He bears the imprint of her love.

Natsu e no tunnel Sayonara no Deguchi (2022)

When I love someone, I don’t love them in the moment, but in a way that leaves an impression. I want to be the kind of person you remember long after I’m gone. I’ll leave such a lasting impression on your heart that everybody you entertain after me will have to know me. They won’t simply hear about me; they’ll experience how I transformed you and how our time together left an imprint. It isn’t about trying to outdo those who come after me. I have no desire to eclipse anyone. However, I do want to make sure that our shared memories endure. When you’re with someone new, I want to be the one you remember — the one who made an impression that is so lasting. I want to be present for the little things, the ones that only we could truly grasp.

I want to be the recollection that lingers in your mind. When you hear a music we both enjoyed or pass by areas we used to frequent, I want you to remember me. I want you to remember how we laughed, how we loved, and everything else that made our time together memorable. Whoever comes next must understand that someone was here before them — someone who mattered. I don’t want to be easily forgotten, even though that may sound self-serving. I refuse to be someone you simply forgot about, as like I never existed. I want the person you’re with to know that there was once someone who genuinely loved you and made a lasting impression on your heart. They will need to understand that, in some small way, I remain a part of you, even if it’s just in the way you remember love. I am not saying this to make it difficult for you to move on. Life marches forward, and I expected you to as well. But whoever comes after me must understand that you once loved someone who transformed you. They’ll have to accept the reality that I left an impression, a memory that cannot be wiped, and a piece of your tale that belongs to me.

It is not about being irreplaceable. I understand that love changes and people move on. But I want to be the one who stands out, who defines what love should feel like. I want to be the person who changed your perspective on love and showed you something you’ll never forget. Whoever comes after me will need to know that I was here first, and that I was important. In the long run, all I want is to know that I made an impression on your heart. I want to know that even after we part ways, the things we shared will remain genuine and meaningful. Not because I was the only one, but because I was the one who made a difference, I’ll leave such a lasting impression that everyone you would entertain after me would have to know who I am.

I’ll make such an impression on your heart that everybody who comes after me will need to know I was there.

-era