They reached the clearing with the tree stump where the path ended; Val took his bags off his shoulders, set them by the trunk, then sat himself down on the grass - and Adrien did the same. They sat there, together, without saying a word. The sky above them was painted with white clouds, and the grass below was lush and wonderful; and Adrien was hardly in the mood to enjoy any of this. A gentle breeze caressed Adrien's face and hair, and he hated its carefree joy; all the trees around were clothed in their most beautiful green, bearing flowers in white and pink - pointless promises for fruits that he would never see. Sitting next to him, Val seemed deep in thought, too; and Adrien wondered what was that troubled him - if he would share, if he felt just the same. They sat in silence for a long time; then, at last, Val turned towards him, and Adrien knew from the light of his eyes that the words that would follow came from deep within.