Lining the roads of which I walked; the pink cherry blossoms danced lightly in the wind. Feeling the breeze through my hair, I skipped down to the park, crunchy gravel beneath my feet. Spring time, this is what it felt like, the smell of rain still fresh in the air. Worms squirmed around on the floor, having been lured out by a little shower. Two blue jays circled each other, chirping a love song. I smiled at the beautiful scene which was spring in my town.
Today was the Spring Festival, my favourite time of the year, with all the singing and dancing, and the bonfire with fireworks after. I could already smell the smoke in the air and hear the crackling explosion of colour, and feel the warmth of the fiery embers.
Approaching the park, I made my way to my favourite swing; it was the one who could swing the highest. Higher and higher still, until it felt like I could touch the sky; that was the best feeling in the world. Soft pink petals brushed my face, falling from a tree, lightly dropping as I propelled myself back and forth. Reaching out my hand, I snatched one up, unclenching my fist; I saw the delicate petal lay peacefully in my palm. A soft wind gently swept the petal from my clutches, as it joined the rest of its friends in a pile on the park floor.
Swinging to and fro, waiting for the highest point, I jumped off, lading with a graceful thump. That always gave me a thrill, sent adrenaline coursing through my veins. Skipping my way down the gravel path leading away from the park, I kicked rocks out of my way as I made my way to town square where the Spring Festival would later be held. The long winding road lead to a string of houses, where I cut into the forest; there was no harm in exploring a bit before going to the festival.
Excited chirps of birds and the chatter of squirrels greeted me as I ventured deeper into the heart of the forest, a beautiful waterfall the town had to protest against building on. The splash of crystal clear water was like music to my ears, conducting a symphony as it cascaded down a wall of rocks. Each time I came here I had the urge to jump in, which was no different this time.
The sparkling blue water lapsed over my body as I dove in, engulfing me in its watery veil. It was warm for this time of year, but still cold enough to send a shiver down my spine when I resurfaced. I flipped onto my back and floated peacefully along the top, feeling the sun on my face; evaporating every shimmering droplet.
Times like this reminded me of my mother, we would always come here to talk or have picnics. She was the one truly interested in the blossoms, they were half the reason she moved to this town, the other half for my father. They were both departed from this world now, but now they were with each other. My mother had always told me, that if she died, she wanted blossoms to be put on her grave, for a new beginning. That’s what she had believed, that blossoms symbolized new beginnings, and that the Spring Festival should be taken seriously, to bring you good omens. Floating along the crystalline pond, with the rushing waters licking my body, it was times like that I missed.
It wasn’t until the first firecracker went off that I realized I was missing the festival. I quickly swam to the shore and dried off, the slipped on a spare pair of clothes I had brought. This is what I had waited for every year, and I wasn’t going to miss it for anything.
Although I had seen this display of pyrotechnics before, it never failed to leave me in awe. Beautiful colours shooting up and bursting in the sky, I didn’t even mind the loud noise that erupted from them, it was hypnotic.
I would have fun today; I promised my parents that I wouldn’t stop having fun without them. They would want me to have a good life, and I would do the best I could to make them happy. I knew they were watching me from wherever they were now, and I wanted them to smile, to know that I was moving on with my life, starting fresh each year. I would shed my past fears and renew my spirit. I would start fresh, like my mother taught me, just like a blossom.
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