Summary: Sakura read something. But what is it supposed to mean?

"If you love something, set it free; if it comes back it's yours, if it doesn't, it never was."
~Richard Bach

Sakura was shocked.

No, shocked wasn't even a strong enough word to describe it.

Her world was rocked from its already unstable foundation.

She was traumatized.

Horribly surprised.

Stunned.

Shaken.

Taken aback.

So... let's just go with shocked.

According to a relationship advice book, with someone you love, you should let them go. And since she KNEW that the object of her love loved her back (of course, how could he not?), she let him go. Except three years later-he still was nowhere to be found. Even that blonde whirlwind of a baka had returned. Much taller, stronger, with a six pack and an incredibly powerful jutsu... Snap out of it, Sakura! But still, Sakura would not be reduced to a sniveling girl who sits in the corner being depressed. So that pinkette in the corner-definitely not her.

Definitely.

"Hey, Sakura-chan, would you please come walking with me on a youthful stroll through the blossoming cherry blossoms that so greatly compliment your beautiful skin, hair, eyes, and everything?"

Yeah, so Lee was getting better with compliments, compared to Sasuke's nothing.

"Hey Sakura-chan, I know I already asked this morning," And every day since you came back a month ago... "but would you like to go out to lunch with me?"

And she had to admit that Naruto was one persistent guy. A whole lot more than Sasuke's nothing.

"Hey Forehead! Come on out with the girls and I! We're going shopping! You can pick out anything for your birthday and I'll pay!"

Ino was great with gifts. Better than Sasuke's... nothing.

"Sakura! Meet me at my office! I've got another technique to show you if you want to learn!"

Plus, Lady Tsunade gave her things to do with her time that were actually productive. Unlike watching Sasuke doing... nothing...

Sakura finally had a revelation. Sasuke wasn't worth her time! She decided to get out of the darkness and get on with her life. Obviously, it was the second option. If he didn't come back, they simply weren't meant to be.

But if that was so,

Why did it still hurt so much?

A/N: Yeah, I know it ended on a really sad note, but what was I supposed to do? Have Sasuke swoop in and kiss her? Pfft, like that's ever gonna happen. But then again, it's not very likely that Sakura will ever get over Sasuke... Oh well. Power of the pen!