Adapted from tweets between @Exquisite_Wren and @Musketeer_Athos  13/08/2014

I stride purposefully through the streets of Paris having completed a task for Captain Treville and I am caught totally unguarded as I turn a corner and come face to face with….her!

My heart misses a beat as a smile instantly appears only to be forced back from whence it came…the darkness of my grieving soul.

She inhales discreetly as she clasps her delicate hands before her, placing them upon her gown, presenting a brief but pleasant smile, only to be reminded of the ache that constricts her soul… their shared loss, a life they knew not now absent in this space that is cold

I stare into her eyes directly and gives a brief nod being a man of few words he seems even more at a loss, as a confusion of emotions fight to say words that never seem to surface. The few words that escape are wrapped in my warm liquid chocolate voice.

“You are well?”

She unceremoniously lowers her eyes as her resolve evaporates and softens her  features, thoroughly thinking through her statement, while she  holds back threatening tears that have had no time to fall,

“I must admit that I…have had better days And you?”

She raises my chin slightly, though glancing elsewhere

I feel crest fallen, assuming her negativity to be a personal slight,

“…I am…keeping busy…”

My eyes implore a meeting so burn down into her face awaiting her glance back into my direction.

She becomes aware of my sight’s silent request and slowly meets my gaze in awkward silence with eyes that say everything and says nothing

With my’ eyes search down into hers for answers or reasons, begging for a word of warmth or even hope.. then the awkwardness of the situation crashes home… but I take a chance and ventures to give a reason for hope.

“….I would deem it a personal favour…if I could call on you some time…”

.I still  search your eyes for a response and continue;

“..a time of your choosing, of course.”

My manner, stiff, formal but very wanting.

She checks any of her self-consciousness before warming to my words, conjuring both humility and strength from deep down within her  broken soul with a slight smile of acceptance.

” I’d like that…very much”

She smiles even more, crystalline eyes shields my pain, disguising what her heart and mind truly endures.

I nod a relieved thank you, with a small twitch of the mouth, the basis of a smile,

“I’ll await your instructions…”

I tips my hat and move to continue on my way…wondering now how to say those other difficult words on our next meeting…

She gracefully glances back over her shoulder briefly and smiles to herself, watching me move away.

With a deep breath taken, she glides the remainder of the way back to her residence. On reaching the front door and turning at the handle… all her angst and her heart ache returns… flooding and crushing her perfect world. She pushes through the door in the company of one and falls to her knees with the release of those long awaited tears that did not fall.

Clutching at her forehead as she cries away pain that suppressed the sensation…of her knees that crashed to the floor