Who was the real me? When I realized I had nothing of my own, <br>I was completely stunned. <hr> And yet, somehow... <br>What floated up in the newfound blankness of my heart—was kimono. <br>As if to bless the wide, empty space that had opened when everything else disappeared. <br>As if to encourage my heart, <br>bundles of fluttering noshi ribbons danced lightly in the air. <hr> I really do love kimono. <br>They hold pride, admiration, and longing, <br>all at once. <br>Even if it was a path given and prepared for me. <br>For someone as utterly ordinary as me, it's the last thing left. <br>My only guidepost.