[R1999] Short Stories' Collection

Mesmer Jr. & Vertin: I forgive you (7)

Because of your tenderness that was still awkward, today I was saved once again 

—--------

I found you dead in my dreadful dream

No longer breathing and no more heart-beating

Was it just an illusion from my biggest fear or an omen that was destined to be near?

Holding your lifeless body, I buried the last of my sanity.

—------

Mesmer Jr. saw a strange kind of bicycle in the old newspaper.

Its front wheel was like 5 times bigger than the back wheel, yet people still had a way to ride it.

She was a bit curious about that "penny-farthing" bicycle.

'Maybe I can find an old one in those antique shops.'

That thought passed by her head and was quickly put aside after the last drop of morning coffee slid down her throat.

Another workday had begun.

There were no new patients today, just familiar faces as always.

Mesmer Jr. carefully performed a disinfection process before entering the patient's room.

When she walked out, she immediately came to the staff private room to start a new disinfection process.

After repeating those steps three times, she finally had an hour break until continuing on the afternoon's shift.

Mesmer Jr. cautiously locked the door, although she knew this action just provided 50% of safety.

"May I have a minute?"

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door and it was a familiar voice that she would never mistake with anyone's.

However, there was a patience on the floor below hers having an ability to mimic another person's voice perfectly.

A real burden that had already made 3 staff out of the rehabilitation center.

That's why she chose to remain silent and wait for a certain signal.

If it was truly that girl, she would know what to do next.

"The bridge was really impressive. Sonetto gave it a bundle of praise."

That person calmly spoke.

"Also, I had brought an umbrella like you said. It was actually rainy in the afternoon at 3:45 p.m."

Mesmer Jr. quietly let out a small sigh and slowly dropped her guard.

The latest messages she had sent her were the same with every word she just said.

"Who are you?" 

Mesmer Jr. asked.

"I'm The Timekeeper."

The other replied.

"What's your name?"

She asked again.

"It's Vertin."

That girl patiently answered.

"Where was our secret hideout in SPDM?"

"Under George The Oak."

"How old was it back then?"

"It was already 700 years old."

"What was the color of my hairband at that time?"

"White."

Separated by an iron door, both of them played a game of identifying. 

This game had no limit in questions and depended on the one who asked.

"What did you find me for?"

This was an accepted signal, showing that the game had reached an end.

"I saw you dead, Mesmer Jr."

The voice behind the door seemed to be down a little.

"Your body was fully covered by a white cloth in the middle of a vacant area."

Despite hearing an unlucky thing, Mesmer Jr. didn't care much about it. As her main focus now was her important patient.

Moreover, she had already gotten acquainted with the curses from the other patiences. No less than 20 times she had heard they wished to see her death.

"Did you see that person holding something in her hands?"

Mesmer Jr. gave her a question.

"Let me remember." 

That girl was silent for a minute, then continued to talk.

"There were some seeds in your right hand. You held them very tightly."

"Did they germinate yet?"

"Most of them were dead, but one had successfully become a sprout."

As she carefully recalled the details of that dream, her heavy breath gradually returned to normal.

"Then I'm still alive, Vertin."

Her determined words strongly broke the haunted vision in Vertin's head.

"Take that sprout and grow it somewhere you think it can live."

She gently guided her panic patient.

"I remember, Mesmer Jr."

She didn't have an ability to see through solid objects, but she could be sure that the gray-haired girl may nod her head as usual.

"Have an 8-hour sleep a day or I will report your unstable psychological state to the Foundation."

She threatened the other one behind the door, yet she knew that the gray-haired girl would never change her stubborn nature.

"I will try my best."

See? Still avoiding the "yes" answer because she was aware that she couldn't fulfill that promise.

"See you again tomorrow, Mesmer Jr."

"You'd better grow it soon."

Her own voice sounded a little dizzy.

"I will."

This time, the answer from the gray-haired girl was consistent and clear.

The leaving footsteps could be heard behind the locked door.

And inside the room filled with antiseptic smell, Mesmer Jr. clenched her fist and slowly opened it.

There was nothing on her palm.

"The seed you gave me finally grew..."

She murmured to herself, revealing a more vulnerable side of herself before hiding it behind her indifferent mask.