He leaned down close to me, his smiling lips pressing softly against my cheek.
Gazing through the gaps in his hair, I saw the crescent moon in the distance, looking as though it too were smiling with gentle warmth.
A mild spring breeze blew freely, scattering the thin layer of clouds in the sky.
The clear night sky was unveiled, framed by that curved crescent and dotted with two or three bright spring stars.
Along the riverbank, the willow branches swayed softly, tender and full of affection.
Frogs croaked in chorus through the night, their calls sounding like a soft love song.
The fresh scent of young reeds mixed with the warm humidity of the night, slowly drifting through the air.
Beside us, the gentle rustle of running water chimed softly, as if nourishing the tender shoots along the bank.
I quietly imagined those delicate reed stalks taking strength from the spring waters, secretly growing upward in the dark.
From the damp, fertile soil, tiny dandelions were quietly breaking through the earth, unfolding their leaves.
Every living thing in the world was slowly opening up, melting into the vibrant life of spring.
Everything brewed a sweet, gentle fragrance that blanketed the entire night.
I completely forgot my own pain and put all my worries out of mind.
It felt as though I had lost myself entirely, dissolving into the gentle glow of the night breeze and moonlight.
“I belong to this night,” I whispered internally, surrendering to the feeling.
At that exact moment, a stray cloud drifted over, blocking the crescent moon.
Pitch darkness instantly swallowed everything, snapping me back to reality with a cold jolt of clarity.
I had lost that gentle crescent moon—and with it, the pure, clean person I used to be.
In a single, agonizing flash, the truth hit me: I had ended up down the exact same path as my mother.