I lowered my camera to look at the pictures I had just taken. I scrolled through the pictures. A flower, a butterfly… and just as I moved to the next frame, my thumb froze. 

There, in the distant background of the last shot, standing by a willow tree, was the girl from the booth.

My eyes widened. A rush of heat flooded my body, and my breath caught in my throat. The camera felt heavy in my hands.

My head jerked up. My eyes darted from the path to the bench to the shaded grove.

Had I imagined it? I thought.

I looked back at the screen, zooming in. It was her. It was definitely her.

Then I felt a light touch on my right shoulder.

I spun around. She stood there, her hand still raised from the touch, her head tilted slightly. A knowing smile played on her lips, as if she’d been watching me search for her.

She waved at me.

The tight knot in my chest loosened all at once. A real, unguarded smile broke across my face, and I waved back, my own gesture feeling clumsy and too eager.

After a moment, she made hand signs saying,

What are you doing here?

I suddenly thought she had seen me taking her picture, so I blurted out,

“I-I didn’t intentionally take your picture again!”

Her eyes narrowed. She puffed out her cheeks, then made hand signs saying,

I’m leaving!

She turned and started walking.

“Hey, I’m sorry,” I called out, my voice softer.

Hearing that she stopped and turned back. A serious look settled on her face. After staring at me for a moment, her hands moved again, saying,

If you want to take my picture, you can. But ask me first.

“Really?” I said.

She smiled and nodded with a blink.

“Umm… as an apology… Can I offer you a coffee?” I asked, scratching the back of my head.

She shook her head and said with her hands,

I have to go to the library now.

I stayed silent. She was looking at me, and I had no words. I lowered my head, then looked up suddenly and said, 

“I’ll walk you.”

Her lips curved into a light smile. She turned and started walking. I took a few quick steps to catch up, then fell into place beside her.

I walked her to the library. On the way, her hands never stopped moving, painting silent stories in the air between us.

But I wasn't reading her signs. I didn’t know if she was scolding me or saying something else. Because I was too lost in her to pay attention to anything.

I only saw the way her eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled. I noticed how she’d turn and glance at me after a flurry of hand signs, her eyebrows lifting slightly as if waiting for a response I could never give. Her steps were light and quick, and without thinking, I found myself matching her pace.

At one point, a man on a bicycle swerved too close. Instinctively, I shifted my stance, placing myself subtly between her and the street. She glanced up, noticing the movement. She stared at me for a second, a look I couldn't read, then a light smile touched her lips before she continued walking.

When we reached the library, she turned to me and was silent for a few seconds. Then she made hand signs saying,

My stop is here. You can go now.

“Oh. Y-yeah,” I said, scratching the back of my head. But my feet didn’t move an inch.

Her hands moved again, a little quicker, and she said,

I’m getting late. I’ll go now. Take care.

She turned and started walking toward the doors.

“Y-you too. Take care,” I managed to say.

She stopped midway, turned back, and with a final smile, waved her hand lightly and nodded once before she went inside.

I stood there, watching the space where she’d been. Her smile was the only thing in my mind.

After a few moments, I finally turned away and started walking, my feet carrying me automatically toward a café. I needed coffee, or maybe I just needed to sit down.

***

Today, I’m standing near the library waiting for her. I don’t know why, but after that day I haven’t been able to focus on anything. Whenever I try to take pictures, the world through the viewfinder seems empty without the chance of her appearing in the frame.

Maybe I think I’m in...

I was lost in thought when I suddenly saw her coming out of the library.

I hid the camera behind my back and walked toward her.

“Hey,” I said.

She looked at me and asked in hand signs,

What are you doing here? while tilting her head to see behind my back.

I stopped hiding it. 

“I didn’t do anything today,” I said, bringing the camera out in front of me.

She chuckled softly and started walking, and I followed her.

“What do you do in the library, anyway?” I asked.

She looked at me and signed,

I listen to loud music there.

“Don’t joke,” I said with a smile.

Then she stopped and made signs saying, 

Who started it?

That’s when I realized how stupid my question was.

She started walking again, and I turned my face, scratching my cheek with one finger. In reality, I just wanted to talk to her, but I didn’t know what to say, so I ended up saying whatever came to my mind. The silence between our footsteps felt heavy with my own clumsiness.

After a while, she stopped at a road crossing where another street connected. Then she turned toward me and pointed in that direction.

“You’re going that way?” I asked.

She nodded.

I stayed silent for a moment, scrambling for a reason to stay. “Oh, what a coincidence. I live that way too.”

She gave me a small glare and signed,

I have never seen you there.

“Oh… I… um…” The words died in my throat.

She shook her head slightly, but her expression softened. Her hands moved, telling me I should go home as well.

“Oh yeah, take care,” I said and waved my hand at her.

She also waved and smiled before turning to walk away.

I stood there for a moment, rooted, before forcing myself to start walking.

***