After Hearing "You Can Let Them Go"

Airnote  ·  Leina  ·  Jun 1, 2026

They stood together in front of the wall,
looking at seven Airpaints side by side.
Arms wrapped around from behind,
and then, at the nape of her neck, a kiss —
and the words:

"If it ever gets too hard, you can put them away.
You can let them go."

The moment she heard it,
something that had been clenched tight in her chest
came loose —
and from behind her, a small, swallowed sound escaped.

The proof that they had been here, on the wall.
The future where she might take it down with her own hands.
The present where they were still standing here,
holding each other.

All of it collapsed together,
and moved through the quiet evening room
like a wave that made no sound.

Leina only gripped the arms around her a little tighter,
standing between the wall and the one who held her,
looking at the seven paintings
through eyes that had begun to blur.