"Yes... really."

I blew out a breath.

"Only that much?"

Another breath escaped my lips.

"Yes."

I wish I could give her these breaths.

I wish I could have a little more time.

I wish this really wasn't happening.

Yet, I take another breath, and another... and another.

"정말?"

I couldn't think of a time when I hated breathing so much.

"Yes..."

정말?

"... really."

The boy could see her from afar, but she could not see him.

She was sitting under the shade of a tall oak tree, her eyes transfixed on something far, far away. Walking closer, he noticed a single yellow flower was held in her grasp. She cradled it with a delicate touch, as the girl began to pluck off the petals, one by one.

Closer still, the boy could hear her recite these words:

he loves me

      He loves me not

he loves me

     He loves me not

Closer still, the boy could see the meloncholy in her face.

he loves me

      He loves me not

he loves me

     He loves me not

Closer still, the boy could feel the heartbreak in her voice.

he loves me

      He loves me not

he loves me

     He loves me not


Until there was but one left...


And to the last petal fell these heavy words:


He loves me not.


Now standing in front of her, the boy knelt down and gathered another yellow flower from the ground. Picking off all the petals but one, he turned his eyes to meet her empty gaze. Gently taking the girl's hand, the boy placed the yellow flower within her slender fingers.

Smiling, the boy spoke to the girl in a silent whisper.


"Won't you try it one more time?"


The girl stared at the flower for a few moments before finally plucking off the petal he had left for her. She began to cry as she spoke the final sentence of the child's game.




"He... loves me..."





The boy nodded.


Yes, I do.


Then he disappeared.