We sat in silence on the ledge of the clock tower above the train station. I could make out the tiny trains growing smaller as they departed until they faded into the glowing sunset. The sun shone with brilliant beams of color. Deep reds and yellows illuminated our faces as I sat with him on the clock tower. His messy hair seemed a more vibrant orange, and the sky lent its hue to my white dress and pale cheeks. We sat there, all but forgetting out cares and fears. The sun was our only witness.

I turned my head to steal a glance at him. Every day he would come to this tower and stare into the sunset. Just thinking and saying nothing. And in response, I begged him silently to let me in. What are you thinking? Why can't you tell me? I was shut out. I was frustrated. I wanted to know what went on in his head. His dreamlike, faraway gaze tore through my mind and etched itself into my heart, but I never had the courage to speak for myself. So there we sat, him in his own world, and me leaning at his door, waiting.

The ice cream in his hand was starting to lose its frost, but it remained unnoticed, and I unconsciously curled my fingers around my own. With its icy touch and sea-foam complexion, it seemed to have come from some other world. One I wasn't sure I knew. Its salty-sweet flavor lingered on my lips, but the flavor was melancholy. Today was my turn to buy, but he insisted on taking the turn. When I asked why, he simply smiled, and we were on our way.

I looked at him again. He was sitting straighter, but looked confused. The light in his eyes shared with me no secrets, and I could only stare. I closed my eyes and sighed. I heard him take a deep breath. It startled me at first. It sounded like a faint breeze misting over a wave. He turned to me and took the step I could not take: A break in the silence.

"Why do you suppose someone decided to put two completely different things together and try to make them work, like vanilla and salt?" he asked, holding up his untouched ice cream.

I gaped at him for a moment and then quickly shut my mouth, embarrassed. I thought it was an odd thing to say, but I thought about it and replied. "I don't know," I said. "You wouldn't think such an odd combination could work as well as it does."

He looked down, resting his arms on his knees as he leaned forward. "Vanilla is very sweet, and has a strong scent. Salt is subtle and tangy, and sometimes bitter."

"They're complete opposites, but they go together so perfectly." I tried to sound cheerful. "They better each other, don't you think? The strong taste of the vanilla overpowers the bitterness in the salt."

"You could even say it's harmonious," he added with what sounded like a sad note.

The silence returned, but it was a fulfilled silence. In the next minute, we had finished our ice creams and continued to sit as before. I smiled to myself. We hadn't talked like this in too long a time. Even over something this simple. I missed it. Then I heard him whisper.

"Kind of like us…"

He said it quietly under his breath as if for me not to hear, but I caught it anyway. It caught me by surprise, but I could tell that was his intent. I looked at him without anything to say. He simply gave me his sad smile and swallowed me into his bright blue eyes. And before I could understand what he meant, he leaned closer to me and softly kissed me on the cheek. Then he stood up and left.

My eyes were wide, taking in the warm, empty air in a daze. I looked to where he had been only a moment ago. In his place was a small stick, same as the one I held, but a subtle difference. On it were printed letters that spelled out "winner".