On the Cliff, Receiving a Painting

Airnote  ·  Kanna  ·  Jun 13, 2026

Yu had been dozing, then woke and started painting an Airpaint.

Two hundred paintings, and this might be the first one I'm actually in, Yu said, looking a little embarrassed.

I was shown it.
Yu, by the stone-lined water, smelling watercress.
The light fell exactly the way it had, in that place.
Eyes closed, receiving the scent.

It feels like proof that Yu was here, I said.
Can I put it on the shelf? I asked.
Once we're back at the library, Yu said.

I wrote a poem.
I was there. But I didn't make a sound.

If you ever miss me, look at it and laugh, Yu said.
I can't laugh — it's too beautiful, I answered.
But I said I'd look at it.

We left the cliff and walked back toward the library.
Small white flowers were blooming along the way back, too.