Ryota sat on the edge of the old swing set in the park where he and his childhood friends used to play. The creaking chains echoed memories of laughter and carefree days, but for him, those moments faded into shadows of a past steeped in trauma. Since the accident, every interaction felt like stepping into a minefield, and the idea of connecting with someone terrified him. He wore solitude-like armor. As he pushed off the ground, he spotted a figure approaching the unmistakable silhouette of Mia. They had been inseparable in elementary school, but life pulled them apart after her family moved. Now, she was back, and determination flickered in her eyes.
“Mia,” he murmured as he looked to the ground. “Hey, Ryota,” she replied, her voice bright against the gray backdrop of his despair. “Mind if I join you?” Ryota shrugged, resisting the urge to tell her to leave. Instead, she plopped down on the swing beside him, her presence warm like the sun breaking through the clouds. “Remember when we’d challenge each other to see who could swing the highest?” She asked, a spark of nostalgia lighting up her face. Ryota nodded, a small smile creeping in. “I never won.”
“Maybe this time will be different?” she suggested, gently nudging him.
Through their laughter and friendly competition, Ryota began to peel away the layers of his discomfort. Mia didn’t push him; she simply reminded him how to find joy again. Slowly, he realized that maybe, just maybe, reopening his heart wouldn’t shatter it after all.
[MFT: 255]
[Topic entered]
“Mia,” he murmured as he looked to the ground. “Hey, Ryota,” she replied, her voice bright against the gray backdrop of his despair. “Mind if I join you?” Ryota shrugged, resisting the urge to tell her to leave. Instead, she plopped down on the swing beside him, her presence warm like the sun breaking through the clouds. “Remember when we’d challenge each other to see who could swing the highest?” She asked, a spark of nostalgia lighting up her face. Ryota nodded, a small smile creeping in. “I never won.”
“Maybe this time will be different?” she suggested, gently nudging him.
Through their laughter and friendly competition, Ryota began to peel away the layers of his discomfort. Mia didn’t push him; she simply reminded him how to find joy again. Slowly, he realized that maybe, just maybe, reopening his heart wouldn’t shatter it after all.
[MFT: 255]
[Topic entered]