They sat across from each other, in a place where nobody would come to look for them. It was their secret place, their safe place.

The number of secret tears shed in this treehouse were beyond counting, and neither one of them dared to try and find out. Because it wasn’t the tears that mattered. It was each other. And they had always been there for each other no matter if it were tears falling down with sobs or laughter ringing out. Only them.

Young.

Dumb.

Reckless.

Friends…

The best of friends.

Still, as they gazed into each other’s eyes with a solid warmth and understanding, as they held hands tightly between themselves, they couldn’t even be sure they were on earth anymore. They were floating. They were happy.

They could be entirely themselves.

They could talk about anything, or nothing.

They could laugh and cry or sing and dance.

They wouldn’t judge those things that others outside of their small bubble would.

It was their happiest place on earth.

It was like sitting on a pillow, only to realize it was a cloud and there was nothing around you save the sunsets and the dawn of morning. That it was peaceful and quiet. That the world was holding itself together to keep you afloat.

He let go of her hand, all in order to stretch his long nimble fingers toward her face. The light touch on her cheeks made them blaze warmer than before, but she didn’t mind as she tugged on his arm, bringing him closer, needing that familiar gentle touch of his. And him to her too, needed to know she was alright because that was how he determined the world was alright too.

Hands forgotten, they settled on leaning in.

And after a brief caress of their lips, neither of them really understanding the true meaning of their actions, they pulled back. But they were content like this, in the not-knowing. All they knew was that it was the action taken with someone they loved. Someone, that was special beyond words, deep in their hearts. They’d seen their parents kiss. Their friend’s parents as well. And it felt right between them.

They smiled.

His mouth moved again, a promise on his lips.

“I swear I’ll grow stronger, so I can always protect you.”

“And never leave?” she asked quietly.

He nodded in part of his response to her question, his words that followed secured his answer.

“I’ll never leave you. Ever.”

After a moment of quiet, the only noise of the nature surrounding them, she tackled him in a hug, her face beside his.

“I like you. I really like you.”

He smiled, pulling back to tuck her hair behind her ears. He kissed her cheek gently before leaning his forehead to hers.

“I think I really like you too.”

She grinned even brighter, like all of the light and good in the world was shining forth from her happiness. Pecking him on the lips again spontaneously caused the boy to blush in response, but he never lost his smile either.

And in the whispered light of morning, the two kids grinned at each other, the true first and last of their happiest moments for years to come. A pivotal moment in their timeline.

After all, for one to remember, and another to forget… That kind of a continuous destruction, slowly, bit by bit, was what punished the heart of the one who knew. Those memories, and the lack of remembrance, could truly destroy the words of a promise far quicker than anger ever would.