Unsaid

Daphne sat down on the park bench.

"No, I'm not interested in anyone," she answered Paul, who sat down beside her. "Even if I was, I wouldn't want to get involved."

"Why?" he asked earnestly.

"I've had enough with romance to last me a long while," she said with a slight laugh, looking up at the starry sky. "Too much heartache caused by irrational decisions. I know now why they say only fools fall in love; it's because it's true."

"You're being a little dramatic," Paul replied, smiling easily. "Falling in love is not so bad."

"With the right person, I'm sure it's absolutely wonderful; however, I'm not sure I've found him yet."

"How would you know, unless you gave people a chance? The way you talk, you might just keep them away."

"Perfect," she replied with a bitter smile. "I don't need anyone falling in love with me, or me with them."

Paul frowned. "That sounds a little too cynical for you. I'm sure if you were in love with someone, you would be singing a different tune."

"Possibly," she replied. "However, I'm not someone who follows their heart, but their mind. I don't trust my feelings; I avoid focusing on them unless I have to."

She and Paul sat for a period of time, listening to the crickets chirping.

"That has to be a rather stoic existence."

"To a degree," she conceded, "but I'm not falling in love unless I'm sure it's the right guy. Falling in love with someone isn't enough to justify getting 'involved'. I don't trust feelings," she said, crossing her legs. "They're fleeting and change quickly. No, when I love someone, it's not based on feelings, but on a decision to always want and do what's good for them. I give myself completely. I'm not so willing to give that to the first guy that comes my way, you know? There are only so many times I can give myself completely before I would have nothing left. And if I fell in love every time I had the opportunity, I would have a lot more unnecessary heartache – there are a lot of fish in the sea, so they say. I'm just not interested. Besides, when you get involved, you see another side of the person, and it's not necessarily a good one. Romance can destroy friendships and requires discretion."

They sat in silence again.

"So you have no feelings for anyone?" Paul asked hesitantly.

"Oh, I didn't say that," she replied mysteriously. "Just that I would rather not get involved if I can help it."

"Oh, ok," he said casually. "Just curious: how will you know when you meet the right guy?"

Daphne paused. "I suppose he'll be what I am looking for; a companion that is one with me in mind, spirit, and heart, who I can be completely myself with and not have to put on an act. When I find him, the question then would remain whether he would love me in return, of which I am highly doubtful he would," she added with a laugh.

"Why wouldn't he? You're a fantastic person."

Daphne began turning red. She shook her head and laughed uneasily. "No, not really. I've just made too many mistakes, I'm a klutz, and really I don't think I have much to offer. I can be absolutely cruel, cold-hearted, apathetic, impatient, haughty, cynical and overall just not a nice person to be around."

"Now, I can't imagine that of you."

"Well, I don't generally show that side of me to the world; however, it's there, and I'll be the first to testify to that, and I am sure, given enough time, you would see it too. I'm not really worth anyone's time; if anyone falls in love with me, I'll tell him that he's crazy and he should really aim higher. I'm nobody, really, and there are plenty of other girls around that are much nicer than I am."

"How much higher can he get? Other girls aren't like you. Daphne, you obviously don't know your own merit if that's the way you see yourself. You're intelligent, you're honest, you're kind and you aren't superficial. What isn't there to love?"

"So many things," she said with a sigh, looking away.

"I'll have to disagree with that," he said, looking up to the sky. "You're still loveable, even if you don't think so, and more than many."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Daphne smiled, looking down. "You think too highly of me," she said quietly.

"I think justly of you," he stated. "You just think too lowly of yourself."

"I suppose I may," she said, "but it is better than thinking too highly of myself."

Paul smiled. Daphne too smiled, but continued looking down. She shivered as a light autumn breeze rustled some of the early fallen leaves.

"Are you cold?"

"No, I'm fine," she said quietly, with a small smile.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm a little cold, but it's not too bad. I'll be fine." She got up from the park bench. "I ought to go home anyway, it's getting late. It was nice of you to join me tonight, Paul."

"Yes, it was good seeing you, too," standing up as well. "Do you want a ride home?"

"No, I live just down the street, I can walk. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I won't die if I walk," she said lightly. "I'll be fine, don't worry about me."

"Well, since you're so set on walking, would you like me to walk you home?"

"Nah, you don't have to," she said, fumbling in her purse for her keys.

"I know I don't have to," he said, laughing.

She paused. Then she shrugged. "If you want."

The two of them walked through the park to the gate. They didn't say much to each other, just commentary on how beautiful one neighbor's flowers were and what the weather.

When they got to her house, she smiled. "Thanks for walking me home."

"Any time," he said, smiling.

"Good night," she said, giving him a hug.

"Good night, Daphne," he said. "And don't be so hard on yourself."

"I'll try," she said, letting go of him. "I make no guarantees."

She smiled innocently and unlocked her front door, saying goodbye again. He began walking off her steps back from where they came. She watched him leave through the window before closing the curtains.

When he had made it back to the gate, he looked back at her house one last time before he too walked off, smiling ever so slightly.