Bringing her gaze back to the monkey, who was watching her, she stooped down to once again question him.
"Is this my acceptance?"
The monkey then gave a cheerful chatter and led her further towards the lake. The girl followed hopefully.
Upon reaching a comfortable haven to the east of the lake, the monkey reached out to the girl with his free hand, and pulled her into a warm embrace. He then let his hands fall from her and made his way back into the forest.
"I am accepted," she uttered softly into the night.
_ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ -
It was by now very late into the evening, and the girl discovered she was exhausted. She examined the haven, and decided to lay down and get some rest.
She lowered herself to her knees and felt the ground with her fingertips. The earth there was warm and inviting. She felt safe as she slept.
_ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ -
"I can't love you, Azora. I love you with all my heart, but I can't. Can you understand that? I have a life already planned out for me, and I can't abandon it now. You will find yourself someone you can love and will love you back, but that person can't be me. I wish you the absolute best in life, and I hope you find loving acceptance with someone."
_ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ -
The girl awoke with a chilling sensation coursing through her body. She yearned for warmth.
She rose from her disrupted sleep, and stretched her limbs. The girl looked in the direction of the peaceful water, and walked towards it.
When she reached the small shore of the lake, she knelt down and ran her hand through the water. It felt warm.
The girl stood, and carefully disrobed. She placed her garments on a pristine area of sand on the beach.
She breathed in the revitalizing air that was smoothly brushing up against her bare skin. After she exhaled, she entered the water. It was warm.
She glided down the gradual slope of the lake until she was near to the middle. Following a sharp intake of breath she disappeared beneath the water.
As she was suspended below the surface, she felt engulfed by love and acceptance. She didn't want to leave this loving environment. She decided she would live her life here.
_ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ -
She slowly allowed herself to be carried to the shimmering surface of the lake. She drifted towards the shore, and waded out.
She found her clothes, and pondered their value. She concluded that she would not need them in this place. She bent down, and picked them up.
She walked back to her haven with her bundle of clothes.
After setting the clothes down on the ground, she settled herself to resume her slumber.
She knew she would be safe here.
The girl was starting to forget.
Continued in Part III
