The Lost Love Among the Flowers

As the bicycle reaches the edge of the flower-covered path,the young woman—who minutes ago had been a hunched old lady—quietly climbs down.
Her eyes shine, but her smile has faded.She walks toward the pots.Her hand slides across the wet leaves.
– “We planted these together… He said he’d come back one day…”
Hana stands beside her, silent.
The young woman leans in, brings her nose close to a purple flower.A deep breath.Silence fills the space.
– “I’m still waiting. Right here. Beside my flowers…”
Then she lowers her head.Says nothing.Doesn’t move.
Hana looks at her for a few seconds.Then gently turns back, touches the purple flower in the girl’s hand.The flower slips from her fingers and twirls into the night breeze…
Moments later,a loud rumble from the sky.Thunder.A white flash of lightning lights up the entire forest.
The rain pours hard.The small umbrella on the bike pops open on its own.
Hana gets back on.The girl just raises her hand and waves with a smile laced with sorrow.
– “Keep going, girl of life…”
Hana disappears into the rain.The wheels turn like music,and the thunder sounds like a call into the heart of the dark…