The temperature is rising.
The snow on the streets is decreasing at a speed visible to the naked eye every day, and it seems that winter is about to pass.
So "that day" arrived.
"I got up quite early."
"Yes."
I suppressed the yawn that was about to come out, and Raya and I were getting ready to go out.
The light in the early morning was very poor and everything was dark. We buried our heads in our turned-up collars and walked silently.
Passing by the flower shop, Raya walked in, and I stopped a carriage and waited for Raya to come back and get on it together.
Just like this time of year, Raya held two bouquets of white flowers in her hands.
Today is Raya’s father’s memorial day.
......
Twenty minutes later, we got off the carriage.
There is no gloomy atmosphere in the cemetery in the morning. The daylight is getting stronger, and with the approaching spring, the soil around many tombstones has some greenery, but it looks prosperous.
Raya skillfully found the tombstone belonging to her father, placed the flowers next to it, then closed her eyes and muttered something, probably conveying something to her father.
I stood quietly behind her, looking at her little back.
Raya's father passed away five years ago.
At that time, the tailor shop was undergoing its first relocation, and he and I were helping at the construction site. Unexpectedly, an accident occurred, and he was seriously injured... and ultimately failed to survive the winter.
Raya’s mother passed away shortly after Raya was born, so I became Raya’s only relative.
The tailor shop was originally located on the edge of the town. Raya's father's wish was to open the shop in the center of the town in the future, so he worked day and night... It was a pity that there was a natural disaster.
Now Raya resolutely implements the second relocation of the tailor shop, largely to resolve her father's regrets.
I looked towards the small tombstone.
Hey, your daughter has fulfilled your dream for you~~
I murmured in my heart.
......
"Let's go."
With a sigh of relief, Raya turned around.
"Hmm."
When I was about to walk out of the cemetery, my eyes unknowingly stopped on a new tombstone.
Oh yeah...
After leaving the cemetery, Raya became much more talkative than when she arrived. She walked beside me and chatted with me about past stories...
The death of Raya's father caused the tailor shop to lose its source of income. During that period, I used the few savings carefully while trying to make money... including learning to be a tailor. There is no doubt that
As someone who knows magic, I am not as good as a random layman.
"At that time...I remember you being clumsy."
"Yes, and I always sew in the wrong place. I can't finish a piece of clothing for a long time, which makes me anxious."
"Thank you for persisting."
"Where...it's a blessing that the lovely Miss Raya can grow up so fast."
Seeing that the atmosphere was no longer solemn, I returned to my glib self.
Probably because she understood my unreliability, Raya quickly got over her sadness and took up the responsibility of store manager early, so that the tailor shop could be maintained.
"Nothing was accomplished in the end...it's really embarrassing."
"Really? I think it would be great if you could use it like that now."
"Eh~~"
I can't refute it.
Although there was not a single day when I could not make ends meet, I was indeed very diligent at that time.
What gave me the motivation? I think it must be to repay the kindness. The people who died were kind to me, and I should take responsibility...even if it is of no use.
......
"...It's not easy."
"It's not easy."
Our conversation ended with emotion.
Occasionally talking about the past like this always makes people feel "not easy". Sometimes I am even surprised that I have such rich experiences, which generates a small amount of pride and confidence to continue living.<
/p>
But I always only keep my memories at a superficial level.
After all, what I want to be sure of is not something that has become history.
"Ah~~little Raya has grown up too."
"The word 'small' is redundant."
"Okay~~Does Miss Naraya have someone you like?"
"...Why do you ask this suddenly?"
"Just asking. By the way, when your father was about your age, he already had a girl he liked."
"Is it mother?"
"Unfortunately, no. But they were as close as a family."
"That's it..."
Raya pondered for a while, then raised her head and smiled at me:
"It's almost the same as us."
"With us?"
"Yes, we are not related by blood, but you are my relative, aren't you?"
"...Yes."
Well, it's enough for me to know this.
"But it's not okay to accompany me to die alone, otherwise your father will curse me in heaven."
"I had no such intention in the first place."
"Oh~~ But you can't just find someone to marry. At least you have to discuss it with me."
"...Are you still treating me as a child?"
"How could that happen?"
"Don't treat me like a child."
"Okay... As long as Miss Raya orders me, I will do whatever it takes, even if it costs me my life."
"..."
Raya and I were talking aimlessly, a little absent-minded.
Blame it on that casual glance at the cemetery.
At that moment, the name that came into my eyes made me worry about someone.
......
"I'm so happy that you are willing to come again!"
The dean who was walking in front of me and was guiding me turned back and smiled cheerfully at me, with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.
"I'm very sorry for disturbing you and the elders."
"Look what you said! If you are willing to come, no one will refuse."
"Ha..."
"Why are you so reserved? We are obviously acquaintances."
The strange thing is that you are still as enthusiastic as ever when facing someone like me whom I haven’t seen for decades.
I could only reply vaguely:
"Maybe I'm used to it..."
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"I don't want there to be any distance between us, because we are friends! Aren't we?"
"Yes..."
I compromised.
The so-called relationship between people is generated and maintained through the connection of a person or thing that acts as an intermediary.
However, the "bond" of the relationship between me and the dean - Raya's father has passed away long ago. Logically speaking, our relationship will be restored to nothing.
But the fact is: the dean treated me as kindly as before, as if the decades of blankness had never existed.
I don’t understand...
"By the way, why do you suddenly want to visit that old gentleman?"
The dean changed the topic.
"Well...I went to the cemetery a few days ago."
"Cemetery? Oh... You're here to see him, right?"
"Yes, you still remember."
"Unforgettable."
"Well...then I happened to see the name of Old Rub's wife on a tombstone..."
"That's it."
The dean nodded slightly and quickened his pace.
We walked through a spacious and bright corridor, and there was a chubby big cat lying on the guardrail basking in the sun, meowing "meow~~meow" from time to time, seeming to show off how comfortable it was.
"This is it."
Dean stopped.
"Thank you."
In front of you is a closed door.
Just standing outside, I can see that this room has excellent lighting. There is no doubt that it is a special arrangement by the dean.
"The old gentleman is the eldest in the hospital, so I asked him to live here, and the other elderly people also expressed their support."
As if aware of my thoughts, the dean explained.
"Hmm... So how is he doing?"
"Not very optimistic..."
The dean lowered his voice slightly:
"Recently, my mental decline has been very serious. I have developed symptoms of dementia and I don't want to eat. Alas... I always feel that the old gentleman seems to be troubled by something, but he is unwilling to see a doctor and doesn't know what to do.
OK..."
"That's it."
The dean’s guilty eyes were filled with helplessness.
"Just in case, I want to ask you a favor——"
I put my hand on the doorknob:
"No matter what I say to Old Rub later, please don't take offense. Also, please cooperate with me when the time comes."
"Hey? You..."
"Just trust me, I can't do anything bad."
I winked at the dean.
"Hehe...Okay."
"Thank you~~"
Seeing the dean smile and nod, I opened the door with confidence——
The fireplace was burning brightly, but the light in the room was still very dim. Under extremely low visibility, I saw a bed.
Sitting beside the bed was a young woman dressed as a caregiver. She stood up as soon as she saw us.
"Why don't you open the curtains?"
The dean scolded the nursing staff.
"The old gentleman won't let..."
The caregiver lowered her head, her tone aggrieved.
The dean sighed and asked the nursing staff to leave temporarily.
I stared at the old man on the bed - only his thin head was exposed outside the quilt, and his sunken eye sockets were facing the ceiling. He was motionless and seemed not to notice us at all.
I leaned down and got closer to him:
"Hey, Old Rube."
"..."
I controlled the surprise in my heart and didn't let it show out, but I couldn't connect the person in front of me with the strong, cheerful uncle in my memory.
"Hey, Old Rub, I'm a lonely old man, don't you recognize me?"
He finally reacted and slowly turned his face:
"Solitary...lonely..."
Well, I can’t explain clearly anymore.
"Okay, I understand what you mean. You can still think of me. That's good...I came to visit you. It's been a long time."
"Mr. Gu... Gu Lao..."
"It's me."
"Ugh...sheng...don't look..."
"Okay..."
I responded to what he said, even though I didn't understand it at all.
To be honest, he is so old that I don’t recognize him at all. I don’t even dare to touch him, for fear that if I pat his shoulder or touch his hand, he will turn into dust.< /p>
"Pen...pen...I...four closed..."
However, at some point, Old Rub's hand stretched out from under the sheets and grabbed me tightly like a vine. He kept mumbling something and looked extremely excited.
"Paper... pen... paper..."
"Well..."
I put my ear to his mouth.
"Sickness...sickness...sickness...cure..."
Ah...
This time I finally understand.
I hold his hand:
"Don't worry~~ You are not sick."
"Ugh...! Sick... no..."
"Well, I'm not sick."
"Solitary..."
"You are definitely not sick, you are just too old. Don't you even believe what I say? I have confirmed it with the dean, right?"
I looked towards the dean.
The dean was stunned for a moment, but immediately smiled and agreed with understanding:
"Ah...yes, you don't have any symptoms of illness. We made a mistake before. We are very sorry."
"Look."
I looked at Old Rube again.
After listening to our words, Old Rub let go of my hand. His face twitched and his mouth was half-opened - he smiled.
"That...that's good..."
Then he closed his eyes kindly.
"Thank you...thank you..."
"You're welcome~~ Just take care of yourself and take care of yourself. Don't forget, there's nothing wrong with your body. You're just aging, and you will continue to age in the future. That's all."
"Okay...Okay..."
......
Get out of the room.
"Huh..."
I relax.
"We work well together."
"Thanks to you, the old gentleman is in a much better mood...but I have a little doubt..."
The dean looked puzzled:
"You told the old gentleman that he was not sick to comfort him. I can understand that, but why do you emphasize that he is getting older?"
"I'm afraid he will forget...if he thinks he is sick again by then, it will be troublesome."
"Why can't we let him know?"
"This...it's a long story. Let's talk about it when we have time."
"Aren't you worried...that the old gentleman will suddenly realize the truth one day?"
"It's okay, I'm an elderly person..."
I smiled tiredly and said:
"The best at self-deception."
At this time, the nurse who had just entered Lao Rubu's room hurriedly ran out. Seeing this, the dean hurriedly rushed to call her.
I watched the dean exchange a few words with the nursing staff, and then the dean came back. From her footsteps, I heard some kind of joy.
"What happened?"
"It's a good thing."
The dean looked surprised:
"The old gentleman said he was hungry and wanted to eat."
"Oh~~That's great."
I answer sincerely.
......
This chapter has been completed!