Let The Light In || SasuSaku

Chapter 1

            Lying in bed, the only poor light that her room brought came from the half-open flowery curtain. The gentle spring night breeze made them dance, creating a dance of slippery shadows. For a few minutes she abandoned her tumultuous thoughts; these ranged from "Where is he?", "Is he okay?" and, most importantly, "Will he allow it... next time?" She let his gaze wander among the slender shadows, which, strangely enough,  provided her with something similar to comfort. It was a silent dawn, the kind where you hear the beating of the heart and the flow of blood, for a day that would become so special. In addition to her birthday, there would be her friends would  marry in the same day. Months before that big day, Naruto and Hinata came to Sakura to invite her to the ceremony, as well as offer her the position of godmother. They sincerely apologized for the somewhat boring choice of date. Sakura, however, shared the couple's happiness.           

            Without her parents at home, who chose to retire and moved to the interior of the village, she was sometimes late for daily activities, even on days off. The house, which used to be a haven for father's laughter and mother's complaints, fell into a painful silence. She got up. Walking down the hallway, the only noticeable sound was the constant, metallic dripping of the faucet, something that, as far as she knew, she should have fixed it a long time ago. Preparing breakfast, she reflected on how long it had been without a party since the war. A nostalgic joy invaded his mind, permeated by the bitterness of loss and the relief of lighter times. She ran to tidy up the house and go to meet Ino, who had invited her to get ready together and join the celebration.

           -   Sakura... what are those dark circles in your eyes? -   Ino gave her a curious look and then hugged her tightly, congratulating her on her birthday. - I know today is our friends' wedding, however, I can't miss my best friend's birthday. She quickly moved out of sight, only to return with a gift.  

           -   Thank you so much Ino... and... I honestly thought no one would remember - commented Sakura, accompanying the words with a smile that reflected all the gratitude she felt for her friend. 

Once in her hands, she noticed that the gift was carefully contained in a small box wrapped in decorative paper and tied with a bow. When she opened the package, she saw that they were two silver ring-shaped bracelets that matched her friend's. After this little moment, they went to Ino's room and started to get ready. However, she couldn't remember the last time she had worn makeup, so every attempt to blend out her eyes was frustrating. Although she mastered all the knowledge of medical ninjutsu, she found herself perplexed by the simple choice of which eye shadow would best match her dress. Unlike Sakura, Ino had a natural ability in these matters and looked at her with a look that indicated she knew she would have to save her friend's makeup. 

                From Konoha's entrance gate to the last buildings, which extended some distance from the main tower, every detail received meticulous attention, thanks to the Hokage. The wedding of the hero of the Fourth Ninja War was eagerly awaited by all the citizens of the village, as well as by inhabitants of other nations. For her, it was the most dazzling event she had ever participated in, especially because he was a dear friend of hers. During the celebration party, she contemplated how fun it was to witness her childhood friends in formal attire, dancing happily and clearly drunk. In a moment, when observing her friends with their respective peers, she realized how lonely she felt, carrying with her an emptiness that only she knew and that had a name. But this emptiness instantly dissipated when during the party, a messenger hawk landed on her shoulder. When she removed the letter attached to the bird, she discovered that it was from him.

           -   Sasuke-kun. Accompanied by a congratulation. She looked up, contemplating the bluish expanse carved by clouds. A smile lit up her face.