She was sitting in the shade of a willow tree next to a pond. She was beautiful.

Her hair flowed down her back in perfect waves and when the sun hit it right you could see shades of red in her dark brown hair. She was sitting down, but you could still tell she was fairly tall. He guessed somewhere around 57. Her olive skin was smooth and flawless. She had a composure and a face that clearly demanded respect and gave you a feeling that there was a certain seriousness about her. However, it was her eyes that were the most striking. They were a stormy gray and he had never seen so much sadness hidden behind a pair of eyes. There was a kind of beauty in that sadness. But he couldnt help wonder what she would look like if the smile she wore on her lips spread to her eyes. Why are you sad? Sad? The smile faded, but only to be replaced by a questioning gaze. And with that gaze she held him, it was almost as if by looking into those eyes he was locked there. He looked away, but had the distinct feeling that he was only able to because she allowed it. While staring at her right shoulder he answered her question. Your lips are smiling, but your eyes are full of sadness. And that smile is more like a wellworn mask than anything true. A smirk replaced the question, but the sadness remained. And it was clear the smirk was the only answer he was going to get to his original inquiry. Can I help in any way? And why would you wish to do that? Well she had him there. How often do we see someone who is obviously sad or in need and just walk by. He knew he did it every day, just like everyone else. And not once had a stranger ever approached him when he was clearly upset. So why was he doing it now? She definitely wasnt the first or only pretty girl hed ever come across who was upset. So what was it? He looked at her again, and that was when he found his answer. That was when he noticed the pain behind the sadness in her eyes. It wasnt physical pain, but emotional. He had seen it before without really noticing it. And now he couldnt help but wonder how she even managed to smile, even if it was just a mask. He knew he wouldnt be able to if he felt what ever it was she was feeling. Because youre in pain. No one should be as sad and in as much pain as you are. Another smirk. When you have the life Ive had then this is just a part of it. And certainly not something I could let cripple me. She stood up, and he thought she was just going to leave when she looked him in the eyes again and said: When youve had the life Ive had, the pain and sadness fuels the fires that keep you fighting.

Kommentar [JS1]: How? She was sitting in the shade, remember? Kommentar [JS2]: Too close to earlier use of the word shade. Kommentar [JS3]: This is the third sentence beginning with She was. Kommentar [JS4]: Feels unimportant and too obsessed with her height. Youve already said that she is fairly tall.

Kommentar [JS5]: The smile was on her lips, and had not spread to her eyes. It then feels odd to claim that a gaze replaced the smile. Kommentar [JS6]: Feels too specific in an odd way.

Kommentar [JS7]: If the smile was just a mask, and not true, why would you want it to spread to her eyes? Kommentar [JS8]: Feels too complicated if we need to reference an original inquiry. Kommentar [JS9]: Not immediately clear to me by whom this is said.

Kommentar [JS10]: This comes across as meaning that we dont usually do this, while you want to say that we do. Maybe How often dont?

Kommentar [JS11]: Too obvious from context.

Kommentar [JS12]: Youve already established that she was feeling emotional pain.