The vast blue sky spanned above. Mary watched the clouds pass by. They gone so fast, yet so slow. Slow in comparison to the endless sky. Fast to the average person.

Turning her head, she glanced at the mirror she painstakingly put up. The beautiful white dress she wore sang in waves with the wind. The top of the hill was a challenge to climb. Mainly because getting the dress stained would be troublesome. The grassy green hill was still moist. Rain had taken claim of this place before leaving, making it muddy. She held the tips of her sleeves and thought about the making of this dress.

The dress she made. The one she sewed and poured her soul and blood into. Evidenced by the bandage on her finger. 'Though that last bit was more of an accident.' What a silly girl, she thought to herself.

A loud crunch caught her attention. There, on the grass, was a man in a suit. He stared at her evenly. There was no malice, no interest, or emotion. He was completely unconcerned of being caught staring. Mary couldn't tell if he was simply unreadable or just indifferent to the situation.

In a trance, she paid more attention to the nice breeze blowing her hair forwards. It was pleasant and calming. The man seemed to do the same until he took a step forward and held his hand out.

"Hello, I'm Josepher." He said.

Ah, it was a custom to shake your hands right? "And I am Mary," She smiled, they were too far away to shake hands, but she held up her hand anyway. With his blank face the scene looked rather comical, making Mary giggle. "It's nice to meet you."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Josepher smiled, a small but kind one. "Do you want to be friends?"

'Isn't that strange to ask a person after just meeting them?' Mary thought it was weird. But in equal measure, was weird as well. "Sure!"

--

They both decided to meet up again on the same spot the next day.

Josepher also brought blankets to lay on the ground, not wanting to dirty his suit. Briefly, he considered only bringing himself one as a joke. Before realizing that he would have to walk back home to get another.

He wore a black coat, though not pitch-black that you would see on those snobby businessmen strolling around in the morning. More like charcoal, neutral black. Not openly warm but not frosty either. Beneath his coat was a warm orange shirt and a red tie.

Both of them laid down on the blanket. Idly watching the sky.

The wind passes as did time.

Perhaps only the color of the sky changed. Maybe people started walking around with phones on their hands. Or maybe people stopped wearing dresses and opted for cheap imitation of the people around them.

The silence was comfortable. There wasn't any tension. Neither even felt each other's presence. Josepher compared the feeling to being alone in your room. No one to disturb you. No one you'd want to please relentlessly. The side of loneliness that can be as beautiful as the faraway snow mountains. It can be nice, but it can also be destructive.

In the end, Josepher had fun. That was all that really mattered. No good getting depressed thinking about deep things when it does nothing for you. 'I certainly won't forget this experience.' He thought.

He certainly won't forget her.

Josepher didn't think it was possible to feel lonely with someone's presence, but he did. Mary was now a special friend in his mind.

What a strange man he is.

--

The next day, they talked to each other.

Ranging from topics like the newest creation by the newest genius, to their common hobbies- 'Who knew Josepher liked cooking!'- to more nonsensical, abstract things.

Then the next day, they met again. Then the day after that, and the next.

Continuously, they met at the same spot, and sometimes went to town somewhere.

Until one day. They just stopped. Not willingly.