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Sakura took a deep breath, facing the mirror. She wonders if wearing heels would be too much for a first date. I mean, it may as well be useless, but she thought she looks nice. She fixes her appearance again, shaky hands contemplating on changing into another dress but a knock on her door signals the arrival of her best friend.
She opened the door and Ino was wide eyed. Tears threatening to spill from her best friend’s eyes. Sakura thinks she is overreacting and just rolled her eyes before looking at herself in the mirror again.
She asks for her honest opinion, the blonde sincerely saying that she looks like an angel and she’s so proud of her. Sakura felt this since it’s been months since she tried to keep her life together.
She still remembers how it took everything in her to go out one Wednesday afternoon to a secluded café. She knocked her drink out when she tried reaching for it. She swore she was never going out again until a hand helped her clean it up and offered to buy her a new cup.
From there, she would bump into him in the rare chance she goes out. It annoyed her at first, him trying to talk to her but she gave in one day and agreed on one date if it can shut him up for good. They exchanged numbers and Sakura forgot how annoying her phone’s ringtone is.
Ino helped her in the car, it’s a struggle but her best friend never complained. On the way there, they talked to ease her worries away. It helped but she still feels a little nervous. She turned on the radio, her favorite song her and Ino would shout in the car when they were in high school after cheerleading practice. Memories resurfacing about how he said his music taste was horrible.
They arrived at their destination, a small quaint café. Ino commented how cheesy it is to have a first date on the same place they met but Sakura said it was sweet and thoughtful. Ino helped her out of the car, double-checked on her appearance before kissing her forehead for good luck. She asks if she needs help in going in, a nervous Sakura shakes her head. She can manage.
She enters the café, expecting him to be late or to not show up. But the moment she went in, she saw him standing, walking to her.
He said hello before saying how beautiful she is. He helped him to their table, giving extra care to her so she doesn’t bump into anything. Sakura allowed herself to feel happy about this.
They talked. It took some coaxing on his part, but she opened up and started to talk about different things. They talked and laughed. Sakura never felt like this before, its strange but it makes her hopeful.
While in their laughter, she remembers how she spent eight months thinking all love ever does is make you happy just to break and burn everything in the end. She spent those months wallowing in the aftermath of it all. She used to have it all, friends, popularity, and even a handsome fiancé.
Their drinks arrived in front of them. They found out they don’t share similar music taste, but he doesn’t mind listening to her talk about the songs she used to swear is her “life’s anthem” in high school.
They finished their drinks; he asks her if she would like to go to the park. She agreed and he helped her out of the café.
The walk was a little awkward at first, him insisting on pushing her wheelchair for her. She comes off a little shy, not getting used to this type of treatment now while in a date.
They stopped near a tree for shade, Sakura accidentally running his feet with the foot of the wheelchair. She quickly apologized, not wanting to get him mad but she only saw a genuine smile and a squeeze on her hand telling her he is fine. What was used to be screaming now replaced with laughter.
Sakura never thought she gets to experience this again. She even thought Ino will forever be the only one accepting her as she is.
A little crowd gathering a few feet away caught their attention, some highschoolers fooling around practicing jumps and cheers. Sakura instantly going back to her past.
During their reunion, people were reminiscing about the times the cheer dances were the highlight of the games. They all remembered how Sakura was like an angel flying high during stunts. They coaxed her into doing a stunt again, at first, she refused. Saying it’s been a while and she usually does it with Ino but unfortunately, she isn’t here right now, but her fiancé, the football captain of their time, said he would catch her. She was still hesitant, seeing him have a few glasses of wine but the crowd pressured her.
What was supposed to be a basic jump and catch turned into a frantic call for an ambulance.
When she woke up in a coma, she remembers the fear of not feeling her legs.
Her new life was hard, but she still had people around her, or so she thought.
Months of being in a wheelchair hindered her from participating in her usually routine and meet-ups. What used to be hundreds of friends now only one faithful blonde remained.
What used to be her future husband that would have sworn to be with her ‘through sickness and in health’ now telling her she is too much, becoming cold and saying he didn’t ask for a crippled future-wife.
She remembers her ex-fiancé never apologizing to her about dropping her.
What used to be a perfect life now filled with isolation and loneliness.
Sakura remembers when she had it all, friends, popularity, and a handsome fiancé. All gone because of one mistake.
Sakura came back to reality, her date noticing the sad look on her eyes. He can tell its still hard for her, that’s why he tells him a story about one Christmas where him and his brother used to go ice sledding, and the times they almost hit each other’s sleds.
This makes her laugh, forgetting about her worries. He tells her how their mom would scold them, and her brother would defend him so that he takes all the blame. He thought it was stupid since out of both of them, he was the one fooled around the most. The story makes her smile.
One day, she thought, one day she can say to herself that what’s past is past, and she can look back and not wallow in darkness again.
They talked and Sakura likes how gentle he is. During the date she notes the things she likes about this. She likes how he never showed any signs that she was a burden. She likes how he understands her but not treat her like a baby. She likes how he sees her as this beautiful girl with imperfections and all. She likes how he never complained about the inconveniences it caused to be with someone in a wheelchair.
He stops the car in front of her house, Ino hiding behind the window to see how the date is fairing. He helped her out of the driver’s seat and into her wheelchair. He pushes her to her door before looking at her.
Sakura blushes before saying she had a great time and would like to do this again. She sees her eyes lighting up from this but coughed to hide his excitement. She smiles before reaching for his hand and pulling him down. She gently kisses his cheeks before saying her good night.
His ears are red, but he smiled before standing up and saying his good nights. He opened the door for her and only returned to his car when he hears another female voice squealing inside the house indicating she is settled in.
That night while in bed Sakura thought how unreal this is. She never thought she would find happiness like this again.
She opened her phone to text him.
“Good night, Sasuke-kun. thank you for today.” Hitting send before going to bed a little lighter than usual. A genuine smile on her face.
She finds it all surreal how one mundane Wednesday afternoon in a café led her to believe that everything can still begin again.