Ephemeral Bloom in Concrete Fields

The city sighs, a humid breath on my skin. I close my eyes.
These ears...a foolish purchase, a fleeting fancy. He would have laughed. Or perhaps…not?
The ribbon feels like a ghost of his touch, cool against the warmth of my neck. A forgotten promise hangs heavier than these clouds.
He liked cats, you know? Said I was aloof, sometimes. Like one. Maybe this is why it hurts so much.
A stray sunbeam finds its way through the grey, landing on my cheek. It doesn't burn. Just…remembers.
I trace the outline of a memory with my fingertip—the curve of his smile, the way he’d always look at me when I wasn’t looking back. A silent ache blooms in my chest.
It's alright to be lost sometimes. Even a stray cat finds its way home eventually.

Editor: Summer Cicada