A tree swayed silently, the gentle breeze seemed to caress each individual leaf with equal care as it made subtle rythmic motions in the chilled air. The stark white sky glared down upon the solitary tree. It was quite large and seemingly old, the heavy branches, which were thick with crisp green leaves, looked as if they resisted, almost pushing against the soft current in the air.
This tree was different, special, unique even. Because at the base of it's wide trunk, roughly covered in bark, laid two people. A man and a woman, both clad in fatigues. The man was lying on his back. His mouth was slightly parted, and his eyes shown a deep glistening blue. His hair, which was a light, almost golden brown, fell across his forehead.
The woman, with thick close cropped blonde hair, lay slightly draped over the man. Her right arm wrapped around his waist, and her head rested on his chest. She had gray blue eyes fixed on his face as her other hand lightly stroked at the damp strands of hair which splayed across his brow. His expression was relaxed, almost serene.
The scene that took place under this large swaying tree was filled with a sense of tranquility, love, affection. It was as if these two people could spend an eternity simply existing in that state of being.
But, if one would look closer, they would see the dark crimson stained grass under the two bodies. Would take note of the increasingly large extent of area that was covered in it, and would become aware of the same dark stain that soiled through the clothes of both people lying under the silent tree.
They would notice the lack of color in the man's face, and the half closed lids that didn't conceal the glimmering cerulean eyes, which saw nothing. Would see the stillness of his chest, which the woman lay her head, and the small trail of blood that ran down the side of his face from the corner of his slightly upturned mouth.
They would discover that the woman's arm around his waist, along with most of her body, were covered in the same blood.
They would see her watery eyes, filled with anguish, and the shimmering of her moist cheeks. Witness her bury her head in his chest and her body shake as she tastes the metallic flavor of blood mingled with the saltiness of her own tears from his sodden clothes.
Finally, her heart wrenching sobs could be heard filling the quiet air. A gust of wind blew at her short, somewhat curly, red tinged hair. The woman looked up and gazed at the man, tears still streaming down her face.
"Daniel," she whispered to the unmoving figure in her arms as she gently caressed the side of his face with trembling hands, her voice full of sadness and despair, "I love you..."
