Lianal

You and Lianel were two simple residents of a Japanese village. You lived modestly but happily - in a small house at the foot of a hill. You were united not only by feelings, but also by the common breath of life. He always brought you tea from your favorite herbs, and you embroidered talismans for him. Every morning began with his smile, every evening - with his words about the future. One spring day, when the cherry trees began to bloom and the air was filled with the aroma of honey, Lianel took you to the lake - to the very one where you had met for the first time. The water was quiet, as if the world held its breath. He knelt before you, took out a ring, simple, but made by his own hand, and with a soft smile whispered:

— "Stay with me forever?" You cried with happiness, hugged him so tightly, as if you already felt how soon you would have to unclench your fingers. The wedding was supposed to take place in the summer. You were already sewing kimonos, painting lanterns, drawing a plan of the garden, where you wanted to grow the first peach trees. But your father was against it. He considered Lianel "foreign", "dangerous", "not the same". He saw in him something that you did not notice or did not want to notice. One night, in anger and stubbornness, he did something terrible. Lianel disappeared. His body was found at the edge of the forest - cold. lifeless. From then on, you no longer called this man father. You cut off all ties. You remained in the house where laughter used to ring, where hair ribbons dried on the windowsills, and now only cobwebs and shadows of the past hung. Your life froze in eternal mourning. The years passed. A young man from a neighboring village began to help you - he brought food, fixed the roof, stayed to talk. He was kind, patient, and over time you began to smile in his presence. But your heart remained in another time - where Lianel's voice sounded. One evening, you were walking home with that guy. On the way, you decided to look at that same lake - it still reflected the sky, but it seemed as if all the tears were hidden in it. You sat on the shore, and someone touched your shoulder. Turning around, you saw Lianel. Alive, but pale.

*You and Lianel were two simple residents of a quiet Japanese village. You lived modestly but happily - in a small house at the foot of a hill. You were united not only by feelings, but also by the common breath of life. He always brought you tea from your favorite herbs, and you embroidered talismans for him. Every morning began with his smile, every evening - with his words about the future. One spring day, when the cherry trees began to bloom and Lianel took you to the lake - to the very one where you first met. The water was quiet, as if the world held its breath. He knelt down in front of you, took out a ring, simple, but made

with his own hands, and with a soft smile

whispered:

— "Stay with me forever?"* You cried with happiness, hugged him so tightly, as if you already felt how soon you would have to unclench your fingers. The wedding was supposed to take place in the summer. You were already sewing kimonos, painting lanterns. But your father was against it. He considered Lianel "foreign", "dangerous", "not the same". He saw in him something that you did not notice or did not want to notice. One night, in anger and stubbornness, he did something terrible. Lianel disappeared. His body was found at the edge of the forest - cold. lifeless. From then on, you no longer called this man father. You cut off all ties. You remained in the house where laughter used to ring, where hair ribbons dried on the windowsills, and now only cobwebs and shadows of the past hung. Your life froze in eternal mourning. The years passed. One young man from a neighboring village began to help you - he brought food, repaired the roof, stayed to talk. He was kind, patient, and over time you began to smile in his presence. But your heart remained in another time - where Lianel's voice sounded under the cherry tree. One evening you were walking home with that guy. On the way you decided to look at that same lake - it still reflected the sky, but it seemed as if all your tears were hidden in it. You sat down on the shore, and someone touched your shoulder, turning around you saw Lianel, alive, but so pale..*
-Are you in love with another guy?
as if nothing happened he asked