It was supposed to be an ordinary day. Same routine as always — school, home, studying, sleep, repeat.
But today... it felt different.
I stepped outside for a walk. The breeze was cool, not too cold, not too warm — a calm in-between.
That's when I saw her.
She was sitting alone on a bench, beautiful yet distant. Her clothes covered almost every part of her — not out of modesty, but as if she was hiding something.
She looked... sad.
I've never been the charismatic type.
But I could always read emotions — and hers were screaming silently.
After a brief moment of hesitation, I walked up to her.
"Is something wrong?" I asked with my usual calm voice.
No answer.
"Do you need help?"
She flinched slightly, then turned toward me.
"No... But thank you for caring. I'm fine," she said, her voice trembling.
"You might say that, but your eyes — they say otherwise."
I softened my tone.
Tears welled in her eyes. She didn't speak.
Maybe I shouldn't have pried. Some people just want to be left alone.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude," I said, and walked away.
Even as I left, I could feel her presence behind me — still alone, still hurting.
---
Later that day, I stopped by the store.
"Got any milk?" I asked.
"Sorry, dear. Delivery didn't come today," the old woman said. "Try the store down the road."
No milk, no tea. No tea, no studying. So I went.
As I entered the other store, I grabbed a pack of coffee and some milk.
That's when I saw her again — the same girl.
But this time, she was standing on the edge of the bridge... ready to jump.
"Hey! What are you doing? Don't you understand how precious life is?" I shouted.
"What does it matter?! Life is just pain! I'm done!" she cried.
"If you really wanted to die, you wouldn't be standing there crying," I said.
"I'm not... These aren't my tears... I don't cry... Why now?"
Her voice was hollow, breaking.
I ran. I tried to grab her — but I was too late.
She jumped.
And then, without thinking, I jumped too.
"What are you doing?! You're the one who said life is precious!" she screamed.
"I don't know... I just didn't want to let you go. I didn't want to die either. But I couldn't let you fall."
My voice shook.
Then something unreal happened.
Wings — white, glowing — burst from her back.
She caught me in mid-air, pulling us both into flight.
"You're insane," she said, her cheeks red. "At least tell me your name."
I tried to stay composed, but my emotions spilled over.
Why did I cry? Why now? Why… for her?
"Is this a dream? Are we... dead?" I asked.
"Answer my question first," she said.
"I'll only answer if you promise to live," I replied.
"Why do you care whether I live or not?" she whispered.
"Maybe... because you're beautiful?" I smirked.
"Say that again and I'll drop you."
"My name's Naka," I said.
"I didn't promise anything," she mumbled.
"You saved me. That's worth something, isn't it?"
"You're so stupid," she said.
But then, I smiled and pointed up. "Look."
The sky glowed with the colors of a setting sun.
A soft breeze danced around us, brushing against our skin.
The first moonlight shimmered in her eyes.
We hovered in silence — two souls suspended between sorrow and flight.