"Summer mornings rain light like a parade upon fresh cobble, light that shines which will eventually run out, only to shine even brighter the next morning."
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Nobody is perfect in this world, that's why were humans, because we're imperfect. It's not just humanity – all which exists is imperfect. Its not just me venting about inequality and trying to justify my position in the world, it's the honest truth.
If people were perfect, if everything was perfect, what would the world even look like?
I sure as hell believe it wouldn't look like this.
But, to me, that would be a bad thing, because the world is too beautiful to change.
I wouldn't want it to change.
Looking up, the pale blue sky of midday greeted me, colossal clouds of unimaginable sizes and incredibly complex shapes littered the skies every now and then, creating a contrasting view.
In a large opening, between the clouds, the sun was visible.
It shone intensely just as it had done yesterday and all of the days before.
And, it will continue to shine until the night fell, re-emerging morning after morning, greeting us with restless vigour.
Bringing my eyes down, I looked around the crimson, rose garden I found myself stood in like a captivated puppy.
A large path swirled from hundreds of metres away, then entered a small little crevice in the bushes, making way to a large natural opening of trees filled with pure red lycoris and roses, unevenly spread out.
I couldn't help but feel naturally forced to take out my camera and take pictures of this place, and so I did.
Truth be told, I found this place as I was walking around some park in a whole separate district of my city.
Originally, I was supposed to take some photos of a wedding venue for the owners so that they could upload it on their website, but I was far more entranced by this captivating little gem of a spot.
You see, I'm a professional photographer. Been one since I graduated high school.
My photography journey started when I was five, and my parents bought me a toy camera.
For months, actually it was more like years, I never let that thing go, I photographed everything which I found beautiful, enamouring, anything even remotely appealing, I took pictures of.
Come my eleventh birthday, I've completely forgotten about the camera, it became a blast from the past whenever I thought about it, even though it wasn't even that long ago.
When I became seventeen, I started looking for a career to pursue, something I could enjoy, and also become amazing at, but at the same time, I wanted a challenge!
There were many pathways out there for me to choose from. Something creative; an interior designer or perhaps an animator. Or maybe something more serious, something which requires more brawl and equal brain; like the fire force, or the search and rescue teams you see going into forests and caves on TV.
One day, I was going through the attic, looking at old things to give away or sell, and lo and behold – you probably would never guess what I found!
My camera.
The very same toy as to the one which I had when I was only five.
And as though that camera was like a catalyst, my brain surrendered to the thought of this harrowing industry.
Come age twenty-three, I was a professional in the industry, doing projects for hundreds of clients yearly, some of which being very prestigious people.
I was able to move out. Buy a nice house in the suburbs, drive around in a nice car.
Life is good.
Its just – I feel an incredible sense of discontentment…
I want to become something, greater?
Better.
I want to reach the peak of this world, or was it I wanted to that before? And now I'm just…
I surrendered to my own obliged desires to become a photographer, and I don't regret it one bit. I love this line of work, witnessing the beauty in anything I can no matter whatever or wherever it is!
Yet, a lingering desire still encapsulates my mind.
I wouldn't be able to reach the top as a humble photographer, no matter who I photographed, no matter what I photographed.
To reach the top, I must become the one being photographed, and, right now, that's not the case.
Such thoughts resound in my head every now and then like the toll of a bell.
"sigh"
I let out a deep, comforting sigh as I looked up at the sky.
I imagined what the zenith would look like, an outstanding podium rested atop a gargantuan cloud.
High above the ground, away from the bottom, away from…
What I was now.
It was a harrowing thought to me, one that made me slightly breathless at my own self-interest. AT this moment, I thought myself to be incredibly selfish, it was hard not to think that.
Alas, emotions are also what make life beautiful.
I closed my eyes, still looking at the sky, as I said out loud, "The world truly has a way of bringing out the best and worst in people, huh,"
I brought my head down, ran my hand through my shoulder length black hair, eyes still closed.
Letting out a small chuckle, I continued, "It's actually kind of scary. Emotions, feelings, all that stuff-"
I paused abruptly before giggling like a fool, which then turned into a quiet cackle as I realised, "When did I start sounding like a philosopher, heh."
It was truly humorous, I've never been much of a deep thinker, when did I start?
Oh well, 'I guess it's not a bad thing', I thought as a small smile embellished my face.
Moving my head back up towards the sky, I slowly began to open my eyes, my eyelashes fluttering enigmatically alongside my hair as a soft breeze of wind blew over me.
"Where the hell am I!?"
And so, my journey began. In a new, unknown place, meeting new people; both good and bad, experiencing new things. My life was turned upside down in the span of mere moments, and, I was all for it.
This is a story of how I, Yukio Akachi, reached the peak.