Savior

Day 63

"Teppei, since when did you become a reader?"

Teppei looked up and smiled. "I borrowed it from the patient on the next door. She had finished reading this and recommended it to me."

Maeko looked at the title. The Price of Sorrow.

"So? What is it about?" asked Maeko as she sat down on the chair next to Teppei's bedside.

"A boy and a girl met at the wrong time period. They were soulmates but they couldn't be together at that life. The girl hung herself. The boy almost killed himself but someone stopped him. He learned in the story how to be happy."

"How did he become happy?"

"He fell in love with his savior. That's how he discovered how to be happy."

Maeko smiled, a tear streaming down her face. "That's sweet. So, she made her happy?"

Teppei shook his head. "Quite the opposite."

"Huh?"

"They didn't get together in the end."

"But how did he become happy? That's painful!" exclaimed Maeko in disbelief.

"The savior showed the boy that his happiness is not dependent on someone else. She made him realize that the boy's happiness depends on how he chooses to live his life. In her words: 'Don't say that you can't be happy without me. I am not your world. I am part of it. Do not forget the remaining parts. My biggest regret was only realizing this when I lost the other remaining parts.'"

Maeko smiled sadly. "She's right. That's a beautiful message."

Teppei nodded. "My favorite quote here was 'You can't find stars in the morning sky. Stop looking for the right things in the wrong places. You won't find it there.' That scene made me tear up. She said that to the boy before she waved goodbye."

"What does she mean by that?"

"It's just how she said it. You can't what find what you're looking for on places that don't have them. You can't find happiness from someone who lives in sadness. You can't find love from someone who doesn't love you. You can't find healing from someone who is broken. And at the same time, you can't heal and help people without doing it to yourself first."

"Ne, can I borrow that book? I want to read it."

Teppei grinned. "Go ahead. You'll love it."