Never having felt rejection as such since his first infatuation, David slowly strolled the palace grounds, looking only at his feet and not at the nature around him. The wind had somewhat died, and only a small breeze cooled him under the hot sun.
“I guess my mind was right, my first choice true…To men I am destined; women do hurt. I don’t want the path only tread by few; I thought, maybe, with her, I would convert.” He sighed to himself.
“I was a fool to go further – to venture.” He chastised. He looked up for a moment as the sun passed behind a cloud “But, she seemed, to me, the epitome; the one with whom I could – would – adventure! That’s all gone now; ‘tis time to be lonely.”
Thinking only about what transpired, playing it over and over in his head, he soon found himself back in his secret spot. He sat on his marble platform and watched the sun set; he could not believe that, only twenty-four hours prior, he had been a happy, gay and focused young man – now, everything was thrown out of balance.
“Why must I be taunted, tortured and hurt?” he cried out, lying flat on his back as he watched the stars once again appear. “Is it not enough that loved ones shun me? Am I t’be eternal bachelor, curt, while all others are happy and let be?”
A rustle came from behind him in the tall grass. He sat up and looked around to see the cause, and saw Emily slowly rise up. Tears were slowly falling down her face as she began to speak.
“If you do see me as your exception,” she smiled between tears, her voice slightly choked. She slowly took a step forward, showing David the white rose he brought her. “I’ll come to you, for love and protection.”
“Emily!” David smiled, a single tear presenting itself. She walked to him, and he walked to her, and the two met in an embrace. “What are you doing here?” he smiled.
“I, I had to see you.” She looked him in the eyes. “I am so sorry.”
“No…” David shook his head slightly, brushing Emily’s hair out of her eyes. “I am sorry for walking out on you like that.”
“I just had to see you.” Emily sighed. “I, I’ve never felt like, well, that way about anyone before – I think, I might, in a way, you know, be, uh, falling in love with you?” she smiled weakly.
“I never imagined to say it, but me too.” David inhaled deeply. “I have never felt this way, ever, with anyone, guy or not. I never thought I could, but here I, we, are.”