While things were unfolding with Shin Noya and Yusa in the distance,
events were also taking place at the park.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
A woman, having been grabbed by the arm, turned around.
Our eyes met.
For a moment, both the woman and I fell into silence, caught off guard by the sudden encounter.
The cold sensation in my hand and the eyes staring at meâ
seeing them made me swallow involuntarily.
I had prepared so many things to say,
but now that I was face-to-face with her, I couldnât bring myself to speak.
âMother.â
My guess was right.
The moment I saw her, I knew.
This woman was undoubtedly my mother.
How could I ever forget?
Even after decades had passed, I had never forgotten her.
I thought I had lived my life forgetting, but now that I saw her again,
the memory had only become clearer.
The silence stretched on.
Though my hand remained still, gripping her arm,
I knew I had to say somethingâanything.
But what should I say?
My mind went blank.
All my thoughts burned away in an instant.
âUmâ¦â
ââ¦!â
A voice.
It was my motherâs.
Beneath the veil, her eyes curved gently.
âIs something the matter?â
ââ¦â
She glanced down at my hand gripping her wrist,
prompting me to release her without realizing it.
Thumpâ! Thumpâ!
My heart pounded.
Even more intensely than before a battle.
What should I say?
Should I express longing?
Or should I speak words filled with resentment?
Or perhapsâ¦
No matter how hard I tried to think, nothing came to mind.
Still, I had to say something.
Forcing myself, I finally spoke while looking at my mother.
ââ¦Thisâ¦â
I pulled something from my robe.
A handkerchief.
âYou dropped this.â
âOh my.â
My mother accepted it with a soft smile.
âWhen did I drop it?â
I had seen her drop it earlier when she passed by.
I picked it up immediately, intending to use it as an excuse to talk to her.