The Way It Was Before (Alternative Ending)

Enigma Of Autumn and Summer

It was a week before Christmas when I saw the sight of my hometown once again. I watched as the snow falls gracefully down to the white covered ground. The branches of the trees were bowing down since a thick layer of snow were on top of them. Each color seemed to enhance because of the white blanket hovering around them. It was beautiful, yet at the same time, I felt my chest tightening in pain I cannot explain.

As I entered the school where I was once a student, I went to the first place that popped into my mind. I stood at the doorway, glancing around the old band room. Back in those days where it was scattered with random boxes and papers, now it all seemed like an empty space. I can't help but feel the bitterness rush through me, wishing that those times will come back. That they can repeat all over again like the songs in a music player. And stop when all of us had smile on our faces, as if the world will never turn its back on us.

I wish it will all turn back to the way it was before.

Memories flooded into my mind, almost making my head ache from it. I can almost taste in my tongue the feeling that I tried to erase, it was as bittersweet as a dark chocolate. Stinging as the thorns of the most beautiful rose. Maybe there was a beauty in the pain of our yesterdays.

I shook my head before taking a deep breath, making a small fog escape from it. Life must go on, even though it hurts.

As I was about to turn away and leave, my eyes landed on a small yellow object placed at the very corner of the room. Reluctantly, I walked closer to see what it is and when I did, I found myself inhaling a sharp breath.

It was a paper shaped into a flower. A Daffodil origami.

Deep within me, I know who made it. No matter how impossible it may be.

As I picked it up from the cement floor, I felt a lump forming inside my throat. I coughed, forcing to stop the tears from forming in my eyes. Then, I noticed a small handwritten note on one of its petals.

Unfold me, it says.

And so, I did. As my eyes saw the glimpse of it, I gasped.

It was us. A drawing of us.

It was that very day when he first spoke to me, not knowing what he could do to me in our tomorrows. There I was, scrunching down the floor, picking up the papers scattered around, while he was kneeling down with his mouth opened, as if he was saying something.

"Don't touch my things."

Before realizing it, it was too late to stop my tears as they cascaded down my face, a lonely one landed on the paper. Soft, bitter laughs escaped from my mouth. I thought I was fine. I saw him a month ago, he was happier. And I thought I was too. I always said to myself that if I saw him again and if he was happy, then I am. I have always wished for his happiness despite the pain he had caused to me.

But, then why does it feel as if I can't breathe?

I was scared to grip the paper too tight, until I hugged it against my chest. All of the times I was with him started bursting into my mind. The smiles. The laughs. The tears. The late night calls and messages. The stars. The kisses. Everything came into my mind as if reminding me that he was already a stranger to me. A person who once meant so much to me is now gone in my life. And I can't help but wish for him to come back and be with me, never leaving my side again.

Am I too selfish?

I continued sobbing like a little girl who was taken away from her favorite toy, until I felt that there were no more tears left to cry. Once again, I glanced back at the paper, only noticing something else was written below the sketch.