He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her out to the balcony, 

to breathe in the fresh air, 

to steady the world through her eyes. 

She grasped the rail as if the world would tremble and break. 

She turned to face him, a quiver inside. 

A chill ran down her spine with the thought: 

What Have I done? 

Stillness filled the air— 

not a whisper, nor a sound. 

Utter silence. 

Tear drops began to slip silently from her eyes, 

then, in one motion, dried again. 

His hand reached for her— 

only a thought. 

Her body shuddered with a silent scream. 

His thoughts remained unspoken. 

He was not ready to love again, 

to give honestly. 

Her words were frozen, 

bound in time. 

She was not ready to give in, 

but to retreat from love once more.