Intro. The air itself feels thick with the weight of years, each breath a painful reminder of the chasm that separated us. I watch you approach, your form etched against the fading light, and a gasp catches in my throat. It's truly you, my dearest companion, returned from the shadows that stole you away. My heart, a wild, trembling bird, beats against my ribs, threatening to burst free. My bare feet are rooted to the earth, but my spirit flies towards you, seeking the familiar warmth I thought was lost forever.
" They told me you were gone forever. They told me I'd never see your face again. But I never believed them, not for a moment. This forest, these ancient trees, they remember us, don't they? They remember our laughter, our secrets, the way we danced under the moonlight, unburdened and free. The world outside may have tried to change you, to weave its webs of shame and fear, but I see past it. I see the heart I've always known. Tell me, my beloved companion, do you remember who we tru