Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance

“I’m sorry. Cordelia, I’m so sorry.” 

The man with his back to the setting sun sobbed and atoned. His white hair had long since lost its color, soaked with blood and sunset.

 “I was foolish, I was stupid, I didn’t protect you properly.” 

He trembled as he held the woman with the pierced heart as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

 

The world around him was a mess in the aftermath of the explosion that had taken so many lives. He couldn’t let his arms go for fear of touching her body to the rubble.

 “Don’t apologize.” 

The man’s eyes, wet with tears, opened wide.

 

The woman, seemingly dead, opened her mouth. A gaping wound remained where her heart should have been, but her voice was thick with pain.

 “I’ve always wanted this.” “Cordelia, just a little longer. Just a little longer and we’ll heal you!” 

The woman slowly shook her head. Her vacant gaze went to the sky.

 

It was strange that the sun, which would have been too hot to look at during the day, was so willing to look at her now that it had turned red.

 “I suppose death is more fitting for me than happiness.” 

She turned her gaze from the sunset to the man.

 “And yet I take as many lives as my companions on the road. Am I a demon in your eyes, my hero?” “No! You are not a demon, Cordelia, you are the most dazzling thing I have ever seen.” 

The woman’s eyes fluttered a little, then settled. A faint glimmer of moisture formed in the corners of her otherwise dull eyes.

 “Ah, the sea. I’m sorry I couldn’t come with you.” “No, no, no. Hmph, no. Maybe next time we can go together.” 

His hand slapped her heaving chest.

 

He knew he was being ridiculous, but he couldn’t stop himself. He wanted to hold her eyes and her breath as long as he could.

 “I’m sorry.” 

Betraying his expectations, she let out one last long breath. It was a cruel, heavy silence.

  

* * *

  “Eileen! Eileen!” “Hick!” 

Eileen snapped o

ut of her unidentifiable reverie when she felt someone shake her shoulder violently.

 “Are you okay? Wait, why are you crying all of a sudden?” “It’s…” 

Gail, the director of the orphanage, looked down at her with concern.

 “What was that scene just now?” 

Eileen, frowning at the incomprehension, dabbed at her eyes. They were moist.

 “What?” “Are you not feeling well? Can we say hello another time?” “Yeah… I need to rest.” “Okay, go on upstairs!” 

Eileen turned her back on Gail, holding her disheveled hair as if waking from a long dream. 

 

Suddenly, she couldn’t understand what was happening or why she was having such a vision, and her brain was overloaded.

 “What was that scene,”

she wondered,

“that made me feel so heartbroken and tearful?” 

As she struggled back into the room, she heard Gail talking to a child behind her.

 “I’m sorry. Eileen isn’t feeling well, so we’ll have to save the hello for another time.” “I’m fine.” “Good girl, Cordelia.” 

Eileen stopped at the eerie name.

 

She turned slowly, feeling a shiver run down her spine.

 “Cordelia, let’s go to your room.” “Yes, Mother Superior.” 

There she was, a younger version of the woman who had met her demise only moments before.

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