Cherry Blossoms

A gust of wind sweeps cherry blossom petals under Victoria, who stands elegantly in a pink polka dot dress. She clutches a baby blue purse and watches, from the tallest balcony from the building before her, Anderson peer over the railing. He spots his lover down below and waves heartily. Anderson pushes against the railing, sending in him back in his apartment to find his way to the bottom, where she waits.

Anderson emerges from the complex, as if the whole building was erected just to keep his magical charm locked in the tallest tower. His vanilla turtleneck sweater hugs her polka dot dress, as the lovers spin on the sidewalk. Anderson picks up a cherry blossom petal and hands it to her, commemorating the day.

Like a string sonata, Victoria and Anderson waltz through the park and spread open a plaid blanket to prepare their picnic; a romance that surpasses understanding. Anderson lays on the candy green grass as he smokes an oaky cigar, clamped between his molars, as Victoria talks gloriously about her ambitions and dreams beside him, with oversized sunglasses for show. They ponder endless possibilities together, including how they might one day raise a family. Anderson gazes at Victoria’s beauty as she includes him in her aspirations.

Anderson gazes still at Victoria while they stroll over a bridge floating above a violet river while the moonlight catches the water. Victoria snags a lamppost with her hand and swings around it musically, luring Anderson with a playful and innocent flirting. Anderson catches the bait and reels himself into her arms, kissing her under the stars.

The couple kisses and cheers erupt. They pull apart and turn their cheeks red with overwhelming joy as their families celebrate the greatest day of their lives. Victoria lifts her lace wedding dress with one hand and holds on with eternity to Anderson’s hand. The bride and groom walk down a red carpet through the cathedral, passing over a spread of cherry blossom petals scattered before them.

Champagne flutes clink in unison to commence a spectacular reception. Victoria and Anderson dance fearlessly, perfected by their love. As Victoria jumps in synchronization with her bridesmaids to the choreography of a popular song, Anderson holds his niece on his shoes with hers, waddling back and forth as disproportionate partners.

Tin cans clatter against the pavement, tied to the bumper of the Mr. and Mrs. car as they wave farewell into the night while loved ones wish them a faithful happily ever after.

The car screeches to a halt as Anderson rushes inside to grab a nurse. The nurse pushes a wheelchair onto the road and together they lift an oversized Victoria onto the seat. She breathes rapidly and clenches, holding her hand over her pregnant belly. Anderson follows the nurse as she escorts them into a room on the side.

The contractions pain Victoria as she squeezes Anderson’s hand. Their little girl is on the way. With one final push and a determined cry, the nurse holds up the most beautiful, precious, and perfect person Victoria and Anderson have ever laid eyes on. Their daughter is gently placed in Victoria’s arms, and they welcome her into the world by name. Chloe.

Chloe leaps far to her right and swats a shrunken soccer ball, defending her team’s goal. Victoria and Anderson shoot up in support, cheering proudly. Sweat soaked itself in Chloe’s jersey as she hugs her parents. They revolt quickly from her putrid clothing, laughing together at how rank Chloe’s clothes reeked.

Victoria throws the putrid uniform in the wash and pours a healthy cup of detergent over them. She turns around and sees Anderson tickling their daughter on the floor. Chloe springs up from the ground, cackling from laughter that hurts, and climbs onto her father’s back. She spreads her arms out like an airplane and balances on her belly. She falls off and she explodes in laughter once more. For hours Anderson and Chloe play in the living room, concluding with Anderson holding his daughter on his feet with hers, waddling back and forth as perfect partners. Victoria smiles warmly at the bond Anderson and Chloe had formed.

Anderson admires the beautiful bond Victoria and Chloe had formed as only a mother and daughter can. Victoria reads a fantastical bedtime story to inspire Chloe for greatness, encouraging and empowering her to chase all her wildest dreams. Victoria promises her she can be anything she wants to in life, and Chloe believes her deeply. Anderson joins his family by Chloe’s bed and holds her hand to affirm her future.

Anderson gently rubs the fragile hands of Chloe as she lay still in the hospital bed. The heart monitor ticks hauntingly; the unpleasant beep holds the life of Chloe in its song without any promise. Victoria and Anderson stare hopelessly at their daughter, who only a few months ago was playing recklessly with childhood friends now clinging to every breath as a horrid disease stole her away. The suddenness of their life had wrecked them. A once romantic and promising world had come crashing down as Chloe, their greatest love, was dying before their eyes. A world that offered them hope had decided to rob them. Chloe holds onto her father with all the love she has left in her small, fragile hands.

In the shaking and once strong hands of Anderson was a eulogy. He speaks passionately and delicately of his daughter. The same family that celebrated his and Victoria’s wedding now grieves alongside them in the greatest tragedy of their lives. A crowd that once dressed in a vibrant array of colors was dawned in black. Victoria and Anderson bear the unimaginable as the small casket lowers into the earth. Anderson holds Victoria’s hand tight. His legs are weak and his strength fails.

Anderson falls to his knees in their bedroom and buries his face in foot of the bed. The comforters hardly muffle the agonizing cry of a father who’s lost his daughter forever; a sorrow unimaginable. Victoria watches from the doorway the grief that fills the home. She comes to his side and kneels with him, promising they won’t mourn alone.

Victoria sits in the backyard alone, watching wisps of clouds pass by. She’s made this spot in her backyard a routine, a place to confess and cry and build on the loss she can never replace. Words fail her, and the hope she carries passes by with the clouds, wondering if she could ever reclaim that hope.

Anderson walks out to the backyard and sits in the only other chair next to her. They watch the clouds slip away in a silence they both need. From her view, Victoria sees a cherry blossom branch extend in front of her. She turns and sees Anderson offering her the branch. What was once the promise of youth and romance becomes the promise of companionship through all that life gives. The love and loss in their marriage. Through sickness and in health. A promise that stands more true than the day they said “I do.” She takes the cherry blossom branch and then takes him by the hand. They watch a new set of clouds roll in, larger and brighter. A promise beyond romance. A promise of love.