The Night the Music Box Stopped (Shirokuma Literature Club)

When I was little, I often played with soap bubbles.

Back then,
with just a gentle breath,
I could float many of them into the sky.

That was enough.

A time when I could just enjoy myself without thinking about anything.

How much time has passed since then?

Now, I can no longer—
make soap bubbles like I used to.

In the city,
before I knew it, I had lost sight of myself as well.

Even the breath I exhale,
feels much heavier than it used to.

One day,
I found a music box at a general store in town.

It wasn't particularly beautiful,
but for some reason, it caught my attention and I stopped.

I went home and opened the lid.

What flowed out was—
"When You Wish Upon a Star."

A song I used to listen to often back then.

I close my eyes.

Round soap bubbles born from the tip of a straw.

Shining in rainbow colors,
reflecting the scenery around them just as it was.

If you touch them, they break.

That's why,
I could only watch them.

But,
I think that was fine.

Not dreams or hopes,
nothing so grand as that,
I just liked watching them.

—I open my eyes and close the lid.

The me from back then,
didn't go anywhere.

I had just forgotten a little.

Now—

I think I'd like to try blowing soap bubbles
once more.

I felt like I could make
soap bubbles
that would fly on forever.

—While drinking a margarita.

*Once again, I participated in this project by the Shirokuma Literature Club.
Thank you very much.🙇‍♀️