Dried Leaves

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Summer.

We used to chase each other under our tree. Its branches would dance along with us as we sing our favorite song. It’s as if we were putting up a play for the world to see. The birds will sing along will us and I would pretend to be a princess as the birds fly circles around us, and then I would hum. You would stop catching the leaves that keeps on falling on the ground and you would bore your eyes on me in astonishment. I tried to stop, but the frown on your face tells me otherwise. And so, I would continue on singing and humming, pretending to know all of the words as I belt out another note, fueled by the smile painted on your face. At that moment I knew, that there is no need to go to an art gallery whenever I crave for art because your face is art alone. Your smile is so flawless. Breathtaking, even. Every single line on your face seems to tell a story. And who wouldn’t notice the birthmark on your neck? That perfect little thing like a blot on a painting that wasn’t supposed to be there yet it is what completes the picture. A complete package of happiness. As if on cue, the wind blew hard and the leaves fell right after I finished. It’s as if the nature even approved my singing, even the birds chirped once more. The huge grin on your face says it all.

Autumn.

The sun is shining, perfect for biking you said. And so I went out, feeling groggy, and I pedaled along with you on our rusty bikes. I doubted we would even make it to our tree because of the screeching sound that our rides make but you insisted. You threw our bike on the side and ran around our tree like a king observing his castle. But instead of being surrounded by enormous structures that carries treasures within its walls, there was our ol’ tree instead. Its branches swaying a bit, its trunk standing still, with curves and lines all over it.  And the leaves. The golden brown leaves that resembles your eyes. You jumped on the pile of leaves and threw them on the air like a kid. You laughed and with a pirate voice, you scream ‘Golden treasures! Here we have our golden treasures!’. My lips formed a smile. Because the only treasure that I'm thinking of is you.

Fall.

Years passed by without my soul feeling yours. My physical appearance became weak as I drown into the depth sea of my tears. You said you would come back and I held into that promise. I took care of our tree, opposite on what I did with myself. I wrote letters on every leaf that would fall from it using a stick, like what we used to do when we we’re kids, and I would let the wind take it away. I waited hours.. days.. weeks.. months.. years. Hoping it would reach you, wherever you are. A bunch of years passed again. I lived with the pain. At least, I learned how to. I came back on our tree and found it withering, with the leaves falling on the ground.  A loud crunch was heard as I step on one of the leaves. Dried leaves. Withering tree. Dark sky.  A perfect recipe to define what I am feeling. I crushed another dried leaf on my hand and blew it on the wind. Its fragments flew carelessly as it losses its way towards nowhere. I wonder where they would go. Dead end, perhaps? Like the destiny of our souls. Forever lost. Our dreams and promises dried up and lost all of its glow like the leaf I just crushed in my hand.

Oh, how I wish you stayed.