The Divide

Two silhouettes walk in a lonely park. The sun drops softly before them, setting the sky ablaze in pastel hues of warm radiance smeared every so often by wisps of deep purple clouds.
Not to close, but not very far, the two forms move slowly, shifting back and forth as they lazily traverse their course. Though neither looks at the other, it seems a conversation is taking place.
One can almost imagine what they are saying.

You know, its been so long since we've walked like this. Just us out for a stroll in the evening air.

Yes, those times seem so far away now. We used to do this all the time...back then.

An uneasy silence seems to fill the void as the companions find themselves drawn into the sweet mists of individual nostalgia. One sees fit to break the chains of memory first.

You know, I was so sad when you left. I could have cried for days. Actually...I did. I never knew why, and you just left without a note, a call, or...anything.

One silhouette seems to pull a bit farther away, suddenly finding interest in the shrubbery bordering the ragged path, and the silence resumes.

It's alright now, I...I like to think I've come to terms with it. Though...having you here makes me think about it all over again. All the good times...and...the bad...

More silence pours into the wound between them, the glow of the sunset highlighting the sanguine space between the dark shapes.

I suppose it's to late to say I'm sorry. To explain...everything...even now is still so hard. I'm still so angry, so...sad...about what and why and who.

The gap closes a little, though the speaker doesn't notice, obliviously reliving the scattered remnants of a shattered past.

I don't know if I can ever forgive what happened, though I know the blame lies squarely with me...

A tentative arm rises, the crimson hollow begins to wane... eyes meet, and the veil of the past is lifted by the cruel hand of reality.

...How...how could you?

The falling limb reopens a blood red canyon. Time softly floats along the evening breeze. The opposing shade takes a turn sheepishly scouring the hedgerow.

I didn't...I didn't know a lot of things back then. About you...about me. I...

The silence of the stroll regains its' heavyset place between them. And why should it not? Ignorance always seems a poor excuse to the executioner. Minutes languish away.

Do you remember the swing under that big oak tree?

...Yes.

We used to swing so high. It seemed like we could have touched the sun then... if we'd just gotten a little higher.

Looking back, I think you liked that swing more than I did. But, it was always fun...swinging with you.

It may have been my imagination, but the gap between the dark forms seemed to lessen for a moment, as they continued down the path.

But things changed. We got older. Old enough to see that even if one of us did reach the sun, the other would still be left below, looking up, burning their eyes...

The sun's nearly set now. It's harder to see the two as the sky's molten pigments give way to their cooler cousins, and darkness begins to creep in to the corners of the world.

...Why did you come back?

Barely a whisper, but it resounds with uncanny enough force to stop the other in their tracks. Pregnant seconds pass between the pair.
One can almost imagine the flustered form, mouth agape, searching for an answer in those silent moments, suddenly finding nothing acceptable among the slew of premeditated justifications.
It's so dark now, without the moon above, shapes and forms all seem to merge and dance in the inky stillness. Up above the stars twinkle brightly.

I never wanted the sun...

Where is the pair? Searching the still night for the sihouettes, perhaps framed by the shimmering sky, nothing presents itself. Only soft words remain, floating upon a velvet wind.

The only star I ever wanted...

...was always right here.