Red Poppy #1: Spring in December
Her hair flows with the warm and calm wind while her fingertips flow over the field of Ranunculus and Daisy. Her body dances to the sound of trees as if nature has become one giant orchestra. I wish I could stay here forever and be with you for the rest of my life.
But…
I know I can't.
No matter how hard I try to erase everything, her sweet smile, her gentle touch, just everything about her keeps me warm even on the coldest night. Every inch of my body begs for her to come back, a selfish request, but it’s the only thing I want more than anything else in this world. But the only thing I have left of her are snapshots, a fracture of beautiful moments I've shared with her for the past five years. As I hold these pictures, I can't help but reminisce everything as if I'm living that moment once more.
“Look at this lake; isn't it beautiful? I'm so excited to spend a week here!” She said those words with utter joy as she runs relentlessly towards the small wooden deck overlooking the lake. As she was looking at that beautiful scenery, all I could ever think is capturing that moment for me to treasure forever.
*Knock*
“Here is your food.” The nurse smiles as she puts the tray of food on my table. For the past year I've been here, she's been my friend and sort of a motherly figure for me. She never failed to give me advice and gives me courage during therapies. I'm so happy that even in this place I called prison I found someone as nice as her.
“Thinking of her again?” She sat beside my bed and tried to feed me. I nod and smile, but she knows smiling is the last thing I want to do. I looked back into the photos once more. Five years are not enough for me. It’s selfish of me to keep her, or even let her go, but I realize the closer we get to each other, the lonelier we'll ever become. So in the end, I've decided to leave and be forgotten.
“Life is too short to be sad,” she stated.
“You still have her, in here” and she pointed out her finger into my heart.
“And she'll always stay in here. No matter where she goes, she'll always have me,” I answered with a big smile on my face, ‘cause I know no matter what happens to me, my love for her will never change.
“Ah! I just remembered!”
She immediately grabs something out of her pocket.
“Here, I hope this helps you.” She took my hand and put a small envelope. She smiled, grabbed the tray, and rushed to exit the room, but before she can even leave, I said
“Thank you.” I smiled faintly. She also smiled and closed the door of my room.
I hesitantly opened the envelope, and to my surprise, a familiar scent has hit my nose.
“No… it can’t be.” I uttered. A picture with her handwriting in it. My hands are shaking, and I couldn't think straight. It’s a picture of that same area where we've visited before on the small wooden deck. Tears began to fall out of my eyes, but before I break down, I managed to get hold of myself and look at the back of the postcard.
“You left, but still, my heart aches for you. One day, I'll find my way back home, in your arms ‘cause I've promised that I'm yours, forever.”
“Don’t find me, I beg you. I don't want to hurt you more than I already have. Forget about me—find someone who could make you happy and will stay by your side, please.” I told myself. I cried, I screamed, and I cried over and over until my eyes dried out and my voice cracked down.
Let me go...