Note: The title and the italicized phrases belong to e. e. cummings.

This is complete drivel that I used as an excuse to get out of shopping with my mother. (I hate the holidays.)

Anyway. Comments are still love.

somewhere i have never traveled

i. deeper than all roses

It's slightly odd that the first boy who ever bought her flowers is the same boy that pinned her to a tree with four perfectly shot arrows when she stole his hat at dinner.

Odd, she thinks as she watches him blush and stare off into the distance, but strangely endearing, too.

ii. your eyes have their silence

His silence, above anything, offended her. First because he did not think enough of her to speak and then, as their friendship bloomed unsteadily in a tangle of branches and tree houses, because he did not think enough of himself.

After long years of friendship, by a small fountain in Ba Sing Se, she finally corners him on the issue. There's yelling (her) and angry glares (him) and it's the worst fight they've ever weathered by far. Eventually, they wear themselves out and sit back on the edge of the singing fountain, furious and determined not to look at one another.

"Why don't you ever talk to me?" she asks him softly, when her anger has subsided to hurt.

He doesn't answer, but the urgency in his movement as he takes her face in his hands and kisses her soundly is all she really needs to hear.

iii. rendering death and forever

Their fingers twine in the darkness, hers white and clenched in anticipation for the last battle.

He brings her hand up and gently presses a kiss to the back of her palm as the chamber fills with the sound of approaching Dai Li soldiers. It's tender and sweet and tears swell in her eyes again, the brightest lights in the room.

Because it's goodbye.