17. A Nothing Diary [The Wild Rose Does Not Yet Know Tomorrow]

Clouds heavy with rain hung in the evening sky.

The sun in the west shone upon us.

A warm, humid breeze clung to us before drifting away.

My four-year-old daughter, wearing sandals that flashed with light whenever she stepped, ran through the gap between spring and summer.

The new sandals were a little big.
I thought she would grow into them by the time it got hot.

My two-year-old daughter, wearing hand-me-down sandals.
She chased after her big sister with all her might.

She had a fever since yesterday and had stayed home from nursery school.

That was why she wanted to chase after her sister so badly.
She didn't care at all that her sandals didn't flash yet.

The big sister walked a little way ahead.

The little sister ran a bit behind.

And I was at the very back.

Even though I really wanted to be right by the two of you, the big sister couldn't wait for summer.

She kept going without looking back.

But surely, this is fine, isn't it?

A little unsteady, yet sometimes, she wears such a determined expression.

And she runs on.
Into the gap between freedom and restriction.

Then, my two-year-old daughter stopped and looked back at me.

A tired face.
Slightly drooping eyelids.

She still has a fever.
It seems her little body couldn't keep up with her desire to chase after her big sister.

She didn't say anything, just looked at me as if asking for something, so

"Let's have a cuddle."

I said, and picked her up.

She clung to me tightly and rested her head on my shoulder.

Going back and forth between her happy feelings and her aching body, she finally entrusted everything to me.

We chased after her big sister's back.

Suddenly, along the way, I saw white flowers blooming in the gaps between the trees.

The many buds will surely bloom tomorrow.

I wonder what kind of flower this is.

As I was thinking that, a little further ahead, my older daughter fell.

I heard her crying.
I ran over to her.

I stroked her head and tightened the Velcro on her sandals.

As I thought, it was still a little too big.

"It hurts and I can't walk anymore!"

I wanted to carry both of them.

I can do it for a little while, but home is still on the other side.

"Two-year-old, can you get down for a second?"

My younger daughter got down without even complaining. Then, she patted her big sister's head.

"There were flowers blooming over there, let's go see them." I said that as I picked up my older daughter.

When I started walking, my younger daughter followed right behind me. She's stronger than I thought.

We stopped in front of the flowers.

My older daughter said, "Can I pick this flower?"

Looking at the flower, there were thorns on the stem. It might still be a little too early for her. "Daddy will pick one without thorns for you."

One flower for each of my two daughters.

"Let's look up the name when we get home."

Holding my older daughter.
Holding my younger daughter's hand.

Retracing the path we walked.

"Oh, your flower dropped, two-year-old!"

Even though her older sister told her that, the younger one didn't look back.

"You don't need it anymore?"

My younger daughter,

"I don't need it!"

she said.

I look up the name of the flower.

Wild rose.

A rose that bloomed in the gap between spring and summer.

The children are still by my side.

My little ones.

It is fine to be buds for now.

Because it is still a little too early to know tomorrow.

I've started X! Nice to meet you!