The Sin

Dream or Not

"I'll grab my coat." He did and told Philip where he was going-which was only a few shops away.

Philip didn't seem to be paying attention as he only replied with a wave of his hand as he continued his search for Mr Spencer's book.

Dan and Lily walked together side by side down the sidewalk.

They were both silent for a while.

Dan didn't know what to say so he remained quiet.

Thankfully, Lily broke the silence.

"The weather's pretty nice today. It's not as cold, " she said quietly.

"Yeah, " he replied quickly.

She turned to him.

"You seem different, " she dropped unexpectedly.

He stared at her, eyes wide.

"Different. . . ?" He was a little confused.

"From the first time we met, " she clarified.

"Oh, " he replied as he averted his eyes and stared out in front of him.

There was a faraway look in his eyes.

He seemed distracted.

She held his hand as he almost walked past the coffee shop.

"We're here, " she said.

He looked down at the slender hand wrapped around his arm.

He looked back at her, he stared deeply into her forest-green eyes.

The feeling of her hand on his arm felt strange-unfamiliar.

He took a step back from her, her hand falling off his arm.

He looked away sheepishly clearing his throat.

"I'm sorry, " Lily said sensing his uncomfortable shuffle.

His eyes darted immediately to hers.

"It's. . .fine. I just-"

"It's okay, " she said hurriedly.

"You don't have to explain, " she said catching the strained look in his eyes.

He looked down.

After a few seconds, he looked back up at her.

"Do you wanna go somewhere?" He started unsurely.

"It's an old park on the outskirt of the city. Not many people go there anymore though. We can go there and enjoy the scenery."

"If you want to that is, " he quickly added.

"Sure, " she said quietly.

Five minutes later, they were at the park.

Like he had said, it was almost bare of life, only a few children played there.

He took her to another bench, not the out of reach one much farther but one from which they could see the children play.

He didn't want to take her to his special spot where he went to smoke.

He didn't want to send her running for the hills.

"It's nice, I actually like it, " she told him once they settled on the bench where they watched adults converse and children play ball.

The trees were one of a kind, strategically planted so that they formed canopies all around them.

The pink and purple blend of the flowers were breathtaking as the trees danced mesmerisingly as the wind blew gently on them.

Dan turned to face her when he heard her speak.