My mind often lingers on the idea that life is nothing but a slow, relentless punishment—
that to live is to carry the weight of pain, over and over again.
But then, in a fleeting moment, I catch the shimmer in your eyes,
and suddenly, the world softens.
Perhaps, it isn’t as merciless as it once seemed.
Perhaps, it never was.
I often think that kindness is a rare and fleeting thing,
that we are all born with shadows in our hearts, waiting for the right moment to surface—
just as children lie without being taught, lash out without reason, break without mending.
But then you said it’s okay to slow my frantic running to a walk,
and in that simple kindness,
I found the strength to keep moving forward.
I often fear that all things beautiful are destined to fade—
cherry blossoms wither in days,
and the cicada, with its one fleeting chance, sings itself into silence.
But then I remember, even the light from stars long dead
still travels through the vastness of the universe for billions of years.
And your quiet gratitude, reaching me from behind a screen,
is enough to reignite the fire in my soul,
reminding me that not everything is lost to time.