There are things in life you'll learn and
Oh, in time you'll see.

It was all familiar here. The streets, the houses, the city itself felt like home again. He always said he didn't much like it here, but now he realized how much he missed it. It wasn't the sites or the feel of the city. It was the people. One person, actually. It was the whole reason he came here, back to America. He came here to start over, and that's exactly what he did. He was away from the scandal of England and the hardships of Russia. It felt like he was starting over once more just by visiting. He felt fresh and free.

The car came up to the one house he had been waiting to visit for months. It was all the same, nothing had changed. He stepped out of his car, walked up to the door, and knocked.

Don't run, don't hide, it will be alright.

The door opened, there she was, staring up at him in pleasant shock. She embraced him, only able to wrap around his waist because of his height. He returned her hug, running a hand down her prismatic hair. It was a clear difference from his dusty gray hair. She led him inside, sitting him down on the couch and greeting him once more. They caught up, him telling her of what he had been doing in Russia. She didn't say much about herself. She only told him that she was lonely. It was pretty clear to him why.

Time passed. They made lemonade, spoke about cooking, just talking for the sake of talking. Once again he wrapped his arms around her, dropping his voice to a whisper.

“I missed you...”

She felt like she was melting in his arms. “I love you...”

He wasn't allowed to love though. He was held back from it. If he loved anyone, they would only be hurt. He had to deny it. He had to protect her. It would hurt, but not as much as it would to see her broken for good. He began to pull away.

She paused, “... Do you love me?”

He couldn't answer her. He looked away, hooding his eyes. “I want to... But I can't...”

She backed away, staring downward at the floor. He began to plead. He tried telling her why he couldn't, but he was so confused. She didn't understand. He would have to tell her. He would finally tell his secret. His brother would be revealed.

There will be times on this journey
All you'll see is darkness.

His brother loved him, not like a brother should. He had been like this for sixteen years. He didn't know how to fight his brother. He couldn't fight him. It had always been this way. And just when he thought he should fear the older one, he turned around and helped him when he needed it. He didn't understand. He knew that whoever he got close to, his brother would be there to hurt them. It's why he couldn't love anyone. It was for their protection, not because he didn't want to. He was forced to be alone. All alone. With no one. Except him.

Out there somewhere daylight finds you
If you keep believing...

“No,” she said.

He was still human. He was allowed to be with whoever he wanted. Nobody had the right to hold him back like this. He had a big heart, he was sweeter than people would expect. She loved him anyway, even if he thought he couldn't. Even if he would never come back again. He was trapped, but there was still some gleam of hope. She looked up. Dark, teal eyes connected with bright and golden.

Just take a look through my eyes,
There's a better place somewhere out there.

She saw a dark and hopeless place in him. He saw an entire world in her.

Everything changes,
You'll be amazed what you'll find...

To hell with it. He loved her. That's all he wanted.

Something happened then. When he would leave in a few days, a piece of him would always stay with her. And a piece of her would go with him. They would never forget each other. He would live. He would live to see her again. He didn't love anyone else quite like her. She had changed him so much in such little time. He wished he could forget everything and stay here forever. Too many things were holding him back.

For now, they had each other. He didn't have to leave for days. They could make the most of it now.

Skelter held Sprite close.

“I love you...”

Take a look through my eyes. . .