This is my life, this is yours

What are you doing?

He held a stick in his hand.

Drawing a line in the sand.

Mind if I join you?

Sure.

They sit in silence for a minute. They aren't looking at each other.

Are you upset?

Well, yes. But mostly at myself, not really at you.

I’m sorry things didn’t work out.

It’s okay. You don’t owe me anything.

You were good to me. The nicest person I ever met.

Well, I tried. 

They sit in silence. He turns to look at her but his eyes are elsewhere. 

Maybe I should’ve gotten more upset at you. I should be right now, I even think I am, but I’ve never wanted to be. To be mad at you, I mean. Not even right now.

She thinks of what to say, pursing her lips, but only utters a single word. 

Why?

He ponders. It feels like eternity. He looks at her at last, his voice wavering. 

To be honest, I just don’t like it when people are upset at me. Why would I want to put someone through that too? Not to mention, it’s you. I've only wanted to love you. I wanted to be the safe place you could always turn to, no matter what. No matter how I felt. I wanted to give you everything.

Don't you think that's too much though? You always chose to take responsibility for things, even when it wasn’t your fault. All you could ever do was say "Sorry."

He looks away. He knows she's right. He bites his lip and it tastes metallic. 

I know, I see that now. I’m seeing how unfair that was; not just for me, but for you too. I didn’t give you all of me. 

All of you?

Yes, all of me. My love was soft, but yours burned like a fire. I wish I showed some of that fire. Every time, I was really just avoiding what I actually owed to you: to be true. I left it all on you, while I suppressed everything. 

I see.

I see how unfair that was to you. I’m sure it disappoints you, even now, how stubborn I am to not get mad at you. I just never wanted to hurt you.

I can’t always be the villain. It felt like I was always the one doing the hurting. You’re too sweet for me.

Silence. She grabs a stick off the ground and draws a line parallel with the line he drew. He stares at it and gestures toward her line and his own with his stick.

This is my life, this is yours. Where we may intersect, I’m not sure. I hope we reach that point again soon.

I don’t know, it’s too early to say.

I guess so. Anyway, thank you for seeing me off before I go.

Of course. I couldn’t not see you. 

Well, see you later. It was fun. Be kind to yourself.

You too. See you.

They hug for the last time. There's silence between sobs until she leaves at last and then only the silence remains. He sits in the sand by himself until he realizes the tides washed away the lines they drew. He sits there and lets it all linger in silence.