We just sit. Feet dangling from the pier’s edge. I lean forward and look into the dark water, at the sky reflected on the still surface. How my head is perfectly framed by the glowing aura of light and dark. At this time, the water resembles a mirror laid flat to mimic the slow moving of the clouds.

Homochitto is beautiful. The sky this particular morning is lit up so bright, painted in those gorgeous golden oranges and soft pinks. We don’t speak, or whisper. Just sit.

It feels wrong to make noise. Around us, we are solitary, surrounded by the color changing greenery. The soft breeze in my hair carries a hint of fall goodness, tickling my cheeks and making me pull his hoodie closer to my collarbone and neck.

I glance at the side of his face once or twice, just to make sure he’s still here. His blue eyes hold a perfect picture of how he sees the world so early in the morning.

Just off the base of Homochitto, where the cleared paths and distant pavilions end, a small fawn steps out onto the cleared land and grazes on a small shrub just in sight. Dew has settled on the bushes, and glistens on her faintly spotted back.

She raises her head, I swear she looks right at me and sorta bows her head in submission. I know you’re here. And that’s okay. She turns and gracefully disappears into the brush.

A few blue birds take flight from a nearby tree and call to one another happily. After that, the grounds are quiet, no kid laughter, no adult conversation… just me and him.

“Hey.” I turn to him, my voice hesitant and shaky. I clear my throat, “I need to tell you something.”