Chapter 20: A Final Memory Piece
The rain continued to fall gently, creating a soothing yet eerie atmosphere as it pattered on the car's roof. Inside the car, the girl sat sandwiched between her parents, embarking on a midnight journey to the school. Curiosity gnawed at her, and she couldn't resist voicing her questions:
"Why are we heading to the school at 12 past 10? I don't think even Dad's meetings go on this late, right?"
Her mother turned to her, offering a gentle smile that sought to reassure her. "Kizu-chan, the school requested this specific time from us. Just trust us on this, okay?"
With her mother's words in mind, the car traversed the wet streets, passing by crossroads, traffic lights, and the occasional glimpse of quiet neighborhoods. The ambiance, a fusion of deserted streets and the rhythmic sound of rain, made the girl feel both comforted and uneasy. Nevertheless, the presence of her parents beside her granted her a sense of security that helped calm her nerves.
After a few more minutes on the road, the car pulled up at a convenience store. Baffled, the girl turned to her father, who had parked the car without any prior indication.
"Dad, why did you stop at the store?"
He turned towards her with a mischievous grin, his eyes glinting with a subtle understanding of his daughter's inner turmoil. "Feeling a bit restless, are we? How about some takoyaki to ease your mind?"
Initially caught off guard, the girl's confusion gave way to a realization that her father was responding to her emotions. A soft chuckle escaped her as she comprehended his intent.
"Dad, you're reading me like a book," she exclaimed playfully.
Her mother exchanged a quick glance with her husband, a silent acknowledgment that their actions were meant to provide a moment of solace. With that, the girl and her father left the car to purchase takoyaki, while her mother remained inside.
***
Moments later, the car was back on the road, takoyaki in hand and the rain having eased to a light drizzle. The minutes slipped by as the girl indulged in the warm takoyaki, her stomach soon content. As she savored the flavors, a thought crossed her mind, one related to the passage of time.
"Why does it feel like it's been thirty minutes? Our house to the school usually takes only ten minutes, right?"
Her words hung in the air, accompanied by the soft sound of raindrops. The silence that followed her question was deafening, and her mother's lack of response heightened her growing concern. Seeking answers, she turned to her father, who had become her anchor in the uncertainty.
"Dad, is something wrong? This isn't normal. Are we lost?"
She attempted to mask her anxiety with a nervous giggle, but the unease she felt couldn't be easily brushed aside. The silence persisted, and the weight of it felt heavier with each passing moment. Her parents' cryptic behavior left her with a growing sense of unease. Were they keeping something from her? Was there a hidden clue within their actions?
Her parents exchanged a glance, their faces mirroring the girl's inner turmoil. However, her father's stern response shattered the tension like a bolt of lightning.
"Kizu-san...Can you please hear your pathetic mom out for just a second...?", The girl's face turned completely pale, the thought that her mom voice of tone can become cold and serious never even passed through her mind since she was born, as she turned her head slowly towards her mom's face and responded.
"Y-Yes, mom...What was it?", She said, stuttering.
"If something happens, open this", Her mom said while giving her a letter, she put the letter on her daughter's hand and moved her hand to close the letter that she gave to her.
"If you see or hear someone, don't come back, just run", She continued, while giving her a cold smile.
Shocked by what her mom just said, she looked at her dad's face to find the exact same cold and calculative face. She gulped and pinched her cheek, thinking that this was just a dream and the two didn't actually have the face that she imagined them having.
Seeing her daughter's face on a verge of crying, she knew that this is the first time that she did this to her beloved daughter and just because of it, her heart was hurted by it, knowing that she gave a rather scarring experienced to her daughter that never experienced this type of situation before, she moved closer to her daughter and.
"Mom...why did you...hug me?".
"I-I'm so sorry, Kizu-chan, we need to put this kinda situation on to you...We're two are idiots, I know that but please don't hate us for it...Please understand us, we didn't mean to hurt you, we're...sorry, Kizu-chan..."
"Mom, you're...shaking".
"Please...Kizu-chan, don't forget about us, okay...Be always our good girl, okay?".
"Honey, that's enough," he declared, his voice carrying an unusual firmness, an uncommon occurrence in their family dynamic.
"Dad..."
"We promised ourselves we wouldn't argue in front of her."
"Please, dear, she needs to know."
"Enough!" His voice held an air of finality, and then he leaned towards his wife, his voice carrying a sense of urgency.
"I don't want her last memory of us to be this fight."
A period of quiet followed, broken only by the gentle hum of the car's engine. Finally, her father spoke again, his tone softer this time.
"Remember, Kizu-chan, you're my daughter, the most precious thing in my life. Nothing else matters if I lose you. My possessions, my wealth, my company – they're all meaningless compared to you. Even though I left the company I founded for you and your mother, don't blame yourself for it. To me, you're a diamond that shines even in the darkest times. Please, always remember that. I love you, Izu Kiyoko-san."
Emotions surged within me, and tears welled up, tracing a wet path down my cheeks. In an instant, my world changed; a metal van collided with our car, shattering the tranquility and plunging me into unconsciousness. The last sounds I heard were the shattering of glass and a whispered plea from my mother's lips.
"Run, my child."
Slowly, my eyelids fluttered open. My surroundings were a chaotic tableau of twisted metal and scattered debris. A dull ache radiated through my body, numbing my senses. I attempted to move, but the pain was overwhelming, as if every muscle had turned to lead. I groaned, my voice a mixture of discomfort and distress.
With great effort, I shifted my gaze, observing the wreckage around me. My mother's presence caught my attention. Blood marred her once-beautiful face, which now resembled a red rose in full bloom. She lay near me, her breaths shallow yet resolute.
As our eyes met, a profound understanding passed between us. Relief and joy lit up her gaze, manifesting in the warmest smile I had ever seen on her face. My heart swelled, unable to fully comprehend the depths of her emotions. I could only watch, my voice rendered powerless in that moment.
"Good...Good...I...can't be any happier," her words trembled with a mixture of relief and gratitude, tears blending with the blood on her face. Despite the circumstances, she smiled at me, a bittersweet expression that cut through my heart.
My mother's tears mingled with her blood, her melancholic smile a testament to her love and enduring spirit. My heart ached as I realized the depth of her pain and the strength it took for her to remain steadfast even in the face of despair. She smiled because I was alive—her tears, her pain, all born from that single truth.
"Izu...san...I hope...you stay alive..." her voice wavered, a final wish as she pushed me towards the car door with the last of her strength.
"Don't...die on me, my child."
With that, her touch guided me out of the car. I stumbled onto the wet street, raindrops mingling with my tears. The sight of my left hand smeared with blood, a poignant reminder of the life we had shared, intensified the overwhelming mix of emotions within me.
Shaking and trembling, I was rooted in place by the sheer horror of watching both my parents perish before my eyes. I felt helpless, trapped by the memories and the shock of their sudden departure. My muscles seized, rendering me immobile.
But then, a sound broke through the stillness—the footsteps of an approaching figure. Panic jolted through me, a sudden surge of energy propelling me into action. With every ounce of strength, I sprinted to the cover of nearby bushes, hidden from view as the newcomer inspected the wreckage.
I watched, my heart pounding, as the person studied the scene. My breaths came in ragged gasps, and I willed myself to remain concealed until the danger passed.
When the footsteps finally retreated, I exhaled a shaky breath and clutched the letter my mother had given me earlier. As I unfolded the paper, droplets of water fell from my hair, creating tiny stains on the ink. The message, stained by the mingling of tears and rain, conveyed a profound weight that echoed the tragedy I had experienced.
𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘐𝘻𝘶-𝘴𝘢𝘯
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥. 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘴𝘦, 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘺𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.
𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘔𝘰𝘮
Frustration mingled with sadness as I sobbed, the tears falling onto the paper. The weight of the message, combined with the reality of my situation, was almost too much to bear.
"Why...why can't I face this on my own? Mom, dad, I..."
Emotionally and physically drained, I let exhaustion claim me, falling into an hour-long slumber amidst the rain. Eventually, I stirred and, despite my aching body, dragged myself to the car's rear. I searched frantically for a first aid kit, my fingers eventually closing around it after minutes of desperate hunting.
The glass shards that had embedded themselves into my skin were removed with painstaking care, each withdrawal accompanied by a wave of discomfort. I treated the wounds with antiseptic, hoping to stave off infection as I bandaged them as best I could.
In the days that followed my parents' tragic deaths, I navigated a world that felt hollow and cold without them. Armed with the remnants of the money we once had, I ventured out from a takoyaki shop, clutching a carton of the familiar treat—a link to happier times. The funds were limited, a stark reminder of our lost life. Rain continued to fall, and I found myself in an alley, my breath visible in the chilly air. The school's poster caught my attention, its presence guiding me forward.
Swiftly, I tore the poster from its place, the sound echoing my determination to heed my parents' wishes. With resolute steps, I followed the marker on the poster, a beacon pointing me in the right direction. Unbeknownst to me, a television screen in the background displayed news of a tragedy—the death of my parents and my disappearance—news that I, lost in my thoughts and grief, completely missed.