Chapter XXIV

Be aware of switching POV's.

Eren’s POV

Oddly, I haven’t seen Esteire the last few days coming up to the dance. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see her at all before she left. Did something happen?

Slate painted lampposts border my vision. I peer at my surroundings. A white shingled house cornered in my vision; the closest house in view. Starkly defined trees across a bridge of inconsistent slabs laid ahead. The pavement ceased a few feet ahead. A dead end?

I swivel to my left.

Grass.

To my right.

Grass with the white house.

How quaint.

My eyes lower in defeat mingled with confusion.

I was lost.

Staring dazedly at the scene before me, my mind then conjured up a droll thought. Might as well explore.

Moseying on down to the bridge, I detect the plashes of a brook. Once on the rock I glance down at the absence of mossed rocks and easterly undulation of the water. As I ambled from over the arched stone a mossy stone path sprouting ferns along the edges met my eyes. Intrigued, I follow its lead and wind up in unkept pavilion. In its center sat a girl with her eyes closed, jet black hair dimly lit, rippling freely across her back.

“What a beautiful green,” she sighs as I make out her familiar features.

“Is that your favorite color?” I ask from the end of the path.

Her head whips around, her face the definition of surprise.

“Eren?!”

“Hey,” I greet weakly.

I expect her to ask why I was there, but instead she answers my question.

“Yes,” she says softly, “It is.”

That’s when I realize she was staring directly into my eyes. Instantly my face heats, and I crook my head to the side to avoid the quiet intensity of her gaze. I do a feeble cough before asking hesitantly, “And why exactly is that? Just out of curiosity.”

I dare another look; her expression was the same as before, except gentler, pensively distant.

“It’s reminiscent of someone I know,” she murmurs, her eyelids slowly drooping a little.

My mind grasps at her words. Someone she knows...? Is it that person Elisa told us about before? I focus back on Esteire whose eyes were now cast to the ground.

After a few moments of silence she asks me a question.

“So what brings you here?” 

She stands up and twirls daintily a small flower plucked from the patch near her feet. Sheepishly, I tousle my hair and reply, “I got lost.”

A small smile plays at her lips as I then query, “Do you often come here?”

She shakes her head lightly.

“The last time I was here was months ago.”

I simply reply, “I see,” and watch her approach the path.

“You’re leaving?” I say questioningly, turning my head as she came by my side.

She nods and inclines her head to follow.

Silently we exited what seemed to me a neglected park; however, the silence wasn’t awkward, rather, peaceful. We continued to walk the street I was on earlier and very soon we came upon the main road.

“I take it you know where to go from here,” she addresses me once we’re at the intersection.

“Yes,” I affirm, “Thank you for showing me the way.”

She smiles, responding, “You’re welcome; see you Eren.”

And with a wave she left, her form soon disappearing behind a house.

“See you,” I murmur and leave in the opposite direction.

But somehow, I had a feeling that would be the last time I would ever see her.

Mikael’s POV

Everything seemed to have gone by in a flash; the changing of Elisa’s date for the dance, the changing of their sisterhood, the changing of our lives. It felt like yesterday when they came to our school. Elisa crashing into me, getting lost and asking me for directions. Then of course, meeting Esteire; someone I will never forget.

The countless times I’ve tried to get close to her, solve the mystery of her person, guess what’s on her mind, know her true self. When I finally am able to get a grasp of her, she slips away. 

It’s only a couple more days before she leaves.

I’m still not sure what I’ll do.

I know I’m not the easiest person to get along with or understand. But somehow, in ways I don’t even know myself, she understood me, quietly. It was like those farseeing eyes of hers could see right through me. Maybe it’s because I took an interest in her, but either way, I’m in pain.

She’s leaving, and there’s nothing I can do about it.