With special thanks to Maya. :)

-EDG

--

On the grass of the Mall in Washington, DC, a couple lay on their backs, their fingers laced.  
One was dressed in warm-weather hiking gear, his pack off to the side, within easy reach; the 
other had a simple sun-dress on, tie-dyed in a starburst of reds and oranges.  Above them, the 
Washington Monument stretched toward the sky, where fireworks blossomed in the night air.

"Nice," she commented, as a blue firework exploded into shimmering sparks, each of which burst 
in green.  "Very nice.  I only wish the circumstances were different."

"Well, the President had to do *something*," he said.  "Two national disasters in six months is 
a little hard for a fractious country to handle.  At least this is encouraging solidarity."

"You know that's not what I meant."

He looked over.  "He left of his own volition," he said quietly.  "There was nothing we could 
do about it; he kept to himself so much that even I was hard-pressed to see his moods.  At 
least he still considers himself allied.  At least he only transplanted himself to a grove in 
the dreamlands."

"Unlike some we know."

He squeezed her hand.  "That was uncalled for."

"No, it wasn't.  Self-deprecatory, yes, but then, I'm not exactly being cruel to myself when 
it's true, am I?"

He smiled and turned back to the sky.  "Truth."