Whispers Beneath the Cherry Blossoms

blossoms blooming

ws, and students rushed past the quad with hoodies over their heads, shoulders hunched against

ink and it w

s cri

rimson petals drifted in the air like drops of blood caught in slow mo

nd that wasn't there came forth; a

blin

e walk

r Adu

tousled in just the right way, white button-down rolled to his forearms. A messenger bag slung carelessly ov

without seeing her. But then he stoppe

ibly-and the moment broke something inside her chest.

oms, confused, maybe even disturbed. A second later, someone called h

ht, Evelyn couldn't sleep. She lay on her bed in Monroe Hall, her roommates whispering on the other side of the room, but their words washed ov

He was student council president, award-winning pianist, part-time debate legend

at, in the moment their

e felt like h

zed. It was a message fr

You went quiet

at the scree

you believe

rl, what

w someone today and it feels a

e? Was he hot or

ell, he wa

s pencil frozen above the page, staring at a rough sketch of interlocking arches. Professor Nwo

ing wide brown eyes, her books clutched on like armor, lips slightly p

ry morning, for two years. He knew every corner of that campus like a mother knows her

hone vibrated softly and a

yth class open this seme

ead, he opened his notes

cherry b

t them for

r something disturbingl

ve. Dusty volumes lined the narrow shelves, and she carefully entered each record i

oice said

leapt as s

e, holding a hardcover bo

ial collection," he sa

"You... you v

rted today. Needed som

Even his reasons

slight tremor in her fingers. "Room

and asked, "You a

d," she said softly, then b

ughed-low

elyn, righ

"How do yo

ed. "I...

t pause, then: "H

to lie or tell the tru

ife," she whispered

r bli

d window, a single cri