[What is up with me being a guy in my dreams??? Creepy...]

She lived in a mansion by the sea. Or rather, we lived in a mansion by the sea. We grew up together in this house, and had been the best of friends forever, only recently promising ourselves to one another. The ocean was calm always, the sky a brilliant blue.

And we were in love. Young, foolish love, but love just the same. I gave my eternity to her, and as I poured my very essence into a chalice that she may drink of it, I was perhaps blinded to her tastes. The sky turned gray and the ocean tormented, and for the longest time I thought it would never change.

Then the cold came and the waters froze over. A thin layer of ice on the top, but thick enough to walk upon in some places. There was no frost, yet no sun, and the beach soon became a frozen desert.

She and her aunt were out on the ice. Walking and dancing -- barefoot for some reason which I thought not suspicious at the time. Then I heard the crash. There were no screams to accompany it, simply a loud crash. I lept from the window, and the rest of the household trailed behind. I saw a hand flailing in the water, and grasped it, pulling up the frail body and dragging her off the ice.

Removing my shirt, I ripped the front open, that she may use it as a blanket, then backed up as she was lifted, following slowly as they carried her inside.

Then out the window once more, to the window just beside to see how my love was recovering. Everyone was in the other room with her aunt, and there she sat, sobbing.

At first I did not understand. What had she to be so upset about? Yet she was grief stricken and looking upon my face seemed only to make it worse. And the convulsion, the sickening look in her face when the young man behind her placed his hand upon her shoulder, they were the keys to the puzzel.

Comprehension swept across my face, pulling a fresh trail of tears and guilt upon her own. I knew she meant to love me. And that she was torn by that which she could not do was too much for me to bear.

I remember thinking that perhaps I would fly as the icy air sliced through me. I cannot say whether I did or did not.