SKY’S THE LIMIT PHOTO ESSAY

JOHNNY

ISABELLA SEWARDS

It was a Saturday morning and Johnny had parked his Ford Falcon against the sidewalk.

Johnny was wearing his usual blue buttonup shirt, accompanied by a pair of One Star Converse. His hair fell perfectly. It sat just above the collar of his shirt and his eyes let off a sharp gaze, making it difficult to determine whether he was happy or sad.

No one truly understood Johnny. Some would say he was a quiet person, mysterious even. He wasn’t your typical high school crush. He truly just enjoyed a long macchiato on a hot summer’s morning, by himself.

11:00AM

Johnny arrived at his local florist. He’d never done this type of thing before. Buying a girl flowers. A girl he wasn’t even sure remembered that he exists.

After a long time of contemplating and questioning, he finally decided. He decided he’d buy her a bouquet. A bouquet of sunflowers to say, hey I think I like you.

11:30AM

The sun started to seep through the clouds, blinding eyes as it bounced off the Ford Falcon’s bonnet. The car was boiling, and Johnny was nervous

Johnny was innocent, naive and oblivious, and like many people he lacked the intelligence to navigate the world of common sense. He assumed that time was infinite and that his time on this planet would continue forever. Even school for example, seeing friends, making plans, going on dates, and perhaps even just studying. It seems to simply never end.

he had to one day, right? They walked past each other everyday for six years in the school corridor.

But now Johnny’s finished year 12 and entering the world of adulthood, carrying his regrets upon his shoulders. They never spoke more than one sentence to each other. Because time runs out, and time has its limits.

It was nearly —

12:00PM

— summer break had started and Johnny thought to himself, what the heck.

Memory is also important. Remembering the past is a way to grapple and tackle what’s to come.

Johnny remembered the small details about people. Because he liked to listen. He knew the way she’d preferred her flowers freshly cut from the stem, as if they had just been pulled out of the soil. She liked gardening. Johnny… not so much. Fixing the car into park, he tucked his hair behind his ears and stepped into the fresh air. The sunflowers in his right hand and a card in his left.

And because we don’t have all the time in the world, and because it was Valentine’s Day, Johnny realised time is precious. He had to take the chance he wished he took every day for the past 6 years.

As he dropped the bouquet of flowers onto her front porch, Johnny turned around to walk the other way until he noticed the window. He watched her wave, her little smile and her big blue eyes. She blew him a kiss. Johnny suddenly stopped and so did it the whole world around him. He allowed himself a smile and thought all at once, every lost moment of the last 6 years was suddenly all worth it.

He also remembered her address. Not creepy, I know. One time he noticed her walking home from school. Her fence was surrounded by the most exquisite garden he’d ever seen.

12:30PM

The afternoon sun was smiling and so was Johnny. That one day maybe I’ll do it had

turned into, today I’m doing it. And so, small little Johnny parked his car outside her house.

SKY’S THE LIMIT

KELLY LIM