title: Nostalgia
by: Luriya
words: 461
"She yearned to go back. She would give up anything to go back to the way things used to be. But she can't. It's a fanciful wish that can't be granted."
NaLu / Flashfic
April.
Lucy was torn between hating and loving the spring month.
One side of her wistfully gazed upon the young children tumbling down the fresh, grassy hills. That side of her admired the vibrant flowers that had fully blossomed, having finally unfurled from their delicate cages, flourishing in the gentle rays of sunlight.
However, the other side of her wanted nothing more than to go back home and burrow inside of her covers until the day was over.
The blonde woman tilted her head up slightly to see the canopy of pink cherry blossoms that reached out from both sides, a lick of cerulean blue peeping out in between the rosy hues.
She felt a sharp tug at her heartstrings. They reminded her too much of him. Her eyes misted with wavering tears that she wouldn't allow to fall.
Lucy remembered the first time that he took her here - way back when they were high school sweethearts. It was an incredibly romantic idea of his, which was rather uncharacteristic of him as he was as thick as two short planks when it came to romance. Though she didn't care. He was her dense idiot.
This place quickly became somewhere special to them. The start of their beginning and their many firsts. Their first date, their first kiss, their first... well, those thoughts were not appropriate right now.
Her lips curled upwards slightly, though the short-lived smile was tainted with a touch of sadness, the longing a deep scar on her heart. She yearned to go back. She would give up anything to go back to the way things used to be. But she can't. It's a fanciful wish that can't be granted.
Dainty, slender fingers reached up to curl around the comforting weight around her neck and Lucy buried her nose in the soft material, eyes fluttering shut as she inhaled; desperate to catch a hint of him. But there was none - not after all this time.
Lucy slowed her pace when she realised that she was getting closer to that special tree. Their tree. To another person, it would be impossible to differentiate between one cherry blossom tree to another, but to Lucy, she just knew.
Their tree was stood there, strong and unwavering despite the years, and Lucy approached it, the nostalgia becoming stronger with every step.
She ran her hand down the rough, darkened bark, completely lost in her own, isolated world as she was completely absorbed in her memories. Lucy traced over the indents that were made in the wood, the lines sharp and precise, spelling out a name.
Her cheeks were unable to stay dry, the tears hot and uncontrolled.
"I miss you... Natsu."
The wedding ring on her finger glinted in the light.
fin.