Collection of Stories

Until we meet again

The sweet scent of blooming flowers intoxicates my body. A tear slides coldly down my face, taking with it all the happy moments spent together. My mind is suddenly clouded back to the moment we met, our first meeting. I remember that moment like it was yesterday.

It was a warm spring day, cherry blossom season. You were sitting under a sakura tree, your face concentrated on reading the book in your lap, while your mind wandered in that world of thousands of words. Your favorite book. You were so quiet in that moment, it could seem like one of those romantic scenes that you typically see in movies. Your peace, however, was interrupted by a thud not far from you, it was me. I had tripped over a root while running to reach a quiet place away from all worries and problems. A moan of pain escaped my lips as you gave me a look mixed with surprise and concern. You reached up to me, holding out your hand to help me up, as I nodded to you in thanks. We sat with our backs leaning against the large trunk of that majestic cherry tree and at that moment we looked into each other's eyes. A sweet smile crept onto your face as you asked me if I was okay, like a mother when she sees that her child has been injured.

I returned your smile immediately and, noticing the open book next to you, apologized for interrupting your reading. We were silent for a while, lost in each other's eyes. I observed the delicate features of your face, the short brown hair that fell softly to the side of your ears slightly covering those large emerald pearls you had for eyes. Your clear skin illuminated by the rays that filtered through the branches of the tree that protected us. You had some pink and white petals stuck in your hair and I couldn't help but think how cute that scene was. I ran a hand through them, being able to feel their softness, helping you to remove them. A light laugh escaped my mouth, while you looked at me confused and then realized the situation, joining me. Your laughter was so warm and melodious that I wished I could live that moment forever.

We started talking a little. I discovered that I had several things in common with you: we liked taking long walks immersed in nature, we lived in the world of music and spent our days outdoors to escape from everyday worries. You told me about your great passion for drawing and painting and seeing your gaze light up like that made me happy. I told you about my dream of becoming a composer and musician, I told you about the guitar lessons I had taken since I was little and I promised you something to listen to. We had just met, but it was as if we had known each other for years. It was a wonderful feeling. We talked until the sun decided to set and we didn't hesitate to make an appointment at the same time the next day. We were happy and we knew it.

Spending those moments together under that cherry tree had become one of the best moments of our days. That place had become a special place, our special place. So we spent almost all of our days together, you drawing on your little notebook while I strummed a few notes of some strange song on my guitar. But one day, you stopped coming. I didn't know why you didn't come anymore, but I kept going to that place, hoping to see you sitting against the trunk, intent on reading that stupid book of yours. My hopes faded. I missed spending time talking to you, I missed you. At that moment I realized how stupid the idea of not exchanging phone numbers was, we thought it was more fun that way.

It's been 2 years since we last met and there wasn't even a moment that I stopped thinking about you. I heard the phone ring and stopped what I was doing. One ring, two rings. I answered thinking it was one of my mother's usual calls, it was the hospital. A woman started talking to me kindly asking me to go there immediately, a patient kept asking for me. I hurried out of the house, still confused by the call wondering who wanted to see me in the hospital. I arrived in that place of sad colors and the nurse who had called me a few minutes earlier immediately showed me the way to a room. Room 208. My heart started to slow down as I entered that room. I didn't believe my eyes, it was really you. You were lying in that goddamn bed, you didn't look good. I slowly approached as I whispered your name. Miki. Your gaze met mine, your eyes were dull and your sweet smile no longer lit up your face. You were crying. I looked next to you, your mother gave me a look full of despondency.

Confused I asked what was going on, I was afraid of what he would tell me. I felt a pang in my heart as I heard the answer. You were dying. Tears started flowing copiously from my eyes. I couldn't believe it, I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to lose you just now that I had met you again, I couldn't... I wouldn't have succeeded. I held you tightly in my arms, while I felt your breath getting weaker. Instinctively I held you tighter to me, as if this thing could make you stay by my side longer. I felt the pressure of your arms on my back getting lighter and lighter as you whispered a simple I love you, I'm happy I was able to see you for the last time. My heart skipped a beat at the lack of your sweet breath on me. You had gone away, you had left me again and this time forever.

I feel another tear roll down my face, bringing me back to reality. The scent of those fantastic flowers intoxicates my body. The strong trunk of that Sakura tree makes me feel safe. It hurts to remember that moment. The moment I said goodbye for the last time. I never had the time to tell you how happy I was with the moments we spent together, to tell you how much I loved you and how much I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. I regret not telling you sooner how I felt about you. I didn't even have time to let you listen to the song I wrote for you, but maybe it's for the best. We would have suffered more if we had come out. But one thing I don't regret having done, I don't regret having known you because with you I spent the best moments of my life and I will never forget them.

So, with your song in the background, I immerse myself again in the memories of our happy moments that like mushrooms resurface in my mind, bringing me back to that fantastic world that I never wanted to leave.