wrote in 2013
Reference: Case Closed
Standing inside the forest of maple trees with leaves flying around reminds me that beautiful memory with you.
That day, I walk on the street that I always walk on, heading towards the maple-tree forest near by. I encounter a girl who is shaking on the way. She is wearing a big hat covering over her eyebrows. Her eyes are cute and lively. I find out that there is a fierce cat staying on the road that scares her, so I let her close her eyes, and lead her slowly pass through it. After that, I ask her why she is afraid of cats. She says she has been scratched when she was little, so she starts to be afraid of cats after that. I sympathize with her, so I meet her often in the maple-tree forest, and we become friends gradually. There are some cats that I have secretly in the forest. At the first time, she is still scared about those cats, but as time goes, she accept them eventually. She even turns out to love those cats a few month later, and she can even say hi to the fierce cat. However, the only thing that bothers me is, she always wears that big hat and never take it off. I ask her the reason, but she just shakes her head and doesn’t want to talk more.
One day, when I’m playing with her in that maple-tree forest, a wind blows away her hat. I step on the carpet that made out of maple leaves, and pick up her hat.
“ Here is your hat.” I said.
“ No… Don’t look at me!” She flustered covers her head with her hands. I can see the hair shines in maple red.
“ Please don’t look at me! My hair is strange… It has a different color from all of you!”
“ But,” I pick up a maple leaf and smile: “ I like it, your hair is beautiful, just like this maple leaf.”
She looks at me with surprise, and then she smiles, and that smile is so beautiful.
It’s in the end of the year, and today is a rainy day. I am waiting for her in that forest as usual, but she doesn’t come. I think she might catch a cold, so I go to her house to see if she is ok, but her neighbors say her family just moved away this morning.
I walk back home, and I find there is a letter in the mailbox:
Thank you for playing with me these months. I had a great time! I’m sorry for not telling you I’m leaving, because saying goodbye sounds so sad to me. Hope I can see you again in the future. I’m not sure when, but I believe we will meet someday!
— Maple
I keep that letter, and feel a little sad. Later on, my family also moves out because of Dad’s job. However, this memory still stays in my heart…
A few years later, I finally go back to this forest. I step into the maple leaves, and look up at the sky, then I see a woman who is wearing a hat.
“ You are?” I ask.
“ When I passed by this forest this morning, I was attracted by those maple trees. They remind me the memory with someone.” She turns to me and smiles: “ Don’t you like maple trees?”
“ No… I mean, I like them.”
“ Ok… I guess I’ll leave.” She lowers her head and ready to leave.
I look at her. She reminds me about Maple. Suddenly, I see some hair appears under her hat, as the maple leaves shine in the sunset. It’s her!
I smile slightly: “ I am still the same, I still like your maple-red hair!” I yell at her.
She turns back, with surprise in her eyes, and then she smiles, the beautiful smile as before.
(The End)
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