The skies were star-filled and the sweet, wet spring air greeted us as we stepped in and out of the shadows between the trees. The branches swung back and forth as we pushed our way through the woods. “We’re almost there,” Tristan insisted.
But where?
When we reached it, I knew instantly that it was where he wanted to take us, just based on the beauty. My hands covered my mouth to keep from making any sound. There was this odd fear that if I made a peep, all the beauty would vanish. A small river flowed before us. The stream was quiet, as if all the creatures who traveled by the small waves were resting peacefully. Across the river lay what seemed like an old stone packhorse bridge. Through the cracks of stones flowers were growing, making the view perfect under the moonlight.
“I found this place with Zeus,” Tristan said, walking over to the bridge and taking a seat. “Whenever I need to clear my head, I come here to refocus my mind.”
I sat beside him, took off my shoes, and slipped my feet into the chilled water. Emma and Zeus splashed in the water joyfully, freely.
He turned and gave me a smile that made my own lips turn up. Tristan had a way of making people feel worthy just by the way his smile and eyes met their face. I wished he smiled more often.
“When I first moved out here, I was angry all the time. I missed my son. I missed my wife. I hated my parents, even though I shouldn’t have. For some reason I found it easy to blame them, as if it was their fault that I lost my wife and son. It felt easier to be mad at them than to be sad. The only time I didn’t feel angry was when I came out here and breathed with the trees.”
He was opening up.
Please stay open.
“I’m glad you found something that can make you feel a bit of peace.”
His eyes danced across me, and a knowing smile found his lips. “Yeah. Me too.” He ran his fingers against his beard, which was growing in fast. “Since we aren’t using each other anymore, you can use this place if you want. To help you find peace.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
He simply nodded in response.
Emma jumped into the river and made huge splashes, pretty much soaking us all. Even though I wanted to scold her, the smile on her face and the excitement in Zeus made me happy.
“Thanks for bringing us here, Tick! I love it!” she shouted, tossing her hands up in excitement.
“Anytime.” Tristan smiled.
“I’m glad my daughter likes you. Otherwise I would’ve never spoken to you again.”
He laughed. “I’m glad my dog likes you. Otherwise I would’ve been convinced that you were a psycho. A person should always trust their pet’s instincts. Dogs are better at judging the character of a person than people are.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.” He paused and ran his fingers through his hair. “Why does your daughter keep calling me Tick?”
“Oh… Because the first time we met I called you a dick, and she asked what a dick was, and seeing as how I’m an awful parent, I’d told her I said tick, and explained to her that a tick is a bug.”
“So she thinks I’m a parasite that lives on the blood of mammals?”
“I think it’s actually an ectoparasite seeing as how they live on the outside of the mammals as opposed to in the interior. And they live on some amphibians, too.”
He snickered. “Well, that makes me feel better.”
I laughed. “It should.”
“Well, Emma, if you’re going to call me Tick, I think it’s only right for me to call you Tock!” Tristan smiled.
“Like a clock!” Emma beamed, jumping up and down. “Tick and Tock! Tick and Tock!”
“I think she approves,” I said.
“Elizabeth?” He turned my way with a serious stare.
“Yes?”
“I know we can’t do what we were doing before anymore but, can we be friends?” he asked timidly.
“I thought you didn’t know how to be a friend?”
“I don’t.” He sighed, rubbing his neck. “But I was kind of hoping you could show me.”
“Why me?”
“You believe in good things, even when your heart is broken. And I can’t remember what good things are like.”
That saddened me. “When was the last time you were happy, Tristan?”
He didn’t reply.
That saddened me even more. “Of course we can be friends,” I said.
Everyone deserved at least one friend they could trust with their secrets and fears. With their guilt, with their happiness. Everyone deserved a person who could look into their eyes and say, “You’re enough. You’re perfect, scars and all.” I thought Tristan deserved that more than most, though. In his eyes he held such sadness, such pain, and all I wanted to do was wrap my arms around him and let him know he was good enough.