Thank you @eggarru for the cover

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"AS much as we want to reach for the skies, we're bound not to be able to touch it".

It was a typical day in a nearby park. The park became the sanctuary of the people who just wanted to take a chill pill or maybe play for a bit. One could say that the place was maintained and not left to rust. The blue metal benches positioned in the sides of the park were newly repainted and polished. The sheds, in case of rain, were also sustained properly. Their roofs were newly repaired. The green grass surrounding the entire area was newly trimmed. The pungent smell of freshly tidied grass still lingers to the place. Many people would enjoy this place because it can also make one feel that they're closer to nature because of the trees planted in the park as well as few magnolias and violets blooming in their respective flower beds. But the present circumstances don't allow enjoyment otherwise.

The wind blew rather hard that day, as if the leaves of the trees were enticed to do a little dance. Yet even though the leaves seem to be in a rather jovial mood, the sky felt otherwise. He felt dark and gloomy, threatening to cry.

The people started scrambling when they saw the sky darkened, bits of rain already started to fall. Their facial expressions are that of annoyance and panic. One boy, riding his bicycle, quickened his pace to reach home. He didn't bring an umbrella and his mom will surely flip. Two people-a couple, who were busy taking photos together in one of the benches stood up alarmed. The girl picked up her bag, trying to find her umbrella while her boyfriend was cursing under his breath, especially when he was about to kiss her when the sky started to interrupt their moment.

A raven haired girl wearing a knitted sweater was also sitting on one of the benches, she was reading her notes when she felt the rain touch her skin, sighing, she stood up, covered her head with her hands and ran to a nearby shed. She'll just wait for the rain to stop. She set her eyes to the people slowly leaving the park, most of them, even if struggling on holding their umbrellas due to the wind, still had sweet smiles pasted on their lips-striking a conversation with their companions as if the rain never existed.

A sad smile crept its way to her lips, looking at the dark sky, her voice cracked, as if she also wanted to cry together with the sky. "Seems like I am all alone now? " Paying no attention to the rain, she proceeded to read her notes once again.

Even if she decided to go home, there's nothing worthwhile waiting for her there. She's used to solitude, no one will listen anyway.

Two brown colored orbs couldn't stop himself from staring at the girl in the shed. He always feels sad whenever he sets his eyes on her. There's so much sorrow deep in her eyes even if it looks blank and empty. Sometimes, he wanted to approach her and comfort her in ways he knew he could but he is certain she cannot understand him if ever he'll dare to.

He always sees her everyday on the same bench, reading her notes with unreadable expressions and she sometimes scribbles dark lines and writes random words. She's always hesitating to finish what she's doing. That's why she always finds herself tearing her note's page and crumpling the paper. She will also wait for people to vacate the park and she'll find herself sitting on the park's swing. Swinging herself slowly until the sun sets.

There's also days where she'll wear something different other than her favorite yellow sweater. Those days when she decides to wear a white summer dress, he can only admire her sun kissed skin. But something he couldn't understand was why despite the beauty of her skin, there's noticeable purple bluish marks on her neck and shoulders and the people with her in the park never bothered to ask her what happened. They just went about their normal days like she never existed.

And he couldn't understand himself either why he's so bothered by her. How he teared up when he saw and heard her almost silent cries when she called herself worthless that day. He wanted to disagree with her. He was supposed to go on his usual normal days just like the people in the park do. Afterall, he shouldn't meddle with their affairs but sometimes he wishes he could, if only he can.

If only so that he could tell her he's listening to her when no one does and he's willing to lend his ears to her anytime she wants.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He saw his brother, Mindy's soured expression as he stared at him. "What are you doing again, Oak? You're staring at that human again! You must move a muscle, the rain is dangerous! " his brother's voice is sharp and firm, nudging Oak with his beak. The rain was already slow but it might go faster again.

Oak, a sparrow, only nodded to his brother. Although doesn't want to leave, he doesn't want to leave the human girl alone while it's raining. "You go first, Mindy. I'll join you afterwards". He stared at the human girl again who was blankly staring at the sky. His brother, against the idea, pulled Oak's feather using his beak.

"Stop your delusion, Oak! The girl will never notice you! Even if she does, she'll just treat you like a pet she couldn't understand. Don't waste your time on her, we only have three more years to live than humans who can live a hundred! " his brother answered him, voice laced with fury.

He couldn't find himself to argue because it is indeed the truth. He could be there for her for only three years but she'll exist even if he's already dead. His species needs to live fully for just a short amount of time while hers, they got plenty to spare.

He listened to what his brother told him. They flew and left to find a bigger tree.

And it was the decision he regretted that he had made. When he went back to the tree in the park a day after, he didn't see her. He waited and waited. Seasons had changed, she never came back.

If he just went on and comforted her even if he's a bird, maybe things would be better.

He was certain his brother, Mindy, was wrong. Humans' lives are indeed longer than theirs but just like theirs, it is uncertain.

He somewhat knew that she's no more. "Is she finally happy out there? " he couldn't bring himself to ask. Afterall he never saw the girl smile, not even once.

He thought that she'll still exist after he's no more but fate is cruel that she went first than him.

If there's another life, he only wishes that when he'll see her in the same bench again, he's able to approach her, extend his hand and listen to her stories.

A man wearing a yellow knitted sweater finds himself walking to the direction of the park near his home. He's holding a red colored umbrella as he walks on the sidewalk. He knew any moment from now, it'll rain. The sky was dark and the wind was chilly. He wasn't supposed to go out but he suddenly had the drive to.

He always had this feeling that he needed to go out and go to the park whenever it's raining.

Maybe because he finds comfort drawing different sceneries when it's pouring rain or perhaps there's this familiarity he always feels when he's in the park, sitting on his favorite shed as he hears the rain drops.

He opened his umbrella when he heard a patter, walking slowly, he found himself staring at a raven haired woman wearing the same yellow sweater as him who walked past him. She's with someone, a man, who's holding her umbrella for her. They were talking happily and she was smiling from ear to ear as the man whispered something to her.

He stopped on his tracks and observed the two strangers as they walked together. Somehow he couldn't understand why he felt happy seeing the girl smile yet there's sorrow plaguing his heart.

He had the sudden pull to approach her but he knew she wouldn't understand her actions even if he'd dare to. She doesn't know him, and he doesn't know her either. Yet somehow the familiarity is something that could end his life in an instant.

But there's nothing he can do to face her, he can only feel his cheeks dampen in tears, with a heavy heart he himself couldn't comprehend.

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