"Marry me, Sakura," He said abruptly. He was holding her hands, looking anxiously into her eyes. "You will, won't you?" She wasn't sure whether it was a demand or a question. Her head felt light and woozy. Sakura took a step back, her hand to her head. "Sakura? Are you alright?" This must be a dream… all a dream. Why would he? No, he just wouldn't. When he went to try to hold her, she took several steps away, her back hitting the stair railing. It was a long way to fall. "Whoa, Sakura. Don't fall. Sakura? Did I say something wrong? Are you alright?" His eyes. Too eager. Sakura couldn't speak. This was all a dream, she was sure.
"N-no. I am okay," She whispered. "Please, just leave me alone…" She took a few steps to the wall, and slid down it. She started to tremble. Sakura, just say yes. This is what you want, isn't it? But she didn't know what she wanted. He looked as if she shot a thousand arrows into his poor heart. She saw his lips move. Those lips she's become rather drawn to. The lips she secretly craved. He was saying something. What was it? She wanted to say to him, "I can't read lips." But her throat was closed up, her tongue dry. Her vision blurred, sending her into blackness. Oh how she wished she could stay in the dark forever. So isolated.
"He was so sweet, Sakura," Ino giggled. "He even went as far as to take my hand and kiss it before he left. Romantic, isn't it?"
"Yes," Sakura murmured. "Funny how he never asked you about your private life." Ino's happy face paled.
"Well, he didn't have to," Ino said, her voice on edge. "It's not like he has to keep a personal tab on everything I do." Ino was starting to get defensive again.
"Okay, okay. I agree," Sakura was far too uninterested to fight over the subject. "He doesn't have to. But it was just interesting." Ino pouted and then looked closely at her friend. It wasn't like Sakura to seem uninterested in her boyfriends, much less back down on an argument that easy. They always talked about this stuff. Sakura was also looking thinner. Not to mention she seemed absent most of the time, and the only times Ino could connect with her was when they sat on her bed, isolated from the world. Sakura was slowly drifting away, Ino could tell. But to where?
"Tell me who he
is," Ino said quietly. Sakura's back was towards Ino, she was
looking out the window. Today was windy; the leaves looked in danger
of being ripped off the branches. Sakura didn't respond. "Sakura?"
Ino walked over to Sakura. She had her eyes closed. "Hell-oo? I'm
talking to you."
She poked Sakura. The pink haired girl's eyes
snapped open, for a moment revealing the sequined sea foam eyes of
the young woman she should be. It faded quickly.
"There is no one," Sakura whispered; Ino wasn't sure how she mean those words. No one to help her or no one doing this to her? "Sorry, Ino. I have somewhere to go." Sakura moved swiftly, the door opening and then closing with a soft creak. Ino stood there in her apartment, wondering where her best friend was, and why the hell was she replaced this other girl.