Whispers Beneath the Cherry Blossoms

't stop think

at had stayed with him. It wasn't just her words. It was the way she sai

n anothe

mpus green. The words fit her old fashioned, poetic, a little e

rst appeared. It was quiet, painted gold by the fading sun. He stood

range petals, only a breeze and si

ching from the

see him clearly. The light wind blew on his hair as he stood beneat

est ti

way, but what could she do righ

hile other girls ran after boys and heartbreak, Evelyn buried herself in Dante,

irl." Disciplined

her feel unpredictab

the next day,

the tree, a paperback in hand. It was intentional; she wouldn't a

wly, like he didn't w

ou live here," h

unreadable. "Don't tell

"Only in the l

. "There's a literary

up where they do, learn their favorite books

ugh. "That only works

m halfwa

deways at him.

already have t

nce then, soft,

m. "Do you always f

ard, then smiled. "Only when

sed her book, stood, and

e was

e hot water run down his back, and tried to wash

it was just, wrong in a

as supposed to remember someth

ere back; not on the t

never seen. Always accompanied by whispers,

om the mirror and sta

nt, it was

to make his heart skip. He

t in sound, screams, in wind that spoke her

ned from a sky of fire. Victor stood across from her and was dressed not in modern clothe

loomed across her chest like a flower. She woke with a gasp, sheets twi

t of smoke lingered and so did the

were beginni

ome said they were dating. Others said they were just "talking." A few swore they'd nev

s they walked toward the café courtyard on a sunny

lirting," E

hanging eye contact with the hottest guy on

augh. "It's not eve

. The legend's

d. "Legend?

Tree. They say couples who meet there are conn

n sti

gging, saying: "Just stories

mailbox; a folded sheet of rice paper, no return a

here before

usion and fright. He looked a

lded it

m tree. The petals were crimson. The trunk was s

is chest

pressed at the e

el

yi

We weren't suppos