Dying Sun

Willow Desdemona was no stranger to longing. The feeling followed her more often than not throughout the ever changing tides of her life. You see, she had only ever fallen in love once, and upon first experiencing this pleasant, strangely warm feeling, she vowed she'd never let go, never forget. Especially not who her heart belonged to.

Who was that person, you ask? Well, she was quite the woman. From what Willow fondly remembered of her, she was someone sweet and compassionate, maybe a little too good for this world with how she almost seemed to be brighter than the sun itself. She had a nurturing, caring nature and always lifted those around her up with a joke or something other, and with that, naturally came a bright future. Truly brilliant, Willow remembered her being, a real shining star of potential, someone smart and with an ever growing love, as well as curiosity, for the world around her. Her name was Elaine Eris, a beautiful person, in and out, and, most importantly, Willow's childhood best friend and love.

The two first met when they were first old enough to go to school, and ever since then, they have been the best of friends. Through thick and thin, from elementary to high school, they were almost always at each other's side. Life was good, until suddenly, tragedy struck.

Willow's poor father had just died, and without her husband or any close family nearby, her mother had no one but herself to rely on. So, with no support, financial or otherwise, her mother had to make the hard decision to move away, and as her child, Willow had no choice but to go along with her grieving mother. Even if that meant leaving Elaine, who she had long loved for nearly her whole life, behind.

Of course, the two had tried to keep the bond going through long-distance contact, but that didn't last long. After all, the two were leading two completely different lives, so for them to drift apart was inevitable.

Fast forward to the present, Willow, with her new teaching job, has returned to her old hometown. She didn't know why she did it, perhaps it was for the nostalgia of reliving old memories of the past, but whatever the case was, she was back and now teaching at the school where she first found love.

Fate could be beyond cruel, Willow knew that much, but what she'd never expect was a heartbreak that rivaled her oldest and deepest of scars.

You see, it happened during the first couple of days just before the actual school year begins, when the students, along with their parents, would meet with the teacher and get to know one another, roughly figuring out how things may work. Willow had just finished talking with another pair of parents, and with all that talking, she had become thirsty, so, before the next couple came in, she'd give herself the grace of a water break. Oh, but of course, things didn't quite go to plan or as smoothly as Willow had hoped. The next couple of parents came in a little sooner than expected, walking in on Willow's little water break, and usually, that'd be no problem. I mean, it was quite a small, minor mishap. However, one of them, the mother, looked far too familiar.

Nearly choking on her water, Willow began to question if what—or rather—who, she saw before her was real. Was that her? No, it most definitely was, Willow couldn't be mistaken, not when it came to her. She just seemed so different, that was all.

She was with a man, one so dull and awfully uptight that it contrasted so horribly with how she, herself, was, not to mention she looked so tired, nowhere near as bright as she once was, as her memory relayed.

It was almost as if the life was drained from her. She had become everything she found so unbearably sad. I mean, anyone who took a mere glance at her could see it; the tired eyes, the weary expression, the practiced pleasantry of a smile. But for Willow, who once knew this woman, it was much more than that.

She seemed so shy and timid, far too quiet, a trait her child shared, and one that pained Willow beyond words. After all, Elaine firmly believed that children were very precious yet also very fragile creatures, those who should be allowed to be happy and as free as can be without danger or stunt to growth. Not to mention it was especially heartbreaking for Willow to see a child that wasn't her own with the eyes she fell so deeply in love with. Then there was what she was wearing; a simple, neutrally colored dress that you'd see on any other traditionally "ideal" wife. This was particularly discomforting because she once loved vibrant color and was never once seen without it, but more importantly, she once found distaste in becoming nothing but someone's wife. Despite that, however, it seemed to have happened anyway.

Even if Willow wanted to break down and cry, maybe go hug and see if her old love remembered her, she couldn't. After all, with all the time the two had spent apart, came the husband and kid Elaine now had. Willow knew had no right to interfere, ruin, or complicate that. So, she tried her best to go about the usual routine as planned, even when what she saw and heard, not to mention the implications behind them, cut so very deeply.

It was over. This particularly brutal new school year parent teacher conference was over, but not the heartbreaks.

"Uh, ma'am?"

Elaine said, starting to speak up just as the conference ended and she was about to leave.

"You seem familiar, do I know you? Have we met before?"

She asked, all but twisting the bitter knife that had buried itself in Willow's heart.

"No."

Willow answered simply, although maybe a little too flatly, in response. She decided that, ultimately, it was best to let her go, even if she didn't like it or what happened, as there was nothing else she could do.

"Ah, my apologies then, we'll be leaving now. Have a good day!"

Elaine quickly bid farewell upon being signaled by her increasingly impatient husband, leaving with him and her child. It was brief, and she was all but greeted with another goodbye, but it was nice to speak with her again.

The sun had been burnt out and drained of all its shining light, and for those who once admired it ineffably, they were left to drown in their grieving tears.

Strangers again, the two were. What a bitter, tragic end, although it certainly wasn't the first, nor will it be the last, much less the end.