𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚 | 𝐓𝐨𝐣𝐢 𝐅𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐨

- Chapter 53 -

The passage of time is hard to track in these circumstances, but Helia estimates that it's been about a week since she learned about Toji's death and a few days since she avenged him by poisoning Naoya.

A few days ago, the news about Naoya's supposed suicide became public knowledge.

Now that the incident has been classified as a suicide, she can take comfort in the fact that no one will come after her for her involvement in his death.

And despite having taken revenge on Naoya, the pain and grief from Toji's death hasn't lessened at all.

The absence of Toji's presence in her life still weighs heavily on her heart, and the memories of him continue to bring a flow of sadness and longing.

The sleep is also very hard to get, causing very large dark bags under her eyes, making Anna always more worried about Helia.

Anna had asked Helia repeatedly if she was okay, or if she needed to talk, but Helia had always brushed off her worries, insisting that everything was fine.

Even though Helia tries her best to keep going, each day the weight of Toji's death only seems to grow heavier on her heart.

The empty space left by his absence becomes more pronounced, and the memories of him linger like a constant ache, reminding her of what she has lost.

Things that were once colorful and worth living for, now feel dull and meaningless without Toji. Every experience and moment seem to lack the brightness it once had, as if all the joy has been drained away.

She now faces the cold, grey reality without the person who brought warmth and shine to her existence.

[...]

Today, late at night, she finds herself unable to sleep once again, the memories of Toji and the pain of his loss keeping her mind restless.

In an attempt to soothe her troubled thoughts, she decides to leave the estate silently and take a walk to the weeping willow.

[...]

As she approaches the weeping willow, her heart clenches tightly in her chest. The tree holds memories of countless hours spent with Toji, each one filled with laughter, secrets, and peace.

It had been a sanctuary for the two of them, a place where the world outside seemed to disappear, and the only things that mattered were the moments they shared together.

With a heavy heart, she walks towards the weeping willow and settles down, placing her back against the stem.

Looking up at the sky, she's greeted by a beautiful starry night. The heavens are filled with countless stars, their faint light casting a soft glow over everything.

The leaves of the weeping willow rustle gently in the breeze, enhancing their natural beauty and making them appear even more captivating in the night air.

As she lowers her gaze, her eyes drift to her hand, where the ring Toji had given her lies. The ring, a symbol of his promise to spend a lifetime with her, now serves as a poignant reminder of the future that was taken away much too soon.

Her thoughts turn to the moment when Toji had offered her this ring.

It was right here under the weeping willow, a place that held so many precious memories for the two of them.

The ring not only served as a symbol of his promise to her, but also as a tangible and physical representation of the love and commitment he held for her.

Her tears start to flow uncontrollably as the reality of the situation sinks in once again.

The harsh truth that even though Toji had promised to spend a lifetime with her, those dreams and plans would never come to true, hits her like a wave of pain and despair.