According to her the landscape was beautiful, despite its imperfections. The landscape to him was boring and dull, distasteful even.
The dispute started in the early morning, when they came across the topic of their discussion – the empty weir laying lifeless as the lone rivers ran through the centre of the muddy wasteland. She saw it as what used to be and as something that was seasonal, just like the blossoms that appear on trees during spring, to suddenly disappear when summer arrives. His thoughts were different. The only thing he saw was a wasted opportunity. The opportunity to build and expand onto the deserted land, for a manmade wonder to rise to fame.
To her not only was the weir a natural beauty both full and abandoned, but also provided a resource for the people to use. That the landscape could not only serve the eye but to also serve the needs of the people. It could serve for two masters.
The only thing he could see was the muck and mud near the river, dried up grass that thirsted for water and the dead trees standing together but yet alone. That this landscape was a waste of space, mostly empty and therefore provided no use to the people.
But, she could see memories. Memories of children playing in the refreshing water, of dogs chasing their sticks splashing as they went. She wished that he could see the magical sights she was experiencing in her own mind. If only he understood she thought.
Remembering things that she wasn't even around to experience? He thought she was mad. But he could only see what was right in front of him. He couldn't feel what they felt, see what they experienced. And for this she felt sorry for him. That he couldn't open up his mind and explore the endless possibilities that he could wonder through if only he opened up his imagination.
She was certain that the weir would once fill again, as sure that the sun would rise the next day and set once again in the evening. That the massive beauty that it was would once again retain life. Birds would once again feed on the fish below, local fishermen would have their catch of the day and children would have their joy playing in the clear murky waters of the weir.
Expressing this to him was a mistake as she knew that he would never understand. That he would never picture a life in the past and in the future. He was living in the present and she found this disturbingly saddening. That he could never experience what she did. With that she left him standing there by the lifeless weir that he, in his own mind, saw.
She went to explore her future, in reality and in her imagination, without him.
