Of Silent Nights and Wishful Prayers
Disclaimer: Naruto is property of Kishimoto Masashi and therefore not mine.
The leaves made soft, rustling sounds as the night breeze past by. The night was cold, the air crisp with soft wisps of fog spreading over the quiet village of Konoha. The street lamps let out a hazy glow as the fog muted them to a faint smear of yellow.
A young girl of fifteen trudged down a familiar path, holding a white daffodil in her hand. Chills ran down her spine as she silently berated herself for forgetting a coat. She brought her hands closer to her chest, seemingly protecting the flower with the heat of her body; even though, she knew this particular breed could stand the dropping temperatures better than she could.
But, she deemed it too fragile... too precious to be handled carelessly.
She continued on her way, her pace slowing as she reached an all-too-familiar place—one she visited once every year for the past three years.
Although it has been awhile, Sakura could still feel the emotions stirring up within her as her mind automatically flashbacked to a night—tonight—three years ago.
I love you with all my heart!
You're annoying.
I'll scream if you go!
Sakura... thank you.
Quickly shaking her head before her heart could register the pain coursing through her veins, Sakura made her way to a bench—the same bench where he had left her all those bittersweet years ago—and placed the innocent, white flower on it.
She closed her eyes, clasping her hands close to her heart as if in prayer. She stayed like that for a few more minutes before stepping back and staring up the sky.
A mirthless smile appeared on her lips as she eyed the crescent moon hanging behind a canopy of stars and an endless black horizon. Her heart raced when she remembered the moments... that one evening when things reached the breaking point.
Taking a deep breath, she tore her eyes away from the sky, glancing once back to stare at the bench before she retraced her steps back to her home.
Another night, another year... but she was still wishing... waiting...
But then again, she never really did give up on hope. The daffodil was a testament to that. If it could wait for long months of winter then she could too.
Spring would always come; this lonely winter, no matter how long would end… of that she was sure. That day will come when he would be home soon.
Because, despite everything, she still had faith.
~FIN~
A professor of mine told our class this when we started the semester last June, "What's in it for me? What's the purpose for doing this task?" I often ask myself that these days and when I was writing this, I wondered what exactly am I trying to accomplish.
I thought about it and I debated whether or not I should post this because I couldn't think of one reason why I wrote this. But then when I was on the verge of deleting this piece, I realized. I wasn't just doing this for me but for the one pairing that has set a major difference in my life. The one pairing that had taught me to hope and to believe.
So, this is dedicated to all SasuSaku fans who have lost hope, still hope and keep on hoping for the one pairing that has made all the difference in my life and possibly yours too.
But most especially to Miko-chan and hanabi_no_ai and the whole fracturedtales familt for helping me remember what it feels like to believe in something that seems impossible but never really is once you have found the support and love from those around you. So, thank you, really!
(Forgive me if the story doesn't mean anything... I was being emotional when I wrote this last night. I told you I get emotional when I read too much angst!)