Emerging from the depths of her memories, Sakura gradually became aware of the voices around her. The muted sounds sharpened, pulling her back into the present as Robbie wrapped up the story she had been replaying in her mind. She watched him exchange firm handshakes with his co-workers, bidding them farewell. Still caught in a daze, Sakura barely processed the scene, her thoughts tangled in the remnants of her recollections.
Robbie leaned in and whispered, "Hey, aren't you going to say goodbye?"
"Ya, sorry," Sakura mumbled, giving a slight wave to the group. She followed her father to the car in a wordless silence. With a gentle motion, Robbie opened the passenger door for her before settling into the driver's seat. Moments later, he slid a vintage disc into the player, and the rich strains of 1980s classic rock filled the car, weaving through the quiet between them.
"When you meet someone, you introduce yourself," Robbie communicated.
Sakura rolled her eyes and replied, "Aye, I apologized, ya?"
"Instead of meeting someone new, find some of your old friends from high school. I haven't heard from Athen in a long time. Did you two break up?"
"Nah, I'll see what he's up to."
"Good, because I have more work to do today. I wanted to drop you off at the house so you can pick up some groceries for me."
"Fine by me."
Sakura unlocked her phone, a habit she couldn't break despite her limited circle of close relationships. At the top of her messages was a recent one from her father, inquiring about takeout from the previous night. Further down, an old message from her friend Lillian, asking if she felt any better from half a year ago, still left unanswered—a question she'd wrestled with, contemplating her happiness.
The last entry on her short list was her boyfriend, Athen, whom she hadn't texted since the months leading up to graduation, as he had mysteriously disappeared. Recognizing that he, too, was an orphan, Sakura understood that nobody else was actively seeking him out anymore but her. He served his time in a juvenile detention center, and a mystery figure bailed him out so he could attend high school.
The long drive led up to the front lawn, where Robbie dropped her off, providing her with two hundred-dollar bills, and drove off hastily. Sakura wrinkled the bills in her pocket. She took a deep breath before stepping foot into her home. Her thoughts spiraled out of control, thinking about Athen.
She stood in the grand foyer of the echoing mansion, her footsteps creating a symphony of reverberating echoes. The vastness of the empty rooms made her feel small and insignificant, her heart heavy with the weight of solitude. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the crumpled bills her father gave her.
Sakura's mind drifted to memories of her friends from grade school. Their laughter, their shared secrets, and the countless adventures they embarked upon together. A bittersweet smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
A haze brought her back in time to high school, where the students took a camping trip to visit Yosemite National Park. Her high school dedicated itself to the majestic natural history of America.
Sakura entered a charter bus, clasping her black backpack tightly. Sakura caught sight of Athen wearing his headset, fully absorbed in his heavy metal music.
As she sat beside him, Sakura casually placed her bag at her feet. Intrigued, Athen temporarily set his headset aside and keenly observed her graceful movements as she rummaged through her purse. Her long, black, tight pants and short-sleeved band shirt excited him. He bit her neck carefully to evade slicing off her delicate black chains.
Sakura flinched and said, "Oi, enough of that."
Athen chuckled and said, "No one will notice."
"Stop being so wrapped up in yerself, ya gobshite!"
Athen smiled, placed his headset back over his ears, and said, "I'll wait until we arrive. Did you get a hundred bucks for the trip?"
"Me da came through, slappin' a proper hundred-dollar into me hand."
The vibrant sunlight radiated heat on the charter windows. Watching the bus pass by endless mountaintops, Sakura nodded off to sleep on his warm, bare shoulders. Hours felt like minutes when she awoke to the bus passing by a bountiful field of flowers. A kaleidoscope of colors leads to a gentle creek flowing between a village of cabin tents.
Sakura nervously bit her lip and said, "This spot's massive, I could wander off and end up in another county. A bear could go at me noggin, treatin' it like a wee lolly."
"How does your head come up with this shit? Trust me, you'll be fine. I'll always be here to protect you."
"Yer not gonna shield me from a bear's embrace, ya know?"
Athen shoved his fist in his mouth to prevent himself from laughing hysterically and said, "Yeah, the trick is you have to raise your arms in the air and roar at it to show who's boss."
"Ah, give over now; I'm talkin' real here."
"Go back to sleep. All that anxiety is not good for your heart."
Sakura leaned her head on his chest to glance out the window. The charter bus rolled along the winding roads of Yosemite National Park, and the enthusiastic chitchat of children filled the air with anticipation. The lush greenery of towering trees enveloped the bus, their branches reaching toward the sky as if offering a grand welcome to these high schoolers. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting dancing patterns of light and shadow within the vehicle.
El Capitan stood proudly, its monumental existence inspiring admiration and respect among the young travelers. They marveled at Half Dome, its iconic shape etching into their memories.
Waterfalls emerged along the route, cascading down from dizzying heights. The bus slowed, allowing everyone to relish the sheer power and magnificence of the Bridal Veil Fall, its mist creating a refreshing coolness.
Wildlife made its presence known as the bus ventured deeper into the park. A herd of deer grazed peacefully in a meadow, and squirrels scurried across the forest floor. Birds soared above, their vibrant colors adding to the surrounding geography.
The first stop was drawing near. Athen nudged Sakura awake before the other children eagerly disembarked at various finishes, ready to explore the wonders up close. Guided by park rangers, they embarked on nature walks in separate groups, learning about the delicate ecosystems that thrived within the park's boundaries. Everyone brought lunch for the picnic after the expedition. The students sat on heated metal benches out in the open. Sakura sat independently, holding a paper lunch pouch, waiting for Athen's company to return.
One panicked high schooler fled to a park ranger from a group out in the field pleading for help. The loud chatter silenced to listen. Sakura's heart pounded as her eyes scoured for the threat.
"Wolf!" the boy repeated as many times as he could.
A female ranger hushed him and said, "We don't have wolves here."
"Two grizzly bears were fighting a wolf on a cliff above us. Our group split up and ran."
"No, that's impossible," said the female ranger, reaching for her radio. She hastened inside the facility to make a few calls. The trip ended immediately, and all students returned to the charter bus and went home. This time, Sakura sat at the window, searching for Athen. He unexpectedly emerged in line and found his way to her on the bus. He did not appear frightened at all when he sat down. A thin, glossy layer of sweat lay on his skin under dirt spots.
"What went down out there?" Sakura asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Did ye group see a wolf?"
"Wasn't my group."
The couple sat silently between the crowd of students, obnoxiously communicating the same conversations about a wolf the entire ride home. Rumors spread about whether it was a grey wolf or a red wolf.
Drifting back to the present time, tears welled in Sakura's eyes as she clutched the money tighter, feeling the ache of loneliness deep within her chest. The grandeur of the mansion paled compared to the warmth and comfort she had once found in the company of her friends. She longed for those carefree days when the world was more straightforward.
Her perforated memory of the wolf in the park felt traumatic. She could not help but believe he had lied to her and wondered why.
After offloading her belongings, Sakura paced out the doorway and followed her father's instructions to the store. She strolled down bustling Los Angeles Street, and her eyes widened at the view. The sun heated the sidewalks, and towering palm trees framed the luxurious mansions.
Limo drivers opened doors for elegantly dressed guests, and paparazzi eagerly snapped photos, hoping to capture a glimpse of a renowned celebrity. Sakura found herself amid a vibrant tapestry of high-profile individuals, each with stories and achievements. Sakura could not help but imagine the glamorous parties and red carpet events. She wondered if someone as poorly brought up as she could be famous, too.
Celebrities' names, etched on iron-wrought gates and engraved plaques, signaled their presence and added an air of mystique to the neighborhood. Sakura's heart skipped a beat as she recognized some famous names she had admired from afar.
A few blocks away downtown, tourists bombarded the sidewalks, taking photographs of well-known people's houses. Coffee shops opened for outdoor seating. Families and their dogs ate outside to appreciate the warm temperature. Sakura found an open grocery store and entered, examining the people at checkout and greeting her; she noticed they'd lingered an extended time for someone to come in today. Sakura peeked at her shopping list stashed inside the cash and gathered everything he had requested.
On her way home, she took a separate route to evade the active downtown shopping area. The further she strolled up a hill, the more she noticed an abandoned firehouse boarded up and covered in graffiti. A mysterious figure leaned casually against the weathered structure, arms crossed, and an intense gaze fixed upon her as she strolled by. Sakura found it oddly unsettling to encounter anyone near such a desolate location. While avoiding direct eye contact, her attention gravitated towards his attire—jet-black hair spiked and swept across his forehead, wearing a sleeveless band shirt that bore the battle scars of many rips and distressed jeans. It all invoked memories of someone from her past, an uncanny resemblance to her long-lost boyfriend.
For a fleeting moment, Sakura paused, convinced that this mysterious presence must be a hallucination. She faintly recalled hearing that hallucinating someone might signify the person had dearly missed a loved one, which seemed more likely, considering she had not laid eyes on him for what felt like an eternity. A growing unease began churning within her, and the thought of returning to confront this spectral figure weighed heavily on her mind. Ultimately, her curiosity overcame her fear, prompting Sakura to pivot and cast a wary glance at the mysterious person who loomed ominously over her.
Sakura gradually lifted her gaze, tracing his body from his feet to his head, where she met with the glint of a silver nose piercing and the captivating gaze of his sky-blue eyes. A wave of relief washed over her, yet conflicting anger simmered within her bloodstream. Her heart raced, goading her lungs to gasp for air in response to the emotional uneasiness stirring inside. Could it certainly be?
"Athen?"
"Hey, Sakura. It's been a minute, hasn't it?"