Well this is for Ulquiorra's challenge at the OHC. This isn't exactly romantic, but I liked how it turned out^^
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Spring Blossoms
Red light, red light, red light. Mom, mom, mom. Stop, stop, STOP!
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I opened my eyes to the greyscale colours of early morning. I pulled myself out of bed, slightly numb and covered in a cold sweat. Another dream with the same theme. "Mom..." I thought. I quickly finished my breakfast and got ready.
Today was supposed to be a good day, a fun day. A day of joy and happiness. A day I could be free. It didn't feel like it at all.
I slipped on the traditional robe, wearing my old T-shirt and jeans with the high-tops I'd worn all through high school. Dad had left already, the suit that was on his bed the previous night gone. I pulled out my wallet for a cab.
Spring had come quickly. The sun was shining clearly, everything having a happy tinge to it. I even saw some small tree's with blossoms on them, perky in the cityscape that had suffocated they're many brothers and sisters with smog and pollution. I smirked grimly, giving them a small glance before I hopped into the cab.
"Where you headed?" The taxi driver said. I looked at him from the rear view mirror. He was around his mid-thirties, the creases at the corners of his eyes apparent. I blinked and told him the directions to my school.
"Graduation? You must feel old." He gave a hearty laugh. I gave a weak smile and he started the car.
I could never drive again. In the backseat I could watch the people outside, sing along to the radio. I could fall asleep.
"So you got any family there? I remember at my graduation; my family took up the first two rows. They were so proud of me, cheering as I got my diploma. A great day that was." He said, looking to me.
"My dad will be there." I replied.
"Just your dad! What about your mother, aunts and uncles!?" He exclaimed.
I bit my lip, looking out the window. "My mom passes away in an accident, her family hasn't contacted us since." I said quietly. An awkward silence filled the cab. The taxi driver took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to upset you." He said finally.
"It's okay..." I replied. The lights turned red, blotting my vision. The cab came to a halt, the pedal working perfectly when he pressed on it. I fought back tears.
"Now don't cry. Your ma will be watching you, she's been watching you all this time. This is something she wouldn't miss for the world, even if she is stuck up in the sky." I heard him say. "Everyone smiles when the flowers are in bloom. So smile."
I looked up, wiping the fallen tears. My father hadn't said those comforting words, burying himself in work since the accident. I had been with her, barely had a scratch. She was gone...
I smiled, nodding my head. "Thank you." I said hoarsely. We pulled to a stop. "I will."
I walked out, the taxi driver followed me. He placed a hand on my shoulder. "Now go out and show her how much you've grown, so she won't have to worry." He said. I finally got a look at his nametag.
"Noah? That's an unusual name." I said. Noah laughed. He walked to the cab, stopping to open the door.
"I mean it. Walk in there with a smile." Noah instructed. I nodded, a smile growing so wide that people stopped to look as I went up to the podium. I adjusted the microphone.
"First off, I'd like to dedicate this speech to my mother, and to a new friend of mine named Noah." I began my speech, the smile still in place, the smell of spring flowers flowing into me. "Mom, I've grown up." I thought.
