我

Gently say to the little self guarding a corner of your heart—thank you for accompanying me this far!

The picture book "Me" has 2 stories, for adults tired of daily life, and for the self who was once tired of studying.

"What did I originally look like?"

In my day-to-day life, I didn't even notice I had lost sight of myself.

Until I took off the mask I showed to others, but forgot how to smile.

A magical green forest appeared before my eyes, and there was a child there who looked very much like me.

Leaving home, I followed him into the magical forest, swam freely in the blue sea,

and played in the oasis in the desert. No matter where we went, I was happy,

I remembered how I used to laugh, and it turned out he was me.

"Will this be on the test?"

Life was full of homework, studying, and exams. I didn't know where my future lay.

Until—my future found me.

Together, we journeyed through green landscapes and blue seas, witnessed magnificent sunsets with our own eyes,

and learned that the Earth, seen from space, is actually so small.

Understanding how small worries are, knowing we would meet again anytime,

even returning to our original lives no longer felt uneasy.

When facing difficulties, I often think, "I wish I could tell my past self" or "I wish my past self could tell me."

This wish, which was originally hard to achieve, came true through the author's brushstrokes.

Let's open the book, spread our arms to receive a hug from the past, and also embrace the past self who was anxious about the future.