The Butterfly Weed's New Poem

Without breaking my gaze on her lips, I reach out my left hand to find her right one to her side. Once I feel her fingertips lay upon my palm, I lead it to my chest. I make her feel my heartbeat.

I'm transfixed on the glistening shine of her lips, despite there being no direct light to make them pop like that.
Like the time she put her head on my chest, I want her to know how she makes me feel.

The roaring cheers of children and the rustling sound of the ferris wheel falls silent to us. We are clearly focused on one thing: Our significant other's face. Palpitations become stronger and stronger, and my thoughts are clearer than ever.

I love her, I love everythin' about her! I don't know how, but the fact that I managed to make this angel on Earth all mine…definitely makes me the luckiest guy on the planet.

*Do it,* I tell myself.

As we share a warmhearted stare for a solid minute, I make up my mind.
"Yuri," I whisper.

"H-Hmm?"

"We've only just started datin', but I don't want to lose this moment."

"M-Me neither… I want this too…"

I caress her right cheek.
"Happy birthday, Yuri. I love you."

"Ki-Kiyoshi…"

I see a tear swelling, but it disappears as she closes her eyes. I inch closer to her, and a strand of her hair hangs ahead of her left eye. I gently swipe it out of the way and tuck it behind her left ear, then I run two fingers from behind her ear across her refined jawline until I reach her chin; this is awfully familiar.

Her skin is as smooth as silk, unhindered by the imperfections of a human.

I tenderly lift her chin towards me, our noses only centimeters apart. I close my eyes too, knowing neither of us have any more words to exchange; as we said all that we wanted to say. The only thing left to do is to use our mouths for something other than speaking words.

We each tilt our head to our right. The sound of our breathing is silent, but the sound of our heartbeats reverberate in the cart; in sync. From her chin, my hand falls to her hand that is still on my chest. With that, our lips finally kiss.

I think, The lips that caress every word that she speaks finally lay between mine. I can feel my heart burstin' into butterflies, and just like their wings, my lips can only flutter at the touch of her grace. She's managed to make me feel like I'm floatin' in the heavens.

Sixty seconds of passion feels like an eternity. The urge to continue grows stronger with each second, but we know that lust will only reverse what we have built. We simultaneously part lips and pull away. The crimson tone on her face, and most definitely mine, matches the color of her lips.

Silence echoes through the cart as the wheel makes its way around. Despite nothing being said, we instinctively hold each other's hand as we make it to the end of the ride. The sensation of our fingers interlocking is different from before, now I know there's love behind it.

For the rest of the day, we – as a couple – make our way around the entire park. Before leaving the park, we return to the butterfly weed field and take one more look at the poem.

"You made this happen, Kiyoshi," says Yuri, as she lays her head on my shoulder.

"Don't lie, we both made this happen. You started this journey when you pulled me from a river of burdens."

"Well, you finished it by planting a new field of life. I hope we can bring the butterfly weed's new poem to Kyoto, then Italy, and then the rest of the world."

"It'll be tough, but I'm sure we can do it. After you're done with school, we'll be living together, right? We'll have plenty of time to figure things out."

She hugs me again.
"Thank you, Kiyoshi."

"Thanks to you too, Yuri. Now come on, we have to tell everyone what happened today. Muku's goin' to call you sister from now on, and Maru and Akaki are goin' to make fun of us. Let's just get it over with."

"Fufu," she giggles. "I can't wait! Let's go!"

I had made many mistakes in life, but everything that involved her led me here; I would never want to change to that. For the last time today, I read the poem on the plaque in my head. The voice reciting isn't my own, nor is it Swani or Akaki or Maru or Muku.

It's her voice.
The voice of the girl on the other side of the hedge.
The voice of the girl that became my girlfriend.
The voice of the girl that would become my fiancée and bride.
The voice of the girl that would become my wife and a mother.

Throughout all that time, the butterfly's new poem reigned supreme on the world with her voice leading the charge.

To her, to me, and to everyone with burdens, remember these words.

The petals fall with the snow,
Planting their seeds in the ground ready to once more grow.
Spring exits and summer is soon,
Marigold weeds return to bloom.
The leaves that accept only the Monarch insect,
Together in the harmony they each protect.
Evolutioned from solitude that took three years,
The chorus in the hedge that wiped the tears.

Why should a flower that blooms in groups,
Be so lonely that their smiles droop?
Oppose rejection and learn acceptance of others,
And one shall see the gray illuminate into shining colors.
Do not keep the secrets of burdens hidden,
But plant them together and water the garden.
The emerald grass and white lilies,
I hear go well with ruby gardenias and all its purities.

Do not leave the story unfinished,
Even when everyone in the house is gone.
Muster until the pain has diminished,
And wait patiently for the rise of dawn.
Spread those callous wings and start to fly,
Experience life outside the metallic cage.
Through the windowsill that hosts apple pie,
Find your cherry blossom stage.

This place now will forever be our home,
For it is the starting point of…

The butterfly weed’s new poem.

~Fin~