She rested on the park bench beside the tranquil waters of that pond.  Yes, my dear friends, it was dark out, and foggy.  The Moon was full and the light from it showed the soft wisps of steam rising in the warm spring air.  She stared out at the pond, breathing in the dank air, the constant lapping of the water on the rocks reaching her ears.  But she did not see the pond, or hear the water.

Through her mind again, and again, she went over the details.  Was this her fault?  No, how could she have know it would come to this.  She couldn’t have known.  Yet, she had been there pleading and begging for this.  The Moonlight caught and held for a moment in the tears gleaming on her cheeks, then they slid down and into the collar of her dress, replaced slowly by more soundless tears that slid down the same pathway.

Her trembling voice whispered, “This is the great and terrible quest.”  Her words evaporated in invisible tendrils that mixed with the fog, moving away into nothingness.  This wasn’t how she had planned, nor what she’d hoped for.

Suddenly, she raised her fist, slashing it across her face, smearing the tears into her hair.  Her eyes flashed in the moonlight, “How dare you!”  Her cry snapped and bounced off the fog.  Then she crumpled on the bench, burying her head in her hands, her hair fluttering over her hands and hiding who she was.

She did not see the quiet form of the man who stood behind the bench.  Broad shoulders sloped down to large, open hands that rested on back of the bench.  A rebel wind blew the shadow off his face.  His was the kindest, most caring face; the eyes were deep with compassion and love, and they glowed with a unparalleled fire, eyes of eternal wisdom and love.

Slowly one soft step at a time, the man came around the bench.   No sound came forth from his mouth, but he bent, gathered her in his arms and cradled her close.  She rested her tear-streaked face against His chest, looking up with a little sob, she asked, “Why?”

For a moment, there was a look of sorrow that crossed the man’s face, as if He wished something didn’t have to be.  But, then he shook his head slowly back and forth.  There would be no answers tonight.

Moonlight rested on the man and the girl that he held.  Tomorrow would come, and the girl would rise to the challenge of the new day, but for just that moment, it was good to lose herself in his love, tough love though it was.