Early, one cool spring morning, I saw you walking round the lake.  I was having my coffee and I could see your beautiful visage strolling lakeside.  I desperately wanted to go introduce myself.  However, you were quite a distance away and I was busy writing.  So, I let you continue walking by yourself.  I looked for you each morning afterward; never to see you again that spring.  

   One summer afternoon, I was walking round the lake.  I could see you on the other side.  You were walking with another.  You appeared to be in love.  That made me smile, but it also made me sad.  I was glad to see you happy but mad because I missed my opportunity.  I continued my walks the rest of the summer and saw you from time to time; sometimes alone, sometimes holding the arm of your significant other.  I wanted to say hello.  I did not.  

   Later that fall I met a girl in town and invited her out for a walk round the lake.  We were ambling along looking at the bright fall colors as they popped from each leaf.  The sunset was nearing and I felt alone.  I wished I were walking with you.  I never saw you that day.  I saw you a week later and you were alone.  You looked sad.  I ran out of the cabin and tried to catch up.  You disappeared quickly.  I sat on a log and skipped rocks hoping you'd come back.  You did not.  

   Winter came and the skies looked like snow.  Only the temperature fell that day.  I was bored and bundled up.  I went for a walk round the lake.  I was rounding the cove when I saw you heading my direction.  I perked up immediately.  You were alone.  I said hello and introduced myself.  Your face blushed, and you said you were cold.  I gave you my gloves and we walked some more.  We tested the ice covered lake for strength.  It seemed safe.  We skated like kids.  We fell and laughed.  The bitter cold did not faze us at all.  We skated around, arm in arm and it felt wonderful.  I fell again and you landed on top of me.  We laughed hard and long.  Then we stared into each other's eyes.  I swear I saw my future.  I kissed you and you pulled away.  It was okay though.  We both felt the intensity and we had just met.  I walked you back to your cabin and said goodbye.  We made plans to walk round the lake tomorrow.    

   The snow fell hard and fast.  I was snowed in for a month.  I assumed you were too.  By the time I got out, I did not see you again.  I went to your cabin but you had packed and left for the winter.  The winters are bad here.  I left you a note and hoped I'd see you in the spring.  I went back to life and so did you.  I went back to the cabin in the early spring.  I had such plans for us.  I waited and watched.  You never came.  I was sad, but knew how busy things can get.  I wrote until early summer then I went back to the city.  I had a date with my publisher.    

   When I came back to the cabin in the late fall, you had left me a note.  It said you had spent the summer there and hoped to see me.  You had not.  You said maybe in the spring.  Our lives had trouble syncing up.  I could not forget the moments on the frozen lake.  They were so amazing.  I wrote all winter and readied myself for spring.  I could not wait to see you.  Finally, after waiting all winter I saw you down by the lake.  I ran down to say hello.  You said you had met someone.  You said you were sorry.  He came walking down the hill.  He looked perfect for you.  I congratulated you and went for a lonely walk round the lake.