When the Stars and Flowers Fall...

🌳

Last autumn...

Me and Hiromi sat under our favourite tree in the park: the silver osmanthus tree. The air around us was thick with the sweet smell of its blossoms. Occasionally a waxy crescent shaped leaf would drift down onto our laps, and we would throw it in the air to watch it pirouette back down to the ground in a flurry of dark green.

We leaned against each other on the thick strong trunk of the tree, almost giddy with happiness. Our fingers were intertwined, tight with excitement and friendship, as we looked at each other and swore the oath. "I, Sumire Akatsuki, swear to never stop being best friends with Hiromi Utanami and I will always be by her side." Solemn for a moment, I slowly shook our entwined pinkies as a seal of our promise. I turned to tell her something but started when I felt something small and light drop onto my shoulder.

"Look..." Hiromi breathed. "Look at the flowers!" I looked up to see that the flowers from the tree were falling on us, like soft snow. Their sweet, fragrant perfume filled the air, and the small, delicate flowers continued to fall. I thought that their star shape made it look like we were caught in an avalanche of shooting stars falling from the night sky. Like the Milky Way itself was dropping into our hair.

We stood there for a long time, staring up at the sky, and marvelling at the wonders of nature. The sunlight filtering through the soft, olive-coloured leaves of the tree danced across our faces, making our smiles seem even more alive. I reached my arms up and twirled around drunkenly, and Hiromi giggled, brushing her shoulder-length hair away from her face. Then she stood up and did a graceful turn. We collapsed onto each other, breathlessly laughing.

Before long, we felt the sky darkening and we saw as a beautiful sunset was painted gradually across the sky. Both our flushed faces were turned red by the setting sun, and I turned to Hiromi.

"We should go home now." She nodded. But when I tried to step out from the tree, she thrust her arm out to stop me. I started, and froze.

"Wait! We can't move!" She pointed to the ground - it was covered in a thick blanket of white flowers. "We can't step on them!" she laughed, her voice sounding like the tinkling of silver bells. I laughed too. "The tree has trapped us!"

I bent down carefully and scooped up a few handfuls of the flowers and gently put them in my pocket. Maybe we could make perfume with them later. Or a scented soap! Maybe we could attempt to make potpourri (whatever that was)...?

As I hugged Hiromi goodbye, I knew we were going to be best friends forever. My heart sank as I remembered how we weren't going to be in the same class, but I knew it was going to be okay. I could see Hiromi everyday at school now!

"Promise to come home with me everyday after school!" I called over my shoulder, my arm aching from waving goodbye. I could see the top of her head from over the fence.

"Promise!" she called back.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello everyone!

i once (quite a while ago) read a short story by Mikie Ando and i remembered being struck by the simple storytelling but accurate portrayal of teenage relationships. the original is amazing so you should check it out (if you can read Japanese, that is).

this story is something i've written because i was inspired by it - i hope you enjoy it?
please vote and comment to tell me what you think!

blue xox