Time Moved Too Fast

Three: Time for Different People

"Time is very slow for those who wait; very fast for those who are scared;very long for those who lament; very short for those who celebrate; but for those who love, time is eternal," Lily sang softly, running her small and smooth hands through Tim's unruly hair.

He looked up at her with a sincere smile, happy at his position on her lap. "You sing well, you know."

"Mother taught me," she chuckled and Tim laughed with her. Their laughters filled the empty room which they called home.

"I really did have a family at one point," Lily admitted solemnly, her eyes showing emotions.

"Half a century ago, for the first time, I actually pretended to be an orphan and didn't avoid people. The family was the Williams, they were nice. I had two older brothers that were wicked but after a few months, they softened up," she told him, her voice shaky and it was unfamiliar for Tim.

"I was there for two years. They had speculated something was wrong when I showed no change at all. I knew I couldn't stay there any longer. It was stupid of me." There were tears threatening to fall and Tim hadn't seen her this vulnerable before.

"I ran away, leaving them. I left a note, explaining that I just had to leave. I visited them twice every year as a different character. I robbed people of clothes and in an instant I look different. They smile at me, knowing smiles. I knew that they wanted me back but respected my choice. Since I left with you, I managed to forget about the feeling for a while."

She seemed so fragile at the moment that Tim was afraid that if he touched her cheek, she would break. He gulped, her tears falling to his face, and let his hand meet her cheek. Her eyes almost widened to show shock that she wished he hadn't noticed but he did.

"You won't have to leave me," Tim said softly, fingering the rough ends of her light brown hair.

"Who said I will?"