We stand close, staring at each other in silence, the water swirling beneath us.

‘You can’t say it, can you?’ he murmurs. That hint of amusement again.

My heart burns and I want to hit him. Beat him hard on the chest with my fists. But I long for something else too. I want to climb right inside his skin and know him completely.

So I say nothing at all.

A fraction of movement and his lips – warm, lighter than air – brush mine. I freeze and the air around me contracts. Then he is kissing me, properly. His tongue parts my lips and he pulls me towards him, passing his arms around my back. I’m lost in him, in this moment.

Then I remember my vow and pull away.

‘I’m sorry,’ Walter says. ‘I shouldn’t have.’

‘No. You shouldn’t.’

‘I won’t—’

‘I – I like it though. I like it when you kiss me. But we can’t…’

‘Let’s – let’s just make the most of things while we can. Who knows what will happen in the future? Perhaps,’ he grabs both my hands, ‘you and I should just run away together. I can’t fight the urge to be with you. I don’t want to fight it. So, let’s just go and live in sin.’

I laugh, because I don’t know if he is joking.

‘It’s lighter now.’ He looks around. ‘People will soon be passing by – let’s walk.’

We leave the bridge and take the path between the bank and the river. It’s narrow and we have to walk in single file for a short distance. When the path widens, he comes alongside me and takes my hand. Our step is in time, easy and natural, it’s as if we’ve been walking step by step together for a thousand years.

‘I’m sorry,’ I say, ‘about the other day. I don’t want to argue, and I hate that you think badly of me. It’s so hard to know what to think about… everything.’

‘I’m sorry too. I was angry. Things are hard and I took it out on you – and I shouldn’t have. It’s not your fault. And I could never think badly of you.’ We walk on a few more paces in silence. ‘Do you remember that day I fished you out of the lake when you couldn’t swim properly?’ he asks suddenly.

‘The day you saved my life, you mean. How could I possibly forget?’

‘You were quite small,’ he laughs.

‘You don’t forget almost dying, Walter, nor the person who rescued you.’

‘I remember it like yesterday. I relived it enough!’

‘What do you mean?’

He looks away, as if embarrassed.