the trees above us had lost their blossoms

leaving skeletons of branches

quivering in the wind

contorted to the best of their ability as they reached for the sky.

nothing i wanted to say exited my mouth

instead i simply gazed at the world around me

taking in what i suddenly realised i'd never noticed before.

i guess that's what happens when you're too absorbed in yourself

in your problems

in your own life

that you forget to pay attention to the life existing around you.

i wanted the moment to last

wanted to feel the past flowing out of me as i focussed

on the present

on what was in front of me.

but as it began to near dusk

and Zuzu returned panting to sit with us

Midori spoke up and broke the pause in time.

"Sora-chan, tell me about yourself."