Yuki hears howling of wolves around dusk, always at the same time, almost daily. She knows the language of the howls with serene intimacy. It is comforting to hear, even though her friends at university think otherwise. She listens to the sounds intently, her face stony in its blankness; her body remained stiffly in place as long as she heard a wolf howl. It was as if a secret wafted t hrough the piercing sound, and Yuki had to be still and tall to receive it.
"You zoned out there for a second, Yuki," her friend states, a quiet kindness woven into her voice. Yuki blinks, a little dazed. She turns to her friend, a lovely girl, in slow motion.
"Yeah, sorry, wolf howls bring back good memories," Yuki says, letting a warm smile cross her lips. Her friend matches that smile, and it's one of understanding.
Be safe, Ame.