"Thank you."
Iris Harris smiled, "Goodbye then."
"Mm, goodbye."
William Moore stood quietly in place, watching as Iris Harris's figure slowly faded into the distance. The dim light highlighted her slender and graceful silhouette deeply etched into his deep-set eyes.
Once Iris Harris's image completely disappeared from his sight, William Moore slowly withdrew his gaze.
A fleeting trace of pain crossed his face inadvertently.
Love unfulfilled.
He could only watch helplessly as the woman he adored returned to another man's side, powerless as she endured all the grievances.
If only he had met her earlier...
Countless times he had thought this way, perhaps love really makes even the strongest hearts vulnerable.
Some people can only cultivate their hearts once, after which they prefer it to lie fallow. Later arrivals can only watch as it becomes barren and dies.
He knew that Iris Harris was one of those people.
