Notes

With a new tender ravishing crooked smile, whose source was the endearing reaction she witnessed, the taller one positions herself behind Himari. "When your heart desires, we can go to a place appreciated by you to photograph us together." The young woman's personal space was preserved by Haein; that without the slightest difficulty putting the necklace around the shorter one's neck with her long and deft tattooed fingers, adorned by enigmatic silver rings full of symbolism; after, of course, having asked for consent to have such a privilege. "Did you know, some people have the habit of immortalizing, in the compartment, with the photograph, a lock of their own hair intertwined with the lock of hair of a person cherished by their heart as a charm and a symbol of the bond that unites them?" She watches as Himari turns to her, caresses the cameo locket now on her elegant neck with almost sacral care and a certain devotion.

"To be able to change someone's heartbeat, sweetly, is like composing a melody. We are making music here, Miss Himari." whispers Haein to Himari in her ear, leaning slightly towards the girl. There was a British accent to her distinct, deep, husky voice. "You trusted me with your friendship. I would set myself on fire to keep you warm. Figuratively, I mean." The taller one closes her eyes and for a minute or two, lets herself be under the warmth touch of Himari's small hand stroking her icy face that starts to warm from prolonged contact. Haein captures the small hand with your slightly larger one, to place a kiss on its dorsum, without ever breaking the waltz of looks between their eyes. "Let us go for a walk. Shall we?" She offers the young woman her right arm; then they begin a peacefully walk.

With each new step they take, a different ground — from different cities in different countries of the seven continents: Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, North America, South America, and Antarctica. — under their feet; a myriad of scenarios around them. Being subtle the transition from one place to another.

The first step: Düsseldorf, Germany.

"I must warn you, Miss Himari, that my mind may be rather strange and unusual; and a little, just, a bit eccentric. Maybe, like in Greek mythology, you will need a ball of yarn so you do not get lost in the labyrinth of my wonderland, because to become the 'Mad Hatter', I only need the hat." As she formulates the last words a hat appears over her head and with a smile, she adds: "Well, not anymore", winking mischievously at Himari.

"I feel ecstatic — in this exact moment —, in your delectable company, Miss Himari. Your presence reaches my soul like sunlight filtering through the trees on an autumnal afternoon. Like the first flower of spring emerging from the snow. That is the emotion reigning in my being right now." Haein gently interrupts their walk down a Parisian street. "One minute". She picks a white rose from the flower stall for Himari. The florist, of course, receives the equivalent amount directly at the cash register. "For you". The taller one, smiling, presents her friend with the flower; but before the girl takes it, with a gesture of the hand, like a magician, Haein changes the color of the flower, turning it into a majestic black rose. "Do not worry, the transforming hand of the Time will never touch this rose. Shall we?" She then offers her right arm again to Himari and together they walk again. "Following up on our conversation and concluding the topic orbiting around my emotions. My heart is transparent like a clear frozen lake. You will always be able to know what emotion is under the ice because that is my will. As for the hobbies I am dedicated to, I can show you each one of them instead of just mentioning them." She looks away from the path in front of her to catch Himari's gaze again.

Haein then suggests Himari watch the colorful hot air balloons. They were on a terrace in Cappadocia. "I will seek to quench your Curiosity about me whenever 'she' visits your thoughts for tea." Sitting on a colorful pillow on a Persian rug, having in front of their eyes a breathtaking landscape and within reach of delicious typical delicacies of the region, they chatted contemplating the silhouettes of hot air balloons in an orange sky. "We can ask each other random questions and respond with the first answer that comes to mind. If this proposal piques your interest, you can do the honors and ask me a question, anytime."

The sun had already set and the moon now reigned on its throne, surrounded by its stellar court.

While they enjoying the small feast, the view and each other's company, the taller one had noticed from the way Himari bit the lower lip over and over again as if trying to prevent a secret from spilling out her mouth without her consent that there was a fight going on inside her. So she waited patiently.
Haein could have accessed Himari's emotions and thoughts, but that went against her personal code of conduct. She would never do it without the consent of Himari. So she just paid attention to details that could go unnoticed by many looks — not hers — with her prodigious senses focused on Himari.

She listened intently to the words spoken by Himari, aware of the pounding of the shorter one's heart as if Himari's rib cage were New Orleans and the heart Mardi Gras, without ever interrupting her statement. The way Himari blushes furiously in front of her does not go unnoticed by those master key green eyes. But Haein was a gentle-women, and she kept to herself how lovely she found such a detail about Himari. Haein knew how emotionally exposed Himari was feeling; how frightening it was for her to strip her soul of all layers of protection and at once to a person she had just met and apparently had shaken her structures. Haein's structures also suffered earthquakes.

Her physical presence can be as ephemeral as a breath—as brief as a dream—; but the temporariness of an instant in her fleeting company can find the sweetness of eternity that a minute possesses in the memory of hearts where the roots of her being can come to lie and grow loosely, if some souls allow it.


Himari looked like a bird singing its emotions.

Haein did not want to silence the bird and scare her away, or imprison her in a cage. She wanted the bird to feel safe enough to land on her index finger and sing the song of her soul. So she just heard the sweet song and, however, moved perhaps by empathy in its purest state, Haein shelters the small body in her long arms, holding kindly Himari against her in a hug as if she wanted to take all panic that the young woman was feeling.

And that is exactly what happens. Haein absorbs through the hug they share any and all unwanted negative emotions from Himari, leaving only the comforting tainted by the panic.

The silence reigned almost completely.

Haein's words rang in Himari's mind:

"I am afraid, little bird, we are at the mercy of the same spell." 🦋