The Story of The Phoenix

They sat opposite each other, crosslegged, looking everywhere but at each other. Neither knew what to say, though they'd been to this same spot many times in the past.
But things had changed, and they'd grown apart.
And so they sat there, as strangers to each other, unsure of what to say, how to act.
Finally, Phoenix gave up, surrendered to the smile that had been creeping up inside her.
"I have a story to share with you, if you'll listen"
She did not want him to stop her from telling the tale, so she took a shaky breath and continued.
"I must admit, I love my name. No, I'm not vain, but I do. It's different, noone else has it. It doesn't fit me though." She stuck out her tongue at him, giggled nervously.
"You see, I always thought that it described you better" She looked him in the eyes, smiled slightly. Her voice dropped to a softer tone, its lilt just a few notes above a whisper.
"The phoenix is a lonely animal; only one of its kind existed at any given time. But it survives, always. In time, yes, its fiery plumage darkens, its health begins to fail, but then, do you know what happens?"
Her eyes opened a bit wider, her smile growing a bit wider. "In a burst of flame, the old phoenix is no more. But from the ashes of the old, a new phoenix is born, with downy feathers of the brightest gold, and the zest for life found only in the innocent. From the fires of the old, the phoenix recreates itself into something more powerful and beautiful."
She raised her gaze to meet his. " You really are a phoenix, you know. I can't give you my name, by I could give you the story. Thank you for all you've taught me, my phoenix."