And She Moves On


It is days like this these that change lives, but maybe not how you would expect. Simply. A shift in direction, in character. What may seem small becomes a new beginning, a new path, a new life.

The air was hotter than usual and it made her sleepy. The insects buzzed around her as she soaked in the long missed sun and quietly sipped her pink martini. It was her favorite drink; a drink of flirting and outings.

"Yo!" came a familiar voice, but quiet unexpectedly. The girl jumped and the martini glass slipped from her grasp. The boy, almost incapable of a frown, merely grinned at his mistake.

She smiled back. Besides, martinis reminded her of dreams unattainable, goals never reached.

"Gee, sorry. Umm, can I pay you back with some Ramen?" the boy asked with his trademark grin. Tears, he knew as well as she, should not be shed over silly mistakes.

His grin was contagious, but his offer was no more tempting than ever before. She politely declined, and the boy sat down beside her, undiscouraged.

They talked for a while, and eased into a kind of peace that is only attainable while conversing lightheartedly with a dear friend. Soon they were both lightly sweating from the sun, their shoulders beginning to unwind from stressful lives with the light spirit of laughter in the air.

"So," the boy began again, "how's life at the hospital?"

Her heart gleamed with pride. It was good. Quite truthfully, she was good at what she did. So good.

"You know Naruto, Tsunade has offered to send me on a mission to Suma. For a couple years. Away from everything here, I think." She let it hang there, not continuing. The boy took it in, and then-not surprising anyone-grinned.

"Take it Sakura."

The girl spoke softly, "But, it's like giving up."

"Sakura, Sakura," he lightly shook his head.

Just like that, the relaxation in the moment was gone. Sometimes smarter than given credit, he gave her a friendly kiss on the cheek and took his leave.

She sat there, broken martini glass still on the ground, and stared at empty space as a poet might to think of a rhyme. And the insects around her buzzed and the sun blazed down on her.

Because sometimes love isn't worth everything. Especially love unreturned.

She picked up the pieces of glass, and hosed down the liquid until it could be seen no more. Then she began walking to Tsunade's.


Thank you for reading! Inspired by "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway, I came up with this story while I was sitting outside on one of the first hot days of the year.

What does Sakura need to escape? (Please review and tell me if you figured it out or not!) It is—of course—about Sakura needing to move on from a fruitless love of Sasuke. Is anyone else frustrated she loves someone who seems more and more like a hopeless case? Not that I blame her at all! She just needs a little push, just like this, if she will ever be able to put her feelings for him aside.