the day by the lake

It was late in the afternoon, and I could see that she was tired. The lack of sun and the overwhelming blue of the water and the dark gray blue of the sky was making her eyes shine in a lingering, haunting way. I thought she might stop talking, I hoped we would go home. We didn't.

What's the ugliest part about you? she asked. She looked too eager when she said it, and suddenly her eyes danced like this had been the only thing she had ever wanted to ask anybody since she was old enough to know what the word ugly meant, what it really meant. I was silent, and she smirked in a frightening way and then she said, I'm just naturally curious, that's all. 

I didn't know what to say so I rambled a bit. She didn't seem interested and so I sighed, exasperated. I really don't know how to answer that, I said. What's the ugliest part about you? 

She looked up quickly and tried to be soft about it but it was a harsh look, too harsh a look for someone as pretty as she was. Her eyes glowed and she said, I thought you'd never ask.