He didn't even glance at her as they walked along the forest floor.

He wouldn't dare.

There was something heavy in his footsteps that day, she remembered.

George hadn't said a word yet, and Emi was very concerned about what could be going through his mind.

It was a cold day, too.

Emi wore the purple sweater with light jeans, and pastel high tops.

She played with the ring on her finger as she tread along side the boy.

They soon reached the tree root, though the journey had felt like it'd taken years.

George turned away from her, placing his hands on his waist, then bringing one to cover his mouth.

He sighed as he began to drag his hand through his hair in such a way that gave light anxiety through Emi.

"何が問題なのですか。" ( What's Wrong? ) she asked, just above a whisper.

George stood frozen for a long time before he turned around to face Emi.

He met her eyes and she could feel his disease.

"Emi..." He began, voice shaking as violently as the trees in the monsoon. "私は大学に受け入れられてしまった。" ( I got accepted into the college. )

Emi froze.

George froze.

The trees froze.

The wind froze.

Their hearts froze.

The world froze.

Time stopped.

In the end, it was George who broke the silence.

"私は 2 週間で残しています。" ( I'm leaving in two weeks. ) he let out, voice wavering noticeably.

Her eyes began to water.

George felt his bottom lip begin to tremble as he watched her.

She gripped her hands into tight fists and then stretched them out, repeating this action several times as she dropped her head, her face falling from sight.

"Emi..." He called out gently, his voice gone, leaving behind the choked noise of a hoarse whisper as his eyes threatened to overflow.

He watched her shaking figure carefully as several tear drops could be seen dripping from her face and to the floor.

She then launched forward, wrapping her arms around George's neck as she shook violently, letting out sorrowful, heart wrenching sobs.

George hugged her back with a death grip, squeezing his own eyes shut as he let his tears slip from his cheeks and hit her sweater, as his body shook.

She didn't know what she'd do without him.

Who would she lay with?

Who would she call?

Who would she love?

Without George, life itself seemed so much more uninteresting and dull.

"残してほしい!" ( I don't want you to leave ! ) she cried out, her voice being interrupted by sobs and hiccups.

"わかっています。。。わかっています。。。" ( I know... I know... ) he murmured into her hair as he wrapped his arms even more around her, suddenly feeling like he was world's away from her, yet he was pressed right against her.

They stayed there and cried in one another's arms for quite some time.

'I love you.' George thought as he held her, striking her hair.

'I love you.' Emi thought as she held him.

                  'I love you.'