Distance
It's been years since then.
The streets of her home are populated as they've always been, and she observes the passersby as she's always done. She tells herself that it's only to pass the time, that she isn't waiting for anyone. She doesn't have any friends, anyway.
But then she sees a flash of blond hair, a tall man walking in the crowd, scraggly and careless and nothing's changed, he's just like he used to be —
"Pino! Pino, wait!" she calls out, leaping up, chasing after him. Her voice is lost amongst the noise of the street, and she shouts louder, desperate, terrified she'll be unheard and left behind. Her heart is pounding and she feels so much like a child again, scrawny, helpless. "It's me, Aurora, I'm not — please, please, come back!"
He doesn't look back. He turns a corner and he's gone, and she drops to the ground, feeling so small and insignificant amongst the people passing through. An awful emptiness sets in like a weight.
What could I have done?
She thought of the times when he would visit, when her mother would fuss and cook him only the best meals. It didn't matter that they could barely afford it, that Aurora had worked as well to cover the expenses. If it made him happy, that was all she needed.
It shouldn't have been like this...
But in the end, he had been right. Life is cruel to everyone.