The moon shone beautifully, glowing silvery white as Amanda stared at it. She closed her eyes and prayed, as a lone tear slid down her cheek. She heard the sound of the piano drifting across the house, and she smiled.

--------------------------------

On the other side of the house, Elena stopped playing the piano and slipped out of her bedroom window, the silver light of the moon lighting her way as she walked along the cobblestone path.

Her footsteps echoes around in the still night air. The road lead to the woods, just like the same road that lead her father and brother to their deaths.

Elena broke into a run. She just ran, like a blind horse, as her eyes once again filled with unshed tears, her blonde white hair flying behind her, shimmering in the moonlight. She broke into a clearing and caught her breath. A crystal clear lake reflecting the full moon. This was it. She was exhausted. Having cardiomyopathy made it really hard to run. This was the most Elena had ever ran, and she was drained. She took lungfuls of fresh air and splashed water on her face, but it wasn't enough. She barely had to time to step back a step before she fell into the world where unconscious beings go.

Elena was floating in and out of consciousness, and she thought she heard the rustling of leaves. Then there it was - the nightmare that haunted her even when she was unconscious. She woke up with a gasp.

She heard the rustling of leaves, and she,  startled, tripped over her own feet in her haste to get away and would have landed face first into the clearing- had not a pair of hands gripped her around the waist. She thought she saw the faintest reflection of a boy in the lake's reflection, covered by her own. She sat down, the ends of her hair slightly wet, looking for her rescuer, but her saviour had disappeared. Elena frowned.

She heard the rustle of leaves again. She turned her head around. There, illuminated by the moonlight, was a boy.

He steeped out of the natural moonlit spotlight and Elena saw his features clearly. Time seemed to slow as Elena examined him, her eyes travelling up and down his pale figure.

He was ordinary enough, with black hair and dark brown eyes, the kind of eyes that could travel deep down and burrow into your soul, and know your darkest secrets. Those kinds of eyes were the ones that can convince you to do anything, those that look sweet and kind and innocent.

Elena

I tilted my head sideways and examined him. He was ordinary enough, with black hair and dark brown eyes, the kind of eyes that could travel deep down and burrow into your soul, and know your darkest secrets. Those kinds of eyes were the ones that can convince you to do anything, those that look sweet and kind and innocent. I felt there was something familiar about him.

It hit me. His eyes, he has my brother's eyes.

--------------------------------

Marius had been meeting the girl named Elena for a week now, the same place they first met, and exactly midnight. Marius loved the way she brushed her blonde - almost snow white- hair out of her deep blue eyes, one that held many emotions.

For the first few days, Elena didn't talk much and she drew back when he asked personal questions. The next few days, she opened up a bit more, talked about her life and her problems. Rarely, there would be a spark of happiness in her eyes - a glitter of joy. But then it would be gone. It was as if... as if she had forbidden herself to smile, ever.

On the sixth day of their little meetings,  Elena fell asleep, her head on his shoulder. As she shivered in her sleep, Marius wrapped his arms around her and Elena unconsciously snuggled close.

Marius

On the seventh day, our lips met. All it took was seven days, seven days to love you. The kiss was wonderful. It was the kind of kiss that makes you forget everything, except for her.

But Elena still hasn't smiled, not once, not ever. I had never loved anyone like that. I used to love my mother, but time changed her.

I made myself a promise, till death do we part. I wasn't ready to lose someone I love again.

------------------------------------

This was the last time the two lovers would ever meet here. For the next day, Elena was simply gone. Marius still waited in the moonlit clearing, until one day, he simply accepted the fact that Elena was never coming back.

------------------------------------

The next time Marius ever saw Elena again was a year later, in the hospital. Marius was working there as a doctor, she was only there because her mother was there. Her mother was there because she had cancer. Marius, seeing that there was nothing to do after his latest operation on a patient, had sat down and looked as the world went by.

That was when he saw her

He saw a glimpse of the white blonde hair he had fell so deeply in love with and yearned to see again, going towards the garden.

Marius rushed towards the garden with one thought on his head.

'I am never letting her go again, not now, not ever.'

--------------------------------------

He hurried to the garden, there, Elena sat there fingering the roses and lilies and tulips there.

An electric current of love brought the two lovers together and they met eyes for a second. As the current of love did to many others, the two's lips met, molding into each other as their tears dried in the sunshine.

Neither were ready to be separated so soon, but the Fates are always cruel.

--------------------------------------

Elena was reaching the last moments of her life. She knew it. Her condition had worsened, and she had already accepted death. Her mother would be better off, her camcer wasn't fatal, the doctors had said. As the two lovers stared into each other eyes Elena felt a pang of sadness, happiness and hopefulness all mingled in one. They kissed once again, and this time, it was filled with more passion and love than any before. Their tongues battled for dominance, and they bit each others lips raw. Filled with emotions for their last goodbye.

They separated.

Elena felt her heart pumping weakly against her chest. She knew this was the end.

As Elena was about to close her eyes for the last time, she stared into Marius' eyes and smiled, a smile that lit up the sky, then slipped a letter into his hand. Her heart faltered, and then stopped completely. And Marius, who had been holding her hand the whole time, squeezed it tight.

Nothing. He checked her pulse, still nothing. He was determined to save her. He was a heart surgeon, after all. Tears spilling, he carried her, bridal style, and went running into the hospital.

----------------------------------------

Marius had not done the operation himself, he was too scared to operate on a loved one. He had received the news : Elena was dead. His love was dead. With trembling hands, he opened the letter and looked at the last words Elena had gave him. Inside, Elena wrote one single, simple and touching sentence.

'It took me seven days to love you, and forever to forget you.'

"I will never forget how lucky am I to see you smile." whispered Marius.

------------------------------------