boy. Enjoying their picnic on this lovely summer day. Just a happy couple. A happy girl and a happy boy.

And what a happy couple the girl and boy were. Eating sandwiches under the tree. With her golden hair shining in the sunlight and her blue eyes sparkling with her joy of being a part of such a happy couple. With her hand clasping one of his in a romantic gesture.  His smile radiated as he looked at the happy girl and his green eyes sparkled with the joy of being a part of such a happy couple. With his hand squeezing one of hers in a romantic gesture. Such a happy girl and such a happy boy.

It was a long summer day. They sat and ate their picnic basket, and squashed the ants that invaded their apples. They laughed as they shared their carrots and muffins, and smiled as they ate their candies. They gazed at the sky together, just the girl and the boy. They imagined they were in far away fantasy places. But never without the other. Always together. They were a happy couple. A happy girl and a happy boy.

But the hour of autumn struck and the warm summer day vanished. The birds’ chirping faded as they flew away from the approaching cold, and the violent breeze ripped at the long strands of grass on the field. The sun’s blinding beams became clouded and invisible, sucking away the warmth and replacing it with a rather frigid chill that ran down the necks of the parks inhabitants. The clothed trees became naked as the leaves were swept away and now the trees were left to shiver in the cold, no longer enjoying even the company of the little critters that once roamed its branches. Under the bare oak tree surrounded by desolation as the happy families had left, a couple sat. A girl and a boy. Staring at the remnants of their picnic on the lonely autumn day. Just a couple. A girl and a boy.

The girl turned to the boy for warmth. The boy looked at her quizzically.

“The picnic is over, it’s time to go.” The boy stood up to leave.

“Can’t we stay longer?” the girl asked, shivering in the cold. The boy looked at her. No shiver ran through his body, only the small twinge of regret.

“I can’t stay with you. I just can’t. I’m sorry.” The boy turned to leave again, and the girl grabbed his arm, trying one more time.

“Why?” the girl asked, unable to prevent the chill from shaking her body and inhibiting her speech.

“I can’t miss other summer days. Other picnics. I want to hear more birds chirping, and find shade under other trees.”

“Can’t you take me with you?” the girl asked, voice almost lost in the wind.

“I can’t miss the other girls with hair that shines in the sunlight. Or the other sparkling eyes. There are so many more to enjoy my picnic with. You understand, right?” The girl didn’t reply, and let the boy walk away, leaving her huddled over in the cold. No longer a happy girl. Just a girl. Who used to have a boy.