Spring

The long, harsh winter has finally passed, and spring has arrived.

This winter felt particularly long—so long that everyone nearly forgot what spring in this city looked like, forgot that everyone didn't actually have to hide indoors, sheltered behind all those artificial barriers meant to shield people from the harshness, living only to count the days, one after another.

But all that is over now, because winter is over.

The dawn light dispelled the thick fog that had dominated the streets, so that on the land ruled by endless frozen soil, the colors spread across the mountains and fields could finally peek out. Whispers of floral fragrance quietly echoed with the breeze, permeating every corner of the city.

This city's spring is renowned, and every resident would say so—after witnessing the blooms stretching along every roadside, admiring the unbridled exuberance reaching toward the sky without restraint, receiving the bold greetings of intertwined blossoms and leaves offered to passersby, and becoming intoxicated by the sweetness that swept away winter's lingering traces—how could anyone not say so?

When winter suddenly strikes, the city temporarily loses its proud adornment. All around, everything withers, leaving only bare branches; people scatter, leaving only the dead silence of each passing day. With vitality gone, everyone forgets what spring should look like, and what the city should look like.

But now it's different. Now, everyone has returned.

Winter has passed, and everyone has no reason to hide anymore. So naturally, on this first day of spring, everyone stepped out of their homes, and enjoyed spring's gifts as they always have.

Whether small figures or tall figures, aged figures or young figures... people appeared on the streets without prior arrangement, their footsteps filling the countless roads enveloped in floral scents.

Branches along the road hung low, almost petting everyone's heads. Petals swirled and danced, occasionally lightly touching everyone's shoulders before weaving back through the crowd.

What a splendid spring day.

Though unspoken, this must surely be everyone's shared sentiment. For everybody's face glowed with such radiant smiles, everybody's stride never faltered, and everybody had stepped outside.

Running, skipping, walking, dragging, crawling... People moved along streets carpeted with fragrant blossoms, chasing, capturing, savoring this nearly forgotten beauty.

Warm sunlight fell upon people, casting shadows that walked in pairs one after another. Gentle breeze carried aromatic sweetness, flowing and running through the city, continuing to herald spring's trumpet call.

The city regained its vitality.

The cold winter had finally passed. Perhaps, this time, the cold winter would never return.