Silence—suffocating silence, without even a whisper of wind.
My gaze drifted as the veil of mist slowly lifted. A blind orange light enveloped the sky, stretching from the zenith down to its crimson-blushing horizon.
I realized my feet were perched at the edge of a crumbling cliff. It would take only a single step to break free from this world, or just a tiny tremor to send me plunging down into the abyss.
"Aaa! Hahaha! Dad, do it again!"
A child's innocent laughter shattered the hush, drawing my eyes across the void. Yet, no one was there.
"Again, Dad! Again!"
I turned around. There, behind me, I saw my father laughing joyfully alongside his new son, surrounded by his new family. They looked so picture-perfect—just like the photograph hanging silently in our living room.
And I, much like a hidden camera in the corner, could only watch in expressionless silence, recording the memory into my painful mind.
"Ishihara!"
I spun around once more. Across the gap, on the far side of the cliff, a young woman was waving at me.
Ashwini.
My sister, who was God knows where. Her smile bloomed bright—just as it had seven years ago, before she decided to leave for the sake of her own life and mine so that I could continue living comfortably in this world.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss her. I wanted to hold her so tightly that she could never leave again. Even if her work demanded her departure, I wished she would carry me along to wherever her home was out there.
I didn't want to be left alone in that house anymore, doing nothing but waiting for her return. I wanted to live with her.
But instead of searching for a way to reach her, I closed my eyes and stepped off the ledge...
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Choosing to tread the exact same shortcut my mother had taken.
…
I am so tired, God. I just want it all to end.
WHOOSH!
The wind battered against my body—not from the sides, but rushing up from below as my back sliced through the air. The howl was deafening. Cloud after drifting cloud shattered around me as I plunged toward the earth with the velocity of a falling meteor.
I didn't care where I landed. I just wanted the noise in my head to stop.
Suddenly, it felt as though my descent were being brought to a gentle halt. A refreshing scent swept into my lungs. My eyes remained tightly shut, lacking the courage to witness what was happening.
I could only guess, perhaps I had plunged into the deep sea, or landed in a pasture atop a soft cushion of sheep's wool.
The thought brought a soft smile to my face, until a familiar voice sliced through my fantasy.
"How long do you intend to keep grinning like that?"
SHIVER!
My eyes snapped open to find myself cradled securely in Black Robe's arms. He had caught me mid-air, absorbing the brunt of the impact as his own back hit the grass.
A wave of emotion washed over me. Yet, it felt strange—there had been no thunderous thud. It felt more like being inside a vehicle brought to a silky-smooth stop.
Ah, right. I forgot this entity possesses terrifying power.
Instinctively, I burrowed my face into his broad chest to hide my burning blush. His chest felt solid and unyielding, completely devoid of any breath.
My expectations had clearly been too high, hoping to hear the rhythm of a heartbeat. Yet, the cool fabric of his robe felt strangely reassuring.
Before I could move, his long fingers began to stroke my hair with slow, soothing motions.
"You look rather comfortable, don't you?" he teased, his voice deliberately deepened, purring playfully right above my ear. "Had I known falling into my arms would leave you smiling to yourself like a smitten girl, I would have just pushed you off that cliff myself."
PINCH!
Instantly, my hand reached out to pinch his arm. But instead of wincing, he let out a low, rumbling chuckle—the sound reverberating softly inside his chest. My pinch had clearly lacked any real force.
"Ouch, so fierce," he whispered again, giggling mischievously as he tightened his hold around my waist. "Try pinching a little harder. Who knows? That might give me an excuse not to let go of you all day. This grassland is plenty vast if you simply wish to roll around with me, Ishihara."
"Whatever," I muttered softly, far too exhausted to trade barbs with him any further.
Following his playful banter, he fell quiet. He didn't demand an explanation for my actions, nor did he display any anger at finding me in such a pathetic state—broken, desperate, and resigned to death.
Instead, Black Robe simply allowed me to submerge into this rare, quiet comfort, wrapped in the serene breeze blowing across the desolate plain.
Just me and him—bound together in smiling silence.