He opened his eyes. Blurry then pop focused. He blinked. A pond. There was a pond. Swans floating regally back and forth. A ridiculous number of frogs. Or were they toads? He could never keep the two straight.

A small pond with a path around it in a park. Why was he here? How did he get here? Beyond the pond, the path and the bench he was sitting on, there was nothing. No people. No trail headed toward the pond. Just trees and manicured lawn as far as he could see. What?

Staring at the water, he just sat for a few moments. He didn't remember much. He knew he lived just north of Beijing. He knew he was a professor of English Literature. He had a wife and two sons. Nothing he knew about himself could explain how he got to this place.

A sigh, a scruff of his hair and looking up, he froze. On the far side of the pond was a woman. She was walking around the pond towards him.

She was European or American from her looks. White t-shirt. Jeans. Red sneakers. Light pink jean jacket. Sunglasses. Brown hair that was long and mixed with white. Attractive but not beautiful.

He stared as she stopped in front of him. "Excuse me but do you know where this is? I-I don't know how I got here."

Standing, he shook his head. "I haven't a clue."

"May I ask what's the last thing you remember?"

A moment or two passed as he thought. "A car. There was a car." His eyes were caught in a thousand mile stare. "It was coming right at me. Did I get hit?" He glanced back to the woman. "What do you remember?"

"A kayak. It flipped and I got tangled. Then... nothing. Did I drown by accident? Or did I take advantage of the accident - an impromptu suicide?" Her eyes were distant as she tried to work out the events.

He looked pretty horrified at her analytical statement. "I'm sorry. Rather shocking comment from a complete stranger." She studied her red sneakers.

"It's okay. I... I think we died?" He paled after the words. She just looked relieved.

"Did you have someone who cared?" Her voice was soft.

"A family."

"I am so sorry. Would you like to have a seat?" Guiding the stunned man back to the bench, she asked an odd question. "Does your family know how much you love them?"

"I think so."

"Then you left them the best of yourself. No one can do more than that." Her voice was soothing. Kind. It was like a balm over the empty spot in his soul. Never before had anyone effected the ache. The longing. He gaped.

She focused on the man beside her and slowly removed her sunglasses. His eyes widened in shock. In recognition. Her eyes were the color of his ocean. And his missing piece slid into place. Snik. A perfect fit.

"It's you." His voice was full of wonder. A tremble. She couldn't help but stare.

"Pardon?" She looked startled. "Do you know me?"

He had kind eyes. A radiant smile bloomed on his face. "It's you!"

He gently held his hand out. Why she placed her hand in his, she didn't know. But as soon as she touched his warmth, she felt it and started shaking. Click. It was him.

"I looked for you." A quiver in her voice. "Asia. No wonder I couldn't find you."

The few words seemed to ignite them. Words tumbled out as they shared their lives, explaining his missing piece, explaining her search.

Was it hours? Days? Years? It didn't matter. What mattered was they had found each other. And they never let go of each other's hand.

Together, they filled in all the missing pieces. Her love of the sky with its clouds and light. His love of the sea. Their love of books. Their belief in reincarnation.

As they walked around the pond, he paused. "I don't feel well..." His voice trailed off and he dropped to his knees.

"No. No! Not yet! I can't. Not yet!" A strangled cry as she caught him. "Please. Please don't go. I've waited so many lifetimes to find you."

"Shhh... you can't lose me. Ever. We are made one for the other." His voice a mere whisper. He was beginning to fade into transparency. "When... when we are born again... we will find each other." He was disappearing in her arms. "Beloved ... Bo... I ..." A final airy whisper. "I am Bo..."

And then there was nothing. He was gone. She knelt on the path and cried. Tears of loss. Tears of hope. There was still a chance.

Deep within her she felt a pull. Then a yank that left her gasping face down on the path. She could see the pebbles through her hands. Then nothing. All that remained was a whisper. Beloved.