Strings of Fate (One Shot Compilations)

I. Strings of Fate

She will also wait for people to vacate the park and she'll find herself sitting on the park's swing. Swinging herself slowly until the sun sets.

There's also days where she'll wear something different other than her favorite yellow sweater. Those days when she decides to wear a white summer dress, he can only admire her sun kissed skin.

But something he couldn't understand was why despite the beauty of her skin, there's noticeable purple bluish marks on her neck and shoulders and the people with her in the park never bothered to ask her what happened.

They just went about their normal days like she never existed…

And he couldn't understand why he's so bothered by her either…

He couldn't understand why it hurt.  How he teared up when he saw and heard her almost silent cries when she called herself worthless that day.

He wanted to disagree with her, but he couldn't understand why.

He was supposed to go on his usual normal days just like the people in the park do. After all, he shouldn't meddle with their affairs, but sometimes he wishes he could.

If only he can.

If only so could he could tell her he's listening to her when no one does, and he's willing to lend his ears to her anytime she wants.

If only it's possible…

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He saw his brother Mindy's soured expression as he stared at him. ”What are you doing again, Oak? You're staring at that human again! You must move a muscle, the rain is dangerous! “ his brother's voice is sharp and firm, nudging Oak with his beak.

The rain was already slow, but it might go faster again. Oak, a sparrow, only nodded to his brother. Although he doesn't want to leave, he doesn't want to leave the human girl alone while it's raining.

”You go first, Mindy. I'll join you afterwards”. He stared at the human girl again, who was blankly staring at the sky. His brother, against the idea, pulled Oak's feather using his beak.

”Stop your delusion, Oak! The girl will never notice you! Even if she does, she'll just treat you like a pet she couldn't understand. Don't waste your time on her. We only have three more years to live than humans who can live a hundred! “ his brother answered him, voice laced with fury.

He couldn't find himself to argue because it is indeed the truth. He could be there for her for only three years, but she'll exist even if he's already dead. His species needs to live fully for just a short amount of time while hers, they got plenty to spare.

If he misses today,  he'll lose it forever.  She has a lot more chances than he does. 

Even if he tried to help her today,  will it even matter?

He listened to what his brother told him. They flew and left to find a bigger tree.

…And it was the decision he regretted that he had made. When he went back to the tree in the park a day after, he didn't see her again.

He waited and waited. Seasons had changed, and she never came back.

If he just went on and comforted her even if he's a bird, maybe things would be better. He was certain his brother, Mindy, was wrong.

Human lives are indeed longer than theirs, but just like theirs, it is uncertain.

He somewhat knew that she's no more. It must've been the bruises… or it must've been her sadness, but no matter which reason it was—she can never come back.

”Is she finally happy out there? ” He couldn't bring himself to ask. After all, he never saw the girl smile, not even once.

He thought that she'll still exist after he's no more, but fate was cruel that she went first than him.

If there's another life, he only wishes that when he sees her on the same bench again... he's able to approach her, extend his hand, and listen to her stories.

-

A man wearing a yellow knitted sweater finds himself walking to the direction of the park near his home. He's holding a red colored umbrella as he walks on the sidewalk. He knew any moment from now, it'll rain. The sky was dark, and the wind was chilly. He wasn't supposed to go out, but he suddenly had the drive to.

He always had this feeling that he needed to go out and go to the park whenever it's raining.

Maybe because he finds comfort drawing different sceneries when it's pouring rain or perhaps there's this familiarity he always feels when he's in the park, sitting on his favorite shed as he hears the rain drops.

He opened his umbrella when he heard a patter, walking slowly. He found himself staring at a raven haired woman wearing the same yellow sweater as him who walked past him. She's with someone, a man, who's holding her umbrella for her. They were talking happily, and she was smiling from ear to ear as the man whispered something to her.

He stopped on his tracks and observed the two strangers as they walked together.

Somehow, he couldn't understand why he felt happy seeing the girl smile, yet there's sorrow plaguing his heart.

He had the sudden pull to approach her, but he knew she wouldn't understand his actions even if he'd dare to. He could only stop his hand from reaching her and his heart from invoking a storm he couldn't survive.

She doesn't know him, and he doesn't know her either. Yet, somehow, the familiarity is something that could end his life in an instant.

But there's nothing he can do to face her. He can only feel his cheeks dampen in tears, with a heavy heart he himself couldn't comprehend.

The rain continued to fall, and the gentle patter became his fated companion.  Enough to quell his storm, but never to silence its sorrows.

-