Water continues to pass by, after so many years still remaining unaffected by that which surrounds it. The air is crisp and sharp, snowflakes clinging to the once beautifully adorned cherry trees. Every branch, every twig, is devoid of the magnificent pink petals; all that is left is hard, knotted wood. The midmorning sun shines enough to glare but does not offer any warmth; the snow that laces the earth exists unmelted. The area is enveloped in a peaceful quietude; too cold for children to play outside, let alone the sound of suzume song.
No, only a single man steps through the fluffy white ground, mist flowing from his every breath. The soft pad of his feet as they compact the white below, are the only interruptions to the hushed calm. Standing sure against the elements, exuding an unusual sense of dignity, he perchances upon a sturdy wooden bridge; yuki still resting upon its railing. Stopping partway through crossing, he notices an absence of all life. His gloved hands come to rest upon the bridge balustrade; his eyes absorb the crystalline scenery as he waits.
Time slips away and still nothing has changed; the man still waits, the snow still blankets the stream and its surroundings. The sun that lacked passion during the day fades to bluegray, the onset of nightchill deepening. Through the darkening horizon, the man slowly lets his head hang and his shoulders fall forward, as if the weight that bore down on him he can no longer stand. A single drop impacts the snow resting on the balustrade between his hands; first melting the snow, then setting with it, frozen in a little crater. A slight shudder wreaks through him.
For her, the one who waited patiently by the wooden bridge. The blossoms have long since fell. All that remains is a single frozen teardrop, and memories filled with sadness.
Thanks for actually coming back! As you can see, this website has finally been treated to a makeover. It really did need it—maybe not visually, but with the codebase, definitely—so please bear with me as I get things refreshed.
The next major step is to reskin the blog the same as the site… and add some final touches to the copy… and add more rotating images… and anything else I think of… hopefully it will all be finished soon!