Looking straight ahead

I see a familiar face

A face I had thought long gone

<He turns around...only to see the playground, full of small children playing without a care in the world. His face falls as he realizes it was merely his reflection in the mirror-like water of the pond.>

I turn to look behind (to see you dear one)

But Brother you are not there

For it was only my reflection

Just my reflection alone

<Depressed, Quatre turns back around to the see the pond as another tear falls. He stands, unable to watch his reflection in the water any longer. Another tear falls, and he begins a long walk along the pond's edge, soon coming to the river where he and Mikah once swam in. He suddenly feels someone touch his shoulder. It feels like Mikah, gods it feels like Mikah. Quatre turns to face the stranger, hopefully, remembering a time of long ago...>

Walking by the river

I see you at my side

Your face beside mine (hand upon my shoulder)

I turn to speak to you as I did in times long past

<A gust of wind gently caresses his face as he turns, but there is no one there...>

But Brother you are not there

For it was only a memory

Your touch just a reflection of memories long past

<Another tear falls from his sad eyes, and he continues on his way. A small girl from the playground notices Quatre and his tears, and approaches him cautiously. He stops, wipes his tears away and smiles at her, seeing her out of the corner of his eye. She asks him why he's crying and he tells her he misses his brother. The girl smiles and invites him to play with her and her friends on the swings, which he gladly accepts, desperate for a release from the pain. One of her friends makes a joke about how the grass grows, and Quatre loses himself in his laughter, forgetting the pain for a moment...Suddenly, another laughing voice joins them. He turns and calls out to Mikah...>

Watching the children as they play

I hear your laughter as I join them (the silence broken)

I call back to share a joke, ne'er known

<...but he comes back to himself, realizing his brother cannot be there to hear the story...and the sadness returns.>

But Brother you are not there

For it was only a reflection of broken silence long ago

Your laughter a memory of silence broken

<Hiding his pain from the children, he tells them he must leave, and they bid him farewell as he waves and slowly walks up to the hills where a vacant sandbox lies, untouched for days. The sky, once a teal blue, is now a rainbow of yellow nearest the setting sun, orange followed by pink, then violet and blue to black in the west. The sound of footsteps suddenly comes to life at his side, and once again, he remembers Mikah. He thinks himself crazy, but he reaches out...needing, begging, hoping to feel his brother's touch once more...>

Walking through the hills

I hear your step beside mine

I reach to take your hand (share this beauty with you)

<...and grasps only air. Once again, Mikah is not there...and Quatre feels another tear slide down his cheek as he gazes to the place he imagined his brother to fill. Looking up, he decides he'd better get home, since it would be dark soon. Maybe a good, long nap would make him feel better...>

But Brother you are not there

For it was only a reflection of wishes remembered

Your presence a wish of long ago

<The next morning when Quatre wakes, he finds he still misses Mikah, but he doesn't want to feel depressed anymore. To help himself forget the hurt, he takes out his violin and begins to play a familiar song...one that soon transforms itself into the song he and Mikah had once played, so well. Almost immediately, Quatre hears the sound of his brother's part in the tune, and he closes his eyes, hoping this time, he'll stay. Quatre plays on...unwilling to stop for fear that the other will leave him...alone.>

Watching the ripple of its strings as I play a melody of soul

I hear a tune not mine, playing to counter my own

I play on, my eyes closed until the final notes have died away (hoping this time you'll stay)

<Finally, the song done, he looks up, optimistic...but his hopes fall when he discovers only a empty space before him. Mikah, once again, is not there...and Quatre's tears fall.>

But Brother you are not there

Having left behind a memory of the song we played

A memory of our soul's reflections in the song we made

<One stormy night, a week later, Quatre rushes home in the pouring storm. The chauffeur, sick that day, took the day off when Quatre insisted he stay home and rest. Ironically, his car broke down, forcing him return home as it rained. Spotting a lone willow on the side of the country road (unfortunately, the shortest route back), he runs under it, shivering from the cold and panting. Though it didn't provide much protection against the rain, he needed a rest anyway, and he leans on the slender trunk for support. Water dripping from the leaves made it seem as though the tree was crying, feeling his despair, and Quatre suddenly remembers the times when he and Mikah would play in the rain, not worried about the cold. Briefly, he smiles and closes his eyes, the happiness he felt during such times flooding his soul. In that instant, he feels a presence near him, hold him... This time, he feels certain Mikah is the one with him. He would rather not know than have him leave again...so Quatre's eyes remain closed, and he leans closer to the presence, allowing himself to be comforted by an unknown person. Still, he can't help but wonder...>

A willow softly weeping is my only shelter in this storm

When I feel ghostly arms envelope me in a gentle embrace

I lean into your presence (hoping my troubles you'll share)

<At last, Quatre can stand it no more...and he looks up to the person...only to find air. Again, Mikah had escaped him. Miserable, Quatre began to cry...and he slowly continued on his way home, his tormented mind unable to concentrate on anything but memories of the nights his brother had held him when he was scared.>

But Brother you are not there

A ghost of your embrace is all that remains

As your presence becomes a reflection of comfort

<Another week passes. A local friend contacts Quatre and asks him to come over for a visit, which he does delightedly. The day is beautiful, and he decides to walk the mile to his friend's house. They talk for hours of their week and of old friends and of memories long past, then comes time for Quatre to leave for home. He leaves his friend with a smile and a farewell wave, then starts on the long walk home. It is nighttime when he begins his journey, a cool and starry night. As he walks, he watches the heavens in awe--the stars always did amaze him. Numerous small, glistening heavenly bodies of white and various shades of light blues dot a pitch black sky while serene winds flow through his hair. He is so immersed in his marvel he scarcely notices the presence join him by his side one more time, walking along with him. When he does finally, he stops abruptly, wondering what he should do. The presence comes to a halt as well. Every time this had happened, he had looked up praying that he would see Mikah once again...but every time, his brother had avoided him. So, tensing sadly, Quatre turned away. Absently, he reaches out, but then jerks his hand back, feeling a soft, warm hand touch his own, but the hand took his again firmly, gently...and would not let go.>

Walking home one day I feel you beside me

I turn away (afraid you'll flee my gaze)

But your touch does not leave

Your face still resides by mine

<Another hand is placed on Quatre's shoulder, and he shudders, refusing to give in to the temptation to turn and see who is there. A voice, very near his ear, whispers so softly, "My brother, your reflections have never deceived you. I was always there, as I am now...never to be lost again." Tears fill Quatre's eyes. He recognizes his brother's voice all too well, and turns, half in doubt, to look one last time. He gasps and steps backward, startled. There, smiling at him, stands his older brother. He looks as if he had never died that day, years ago, but two white feathered wings are folded neatly at his side. In shock, Quatre realizes he is staring at his brother...an angel. "M-Mikah?"

"Yes, it is me." He holds his arms out to his little brother, silently offering his comforting embrace. "Do not be afraid."

Without a second thought, Quatre fell into Mikah's arms, sobbing. Finally, his brother was beside him once again.

"Remember when I said I'd always be there for you?" Mikah asked, stroking Quatre's hair with one hand.

"Y-yes..."

"I know I went back on my word against my will...but now, I am there whenever you want me to be. You only need to call my name."

Hours later, Quatre cries himself to sleep in the warmth and protection of Mikah's arms, his mind at rest at last knowing his brother could be there for him once again...just like old times. Mikah picked his little brother up and spread his wings, smiling down at Quatre. He then takes flight and returns the boy to his home. Mikah places Quatre in bed and tucks him in as he would've done long ago. The angel kisses his brother on the forehead softly, and then takes flight once more to return to his own home...up in the sky.>

I turn as you softly say

"Your reflections have never deceived you

I was there, as I am now never to be lost again."

Now Brother you are always there

Now I am never alone in life's reflection (your face is forever by mine)

<In his sleep, a smile touches Quatre's lips. For the first time in 11 years, he has pleasant dreams of his brother, Mikah, the angel... *His* angel.>