she looked up to the darkened sky, feeling the cool evening wind swept past her legs and up her thighs, her long white skirt dancing in the breeze. the crickets sing in the distance, accompanied by the distant humming of the evening wind. she brushed her hair away from her plum eyes, the movement causing her long hair to flow like a blackened river down her shoulders.

the night sky was bare except for the full moon and few fast-moving clouds. her white figure a contrast to the darkened fields and the endless black sky. i saw her gather her long skirt and start to run across the moonlit fields. unable to run as fast as the evening wind, i chuckled as she removed her shoes and left them lying in the fields. 'those shoes are as good as lost', i thought. she never had a liking for such shoes, the tall heels and slim straps restrict her movements.

she frowned as the evening wind brought his low chuckle to her ears. 'is he laughing at me', she wondered stopping. she turned back to him, her eyes darkening with anger. what she saw melted her anger and took her breath away. he sat atop his black horse with such nobility and regality that can emanate only from a person born with his rank. his long blond hair disheveled from the evening wind and his pale blue eyes twinkling in laughter.

at last she found her voice. 'are you laughing at me?' she asked irritatingly

i dismounted my horse and slowly approached her. she was the most beautiful person i had ever seen. her plum eyes, which are narrowed in anger fail to take away the innocence radiating from her pretty face. 'i most certainly am not', i replied in my most apologetic voice.

'it certainly seems like you have', she said turning away. her bottom lip protuding in the process.

she looks so adorable, i thought. 'no', i said stopping in front of her. i looked down at her angelic face marvelling at how i can see myself reflected in her big plum eyes.

she looked at him, puzzled at the look on his face, the emotions displayed in his pale blue eyes. how can one have eyes as blue as the summer sky, she wondered.

'why did you stop running' i asked noting her sudden loss of speech. mesmerized at the different emotions displayed in her big eyes.

'i am tired' she smiled 'that is all'. she turned and pointed at the hill across the fields. 'do you want to go there?', she asked. then without waiting for my answer, she ran all the way to the hill.

i stood there for a second, chuckling at the little child-woman running in front of me, i followed her not knowing what is it about this girl that brushes aside every problem and uncertainty i have.

she let herself fall on the grass covered hill top. she laid on her back staring at the evening sky. based on the position of the moon on the sky, i think it is about close to midnight. i sat beside her, my eyes scanning the fields trying to look for her golden shoes that she removed earlier.

'why are there no stars tonight?' she asked breaking the silence between us

i glanced at her lying beside me, the most beautiful woman i have ever seen. 'the moon is too bright, her light is drowning the light of all the little stars' i answered

'like when the sun drowns out all the stars in the morning' she added quietly.

'yes' i said 'the stars are always there, but we can't see them if it is bright. but when the sky turned dark, they will shine bright to remind you that they are always there.'

i saw her eyes close for a moment, breathing deeply as if she is trying to muster all her courage. when her eyes opened, big plum eyes searched my face.

'will you be here forever?' she suddenly asked 'you won't leave, won't you?'

'chaneen leigh...' i started

'i heard' she stood up and walked to the edge of the hill, her form outlined against the sky. her long black hair playing with the wind. 'you are leaving, my mom told me.'

'chaneen leigh...' i said approaching her, wanting to touch her, wanting to hold her in my arms. but she has suddenly become so distant that i can't reach her eventhough she is just within arms' reach. 'you know i won't leave you'.

'but you are going' she said, her gaze far away,

'do you want to come with me?' i asked

she turned towards me, 'if only i can' she said, her voice sad.

i took her in my arms, burying my face in her long black hair. she smelled of jasmine and roses, i will always remember her that way.

'you promised not to leave me' she retorted, her voice muffled in my chest. 'i believed you...'

'i wanted to, wanted to keep that promise, as long as i live' i said tears in my eyes

'really?', she asked, her eyes glistening with unshed tears

'i promise you, i will always be near you' i vowed

we stood at our hilltop for a long time, holding on to each other, afraid to let go, afraid for the moment to last.

-----

she watched the rose petals dancing in the evening wind, a single white rose clutched in her right hand, on her left hand was his ring, their ring. she lifted her head to look at the darkened sky, wondering where the stars are in this dark summer night. then she saw it, a faint glimer of a star in the horizon.

'you remind me of orion' she had once said

'why is that?' he asked puzzled, helping her dismount from a horse

'it is always the first thing i see when i look at the night sky. the same as you are the first one i remember when i think of stars.'

i'd take that as a compliment'

'it is, silly', she laughed

'i love you...'

'i love you more' she smiled at him, taking his face in her hands.

she started home, her shoes long lost in the fields. maybe it will give him something to amuse himself by, he is always amused whenever she leave her shoes in the fields. she glanced back at the hilltop where the one she loved most now lay. the white marble statue reflects the radiance of the full moon. she smiled despite the tears in her eyes.

'sleep tight, my love. take care of my golden shoes'

'i will, remember, i am always near...'