It was beautiful
The shinto shrine painted a majestic red
On the left, under stable wooden pillars painted the same shade of red
sat beautiful people
beautiful in their togetherness
apart they would be divided with their barrier of loneliness
but together, they united like a beautiful symphony
yet, that wasn't enough
never enough
because there was always a heaven ahead
stone steps treaded the worn path to the skies
a tranquil perfect image of heaven
too perfect
Suddenly, I became aware
of the houses on the right
desolate, abandoned, and forsaken
by the people no longer there
the symphony stopped playing
And with the truth gone, the illusion shattered
Because
They were Gone
And I was Empty
