As he arrives he seeks her out. He finds her in the arms of her best friend, deep in conversation.

She looks up and notices him. Their eyes meet across the room and she senses, rather than sees him light up as her vision is limited without her glasses. But in this light, his face was suddenly vibrant and mischevious and so alive.

She smiles at him and he can't help the grin that slowly spreads across his face. In time, he notices infinitesimally the slight downturn of her lips and reads the microexpression he'd somehow managed to miss before.

He controls his grin and the lights begin to dim. He smiles at her but this is somehow different; a little less real, a little less alive. He understands and turns away.

She watches his eyes crinkle with disappointment and knows the regret he tries to hide behind his unhappy smile. She watches as he turns to walk away. Watches because she's told him, she is simply not ready.

His footsteps are heavy and slow. He drifts through, heading inexorably for the exit. He wishes she would come after him. But he knows she won't. He knows she is okay without him. He knows simply because she told him her feelings for him just weren't as strong as his for her.

Life goes on, and they can both but wonder.