Friends forever
Chihiro was sitting by the window, looking up at the clear sky. It has been 4 years since the day she returned from that magical world of spirits and witches but Chihiro felt like everything just happened yesterday. Everything from the extraordinary adventure was still so vivid in her mind and she can recall all the memories every time she thinks of Haku or things they did together when she was a little girl working in the bathhouse.
“Chihiro. Calm down. Don’t be afraid”
“I thought I’d never see you again, Haku”. Chihiro said in a voice choked with emotions.
Chihiro was sitting by the window, looking up at the clear sky. It has been 4 years since the day she returned from that magical world of spirits and witches but Chihiro felt like everything just happened yesterday. Everything from the extraordinary adventure was still so vivid in her mind and she can recall all the memories every time she thinks of Haku or things they did together when she was a little girl working in the bathhouse.
“Haku, I miss you.” Chihiro whispered softly. There was no response. Every night when the moon was full, Chihiro climbed upon the roof, sit there for hours and looked up at the sky with great hope that she would be able to see him again.
To Chihiro, Haku always occupied a special place in her heart. The friendship between them was unspeakably special that Chihiro found it hard to find someone who can replace Haku.
To Chihiro, Haku always occupied a special place in her heart. The friendship between them was unspeakably special that Chihiro found it hard to find someone who can replace Haku.
Chihiro had been always a mysterious girl to most people. Even though she was loveable, very helpful and always one of the best students in her class, Chihiro never really had a close friend.
Her parents had been worried a lot about it because she was becoming a teenager and as they saw on TV or newspapers every day, there was statistics showing that the teenager depression symptom had become very common. She hardly brought a friend home or had gossip for hours on the phone with her girlfriends like most of other teen girls usually do. Chihiro preferred spending time alone, reading, making her insect collection boxes.
Last week, Chihiro was making some sandwiches in the kitchen while she overheard her parents’ conversation about their worries that Chihiro was not very socially friendly compared to girls her age.
Her parents had been worried a lot about it because she was becoming a teenager and as they saw on TV or newspapers every day, there was statistics showing that the teenager depression symptom had become very common. She hardly brought a friend home or had gossip for hours on the phone with her girlfriends like most of other teen girls usually do. Chihiro preferred spending time alone, reading, making her insect collection boxes.
Last week, Chihiro was making some sandwiches in the kitchen while she overheard her parents’ conversation about their worries that Chihiro was not very socially friendly compared to girls her age.
“No one understands even Mom and Dad” she cried. “I am the only one who knows about the existence of the spirit world and no matter how hard I try to explain to people, no one is going to believe me. Mom, Dad, do you actually forget everything about that time, when you both transformed into pigs and were caged in Yubaba’s animal farm? Being the only one person bearing a secret that can never be told is such a burden. I’m hopeless and feeling so lonely.”
As she sighed and curled up in her bed, Chihiro looked out the window and in that moment, only in a wink, Chihiro was so sure that she saw a white dragon flying in the sky.
As she sighed and curled up in her bed, Chihiro looked out the window and in that moment, only in a wink, Chihiro was so sure that she saw a white dragon flying in the sky.
“Haku” Chihiro called. “Is that you?”
She then rubbed her eyes. There was nothing in the sky but a few billowing white clouds. That night, Chihiro cried herself to sleep and strangely, in her dream, she saw herself becoming trapped in the town of spirits once again.
Chihiro was so nervous, exactly like the first time she got lost in this place 4 years ago. She quickly hid in a corner at the end of a street by the river.
Chihiro was so nervous, exactly like the first time she got lost in this place 4 years ago. She quickly hid in a corner at the end of a street by the river.
“Look at my hands” Chihiro talked quietly to herself. “They’re so tiny. And my clothes. This is the bathhouse’s uniform. What am I doing here?” Until then Chihiro realized that she was in the form of her 10-year-old version.
“This can’t be happening!”. Chihiro sit down on the ground, shut her eyes tightly and covered her ears. All the memories came back to her mind. Losing her own name, losing her parents, working in the bathhouse with the spell put on her forever.
Then there was a familiar tender voice.
Then there was a familiar tender voice.
“Chihiro. Calm down. Don’t be afraid”
As she turned back, Chihiro immediately recognized Haku standing next to her with his eyes looking at her dearly. She was utterly speechless.
“Ho…how….howw.. do you…”
“It’s fine, Chihiro. You are in your dream, not in the spirit world. But this is the only way I can do to approach you. I apologize if it scared you”
Haku didn’t look any different. Still that pale skin with dark green shoulder-length hair and those deep bright eyes. Chihiro’s heart was suddenly filled with happiness and warm affection for meeting the boy she had been longing to see in a very long time.
“I thought I’d never see you again, Haku”. Chihiro said in a voice choked with emotions.
“It was really difficult to come and see you, Chihiro. We are totally forbidden entering your world. But with my crystal ball, I still know how things go with you. I know you’re doing very well at school. You’re always a determined smart girl.”
“I thought you’ve forgotten me.”
“I’d never forget you, Chihiro. I know things have become hard for you as nobody in the human world know about the existence of the spirit world but you. You are the only one and will be the only one. It can be hard sometimes to be the only person keeping the secret. But I never want to erase your memories of my world because I want you to remember all the beautiful moments we had. You’re my very special friend.”
“But I feel lonely because I really want to have you with me always so I can tell you my problems and share with you all my secrets.” Chihiro sniffed.
“In my world, people never get old. We stay with our age forever. I’ll eternally be in the form of a 12 year-old boy. But you’ll grow up and you have an exciting life ahead waiting for you. Be strong and make the most of your life. I’ll always be by your side. I’ll never forget you as long as you still have me in your heart.”
Then they sat down together by the river bank. Chihiro put her head on Haku’s shoulder and she remembered the last sentence Haku told her before she fell asleep peacefully beside him:
“Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them but you know they’re always there.”
Chihiro woke up the next morning, totally refreshed and cheerful.
“What am I doing today? That’d be silly staying home in a beautiful sunny day like this.” Chihiro thought to herself with excitement. “I might call Satsuki and see if she wants to go shopping with me.”
And when Chihiro picked up the phone to ring her friend, she saw the white dragon again, flying up and down in the sky and finally disappeared over the horizon.
And when Chihiro picked up the phone to ring her friend, she saw the white dragon again, flying up and down in the sky and finally disappeared over the horizon.
