Our Little Cherry Blossoms

twenty two. goodbye

ＪＵＮＥ (( ＣＡＳＥ ))

I'm holding the blossoms tightly in my pocket, heart shivering in fear. No contact, not a word in six years; what am I supposed to say? How am I supposed to act? Fresh pink pilgrims are twirling around me, and I don't even know if...

"I love you!"

The words tumbled from my lips before I could think. I could feel my face flushing red, but I don't regret what I said. Lark stood before me in the midst of students bumbling about, with feathers in her hair and the universe in her gaze. It looked like she could spread her beautiful wings and take to the sky. Without me. Please...

"Stay with me."

Her eyes shimmered with salt, blinking green in the light of the afternoon sun. Her chin crinkled like the surface of my heart, and her placid expression melted into a sob. Chest wrenching like a serrated knife to my gut, I took a tentative step towards her before I, too, began to weep. I was too afraid to make another move, for surely she'd reject me. So I remained still and rested my gaze on her faded black flats, tears painting the pavement and latching to my lashes.

"...Case."

Her voice diffused into the summer air and softened at my ears like cotton candy, the single syllable wafting off her tongue as if her mouth was made to speak my name. I jerked my head up and stared at her. I saw a viridescent ocean of sea foam floating quietly, its waves as light as feathers soothing my soul as she reached out and grasped my hand. My voice didn't know what to do.

"You..you said my-"

A breath of cool air buffeted my face and suddenly a pair of fawn-coloured wings flooded my vision, its plumage touching my lips like a flower petal drifting to the earth. It didn't take me long to recover from the shock. Shutting my eyes in agonised joy, I pressed back into Lark's kiss and ran my hands through her silky waves and cupped her cheeks as gently as I could manage, every part of me aching not to let go. Delicate fingers caressed the nape of my neck, and I could feel her other hand stroking my jawline. I thought my chest would explode.

"We'll meet in this next month, when we're twenty four and ready to love." This is what she had said before walking away, through the cherry blossoms and out the black gate, leaving me empty.

And then there was nothing. She'd stepped away and averted her eyes from mine, mine which were lost, hurt and in despair. I knew it was time, and I knew I agreed to it, but why did it have to rip me apart like this? Why did she have to leave? Trapped and lovesick, I took her hand in mine for the last time and kissed her forehead, biting back tears that had already fallen.

"Goodbye, Lark."

"...Goodbye."

I don't even know if she'll be there.