Background information-

[Luke has just finished his internship at a Boston hospital. He is taking time off to decide which hospital he wants to practice in. He and Annie have kept in touch with occasional calls and visits, but both are too busy to have the close relationship of old. On a whim, Luke decides to visit Winnerow and Fanny. Annie is also in Winnerow, taking a break from her fast moving career as an artist. (Luke is unaware of this)
Intending to surprise his mother with a visit, Luke checks into a hotel and walks to Hasbrouck House. As he enters the property he sees Annie sitting in the gazebo, seemingly lost in memories.]

Luke Casteel Jr.-

She was sitting on her usual side of the gazebo, looking only slightly different from the girl I had loved for most of my life. She sat with her eyes closed, she seemed to be reliving a memory, her lips were moving but no words were said. It seemed like time had both sped up and slowed down. I felt decades older, but younger and more vulnerable than ever. Everything seemed to stop, the wind even stopped making her hair dance with its gusts, she was frozen in the moment. It was so perfect, so poetic, so wonderful that I left Luke Casteel standing in the trees and stepped into the world I loved and hated.
"The years may come and go," I began, my eyes shining, "and time, like the magical maze we've dreamt about, might separate us. But never fear my ability to solve the puzzle and find you wherever you might be..." I whispered, sliding into my place on the bench. "And I have," I added, a small smile forming on my lips.
"Luke," she said breathlessly, her eyes opening slowly, "it really is you!" she said excitedly. Noticing my look of confusion she added, "I was just thinking about a story you told me once. After we went to the beauty parlor one day. You said that you sat right where you're sitting now and you imagined that I was here beside you... And, suddenly, I *was* here- and I told you...that I would get better- and come back here...and that's when you saw this," she whispered, pulling a familiar looking faded pink ribbon from her pocket.
"You kept it?" I questioned, my heart fluttering. The look in her eyes told me that he had indeed kept it, and intended to for many years. "I missed it," I finally said, looking into her heavenly blue eyes.
"I think it missed you too," she whispered, leaning closer to me.
"Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a blue satin ribbon. "Do you remember this one? They tied it in your hair-"
"At the beauty parlor," she finished. "And you came in and saw me with my normal hair color, and your eyes lit up..." She recalled, her eyes glowing with the memory, "You said-"
"You look so very beautiful." We stood up at the same time, moving together as if we were magnetically drawn. "You look...so very beautiful," I breathed, kissing her cheek and inhaling the sweet scent of her hair. She sighed a little, looking as if she had wanted me to kiss her full on her lips.
I pulled back, returning to my seat. Turning away, I pretended to study the house and gardens. I hadn't really seen Annie for so long, but it seemed like we had been together forever. Time doesn't exist for us, I realized, a cynical smile reaching my mouth. "Annie...I..." I began, turning back to her with an embarrassed expression.
"Its all right Luke..." she started.
We were replaying another moment, one I didn't treasure. History didn't have to repeat itself! "No Annie 'it' is not all right." I said slowly, entwining my fingers with hers.
She sat down beside me, laying her head on my shoulder. "I know," she started brokenly, "I just want it to be so bad." She took a shaky breath, "True, ten years have passed, and I've been lonely without you, but I never have been truly alone, Luke. You've been with me every second..."
She revived feelings that had lain dormant for so long. She memorized and recited the role I had written for her so many years ago. "Every second...of every minute, of every hour, of every day, of every week..." I trailed off. "Its been hard, not seeing you every day. I write you letters, even though I end up not sending them to you... There just isn't anything I can say, nothing can make the pain go away. But, over time I've learned that I don't have to be with you physically to be near you. And- that helps. It just seems like every time I begin to feel that I can move on...something happens. And- I realize that I don't want to forget you, forget us... Annie, you fill me up inside, you are me, you are my soul..."
you are my soul
you are my soul
you are my soul
The words seemed to resonate through the gazebo. "Oh Luke...Its been so long since I heard our kind of talk," she murmured, putting her hands on the sides of my face and moving it towards hers. My wall of resolve was being demolished, brick by brick. Our lips met, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I was the first to pull away.
"Annie, this is wrong. I feel like...I've ruined your life." I whispered.
"No Luke, you are my life," she murmured.
"Annie, hear me out," I said quickly, putting my hand up. "We can never be together. Don't you see... Its happening again. Our passion is so strong that it can become ignited by doing the smallest things. One touch, one look, one...kiss. There's still a chance that you could find someone, and I wont stand in the way of that. Annie, I'm only happy when you're happy. I would live a thousand years in pain if it would free you from me. I cant do this to you-to myself. You're killing me Annie," I moaned, "and I love you for it." I finished, my voice cracking, unshed tears finally falling. "I don't want to run away, but I cant take it. I cant take seeing you everyday...and loving you...and knowing I cant have you. The only place we can be together is in this world, and this world isn't real."
"Do we have to be real Luke?" She whispered, tears running down her cheeks.
I kneeled in front of her grasping both her hands in mine "Yes Annie, we have to be real, people need us. We need each other. Our love... its golden, you remember the poem, don't you?

Natures first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower,
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay."
I choked out the poem, almost overcome by emotion. "We were golden for so long, Annie. We had the best kind of love- sweet, pure. But it cant last, I can only be happy with you in my dreams. You and I both know that, even though we may say otherwise. Nothing gold can stay." I murmured, "I cant stay."
A new wave of tears overcame her. Leaning forward, I kissed her fiercely, one last time. I removed the pale pink ribbon from her lap and replaced it with my blue one before turning away.
The wind blew against me, trying to pull me back to our fantasy land. The pink ribbon slithered out of my grip, heading back to the gazebo. Suddenly, the breeze stopped. I bent to pick up the memento. Annie's voice carried across the distance, "I'll be here Luke," she cried.
"And so will I," I whispered, knowing in my heart that she heard. So will I Annie, so will I.