text: Spring. The time when the grass becomes greener and the leaves turn brighter. It’s also the time when the annual Spring Festival takes place in the city of Sacramento, California. People all over the city come together on this Saturday and enjoy this event. There are different tents for food and other sold goods, live music and performances, rides, game booths, and to end off the night, a fireworks show. It is an overall, enjoyable occasion, but maybe not for everyone. Eva is a college student in her sophomore year who has a passion for painting. There are joys in grabbing a paintbrush and creating a piece of work where there are no limitations, but when it comes to her personal life, joy doesn’t exist as she’s constantly fighting the negative thoughts that have been attacking her mind for years. Her family forcefully brings her to the festival to get some fresh air, instead of staying isolated in her room, letting her thoughts rot her brain. Vince, another student in his junior year of college, flew from New York during his spring break to spend time with his grandmother, as he does every year. He’s studying to become an architect, so he takes his school and work very seriously. His aura makes him unapproachable, which is why he isn’t close to many people, but it hasn’t occurred to anyone that that idea does put a burden on him. He never wished for people to keep a distance from him, but they did and believed that was okay for him because he’ll become successful for himself and his family. Success was all that they cared about when it came to him. Vince had been accompanying his grandmother around the festival until his Aunt Janice came to take over. “Don’t worry about me. Go and make some memories on your own for once while you’re in this town” Vince’s grandmother whispered, then winked before she walked away with Aunt Janice. Eva had been sitting on the grass with all the other festival go-ers, listening to the live music. She was drawing in her notebook to pass the time by, since her mother wouldn’t let her leave until after the fireworks show had ended. She stood up to walk around and look for something new to occupy her. She bumped into a man that looked the same age as her who was taking a picture for another family. Apparently, they bumped into each other pretty hard to where her sunglasses on her head fell to the ground. “That was my fault. I am so sorry,” Vince apologized. “It’s fine,” Eva said while picking up her glasses and blowing off the dirt on the lenses. She walked away to grab a napkin from one of the food tents and sat back down on the grass. As she was cleaning her glasses with the napkin and her half-filled water bottle, Vince comes her way and apologizes once more, but this time with a bag of chips he bought from a food tent. She accepted the chips and he sat about five feet away from her. They didn’t know it, but in their minds, they were both questioning why the other was alone at this festival full of families, friends, and couples. Most people had their company, but soon, they would be each other’s company. “Do you enjoy going to events by yourself or are you waiting for anyone?” Eva started. “I was with my grandmother, but she decided to leave me alone to have fun. She thinks I need a break from being such a serious person...but she’s right. These kinds of things are nice,” Vince explains. “What about you, if I may ask?” “My mom forced me to come here. She thinks being cooped up in my room all the time is bad for me. I hate to admit it, but she is right because being outside gives me inspiration for my paintings.” Their conversation went on for hours, talking about their lives. Even though they both enjoyed listening to one another’s stories, sharing pictures of their own career-related work on their phones, they each couldn’t help but feel a pinch of sadness about how the other felt about their own life. On one hand, Vince was amazed at how much freedom Eva feels when she creates new artwork, but at the same time, his heart tugged at the fact that she couldn’t paint her reality to become more happier or secure around her family. On the other hand, Eva felt inspired by how much initiative Vince has taken on his career as an architect. She was fascinated from seeing the blueprints he created and how he has been helping his uncle with designing buildings in his town. However, there was a sense of despair when he discussed how much people only appreciate him for being on top of his education and career. She noticed his gloomy expression when he stated that he wished people looked beyond those capabilities and cared about him, and not just his work. People view buildings and think it looks beautiful from the outside as they pass by and just disregard the structure built inside of it; this was Vince’s perspective on how his life was like, and Eva completely understood that. Vince went to grab a blanket in his car for him and Eva to sit on. They talked all night about each other’s’ interests and futures. Although it wasn’t addressed, they both understood to not pry into one another’s personal life because they had respected each other that much. However, throughout the night, they each couldn’t help but feel the need to know how the other came to be the person they are today and why they aren’t the person they wished to be. There was a lot more that they needed to learn about each other, and if only time persisted, then they could. They joked and shared laughs until the fireworks suddenly shot up in the sky. There was silence between the two amongst the “oohhs” and “aahhs” from the children around them, but their minds were loud with wonders about the other and when they will see each other again. Their hearts felt that there was a reason they needed to stay connected. The show ended, and so did their light-hearted conversation that would be unforgettable for the both of them. “It was great meeting you. I actually had a wonderful time, which doesn’t happen often, so I guess you’re lucky,” Eva joked. “Well, I’m honored. I also had a great time with you, so thank you. I mean it.” “Would you like to meet again one day? We can go to a café near by or come back here and-“ “Actually, my flight leaves tomorrow morning.” “Oh,” said Eva with a saddened tone. “My week of spring break ends here, unfortunately, but now I’m wishing this was the start,” Vince says apologetically. “I’ll be back next year during break, so we can meet up and continue our conversation because I would love to know more about you.” Eva smiles and says, “Yes, I agree. Let’s exchange phone numbers, so we don’t lose contact.” Vince complies and they both enter in their contacts on the other’s phone as people are ushering out of the park to drive back home, since the event was over. When they finish, they bid each other goodbye and go their separate ways with disappointment and hope in their hearts. Eva walks towards where her mother’s car was parked until she hears Vince call out her name, causing her to stop in her tracks and turn around. “We’ll meet again in the spring time,” Vince ensures.