The Real World and The Real You (Johan Liebert x Reader x Anna Liebert)

What Now?

It was on a bleak, rainy day that you were released from the hospital. Your parents had come to pick you up, and your mother sat with you on the backseat while you cried. Inspector Lunge, who had come to interview you in the hospital, had explained why an officer from the BKA was on a simple murder case. It turns out that he believed the murder of Nina's parents, along with a murder that happened at Heidelberg Castle the same night, was connected to the string of murders of middle-aged couples that had been happening in Germany for some time now.
As you were found near Heidelberg Castle, he wanted to know if you had anything to contribute to the case. You didn't tell him the truth. Even if you were suspicious of the man who had dragged Nina away, you still got the feeling that she did not fear him, and therefore he probably wasn't the culprit. Or maybe he was, but it was done in self-defense. You had no clue. While you fed inspector Lunge a lie about you taking a walk and falling down the hill by accident, you noticed his fingers tapping away on his leg. It perfectly mimicked the way you would write on a computer. After a couple of questions about your night at Heidelberg Castle, along with some about your relationship with Nina and her parents, he thanked you for your time and turned to leave.
''One last question. You did not, by any chance, happen to see an Japanese man with black hair?''
Oh, so he wasn't Chinese. ''No, sorry, I don't recall seeing anybody like that around these parts.'' That had been the end of the conversation.

The next couple of days were... indescribable. You felt as though you had gone completely numb. There was no light to be seen, only the sad truth. Nina was gone, and her parents were dead. You had no idea were she had gone and if she was even still alive. Clara and Beate had visited you one day. You remembered sitting in the living room with them while they were crying. You couldn't. When you had left the hospital, you had felt this intense pain in your chest. Now there was nothing. It just felt like you were carrying a weight. But somehow a small sting managed to make itself present, when you noticed that their support meant nothing to you. They had come to visit you while they were mourning themselves, and yet you did not feel grateful at all.

You had not come to school for a week. You couldn't stand the thought of simply continuing your life as if nothing had happened. They days passed by as you stayed in bed, barely able to get up and eat something. Your parents did their best to help you through this time, bringing dinner in bed and letting you stay home as long as you wanted.
One day, your parents had come home, with smiles on their face.
''We thought that perhaps it would be good for you to be out of Heidelberg for a while, so, if you're up for it, we've arranged a trip to your aunts' house in Düsseldorf. We know that it can be extremely hard for you to get out of bed, but perhaps it would help if you stayed with her for a while and relax. Try doing some mundane tasks like helping her out in the garden or read a good book.'' Your father tried to convince you too, ''Of course, it's up to you whether or not to go, but I think you know that you can't let your life go on standby like this. It's okay to cry and mourn but you must never let it take over your life. Isn't that what you thought back when you were younger and your depression was much worse that its been these past few years? You said it yourself back then – doing small task through the day always prevented that uncomfortable feeling of wasting your life away. Perhaps a small vacation is just what you need.''
They were right. Staying in a city with nothing to remind you of Nina might make it easier to actually get outside for some fresh air. You certainly needed it after having been holed up in your room for so long.
''Sounds good.''

You spent the 3 hour-long ride to Düsseldorf looking out the window of the car. It was nice to hear your parents chattering excitedly with each other in the front, it made your mood just a tad better. You felt a soft smile creeping onto your face, as you gazed at the waves in the field that were brought forth by the wind.
The view was beautiful.

Your aunts' house was a small cottage. It was a small distance away from the center of Düsseldorf, but you knew your aunt had a bicycle you could borrow if you ever wanted to go visit the town. Your parents took care of unloading your luggage from the car as you made your way inside the garden to greet your aunt. The garden was wonderful, as it always had been. The flowers and plants were thriving, and the fish in the little pond were energetic and colorful, swimming around without a care in the world. A small figure was hunched over a small flower, her face hidden by the large straw hat placed on her head. She must have heard you walk over, as she turned to you, letting you see her wrinkled face light up as she saw you. ''Oh my, I knew you were gonna come, but it's always such a delight to see my little girl again.'' She stood up and give you a big hug, ''I'm so terribly sorry to hear about what happened. I can't do much for you, but you're welcome to stay here as long as you like.'' She cupped your face in her hands as she gave you a soft smile. You placed your own hands on top of hers. Took a breath, and let it out.

''While you're in town, could you make sure to pick up a package at the post office sweetie?'' your aunt yelled after you, as you dragged your bicycle to the road.
''Yeah, I'll do that. I'm not sure when I get home though.''
''That is fine dear. Take as long as you like.''
Balancing the bicycle with one hand, you raised the other to return your aunts wave, as you rode to town. You had finally managed to find the motivation required to get out the house, if only for a little bit. You could not forget what had happened just yet, but you couldn't continue staying in a slump forever. When you drove past enormous fields, the world felt so big, and you felt so small. It brought you comfort, and made you feel like you were in a whole 'nother world, cut off from the original one. Lost in your daydreams, you did not notice the rock laying on the road, and ran over it. You swerved on your bicycle before you lost balance and fell on the ground.
You had bruised your right arm, as it had shielded your face on the way down. It didn't look too bad at first but after a few minutes it started to swell and you figured that wasn't a good sign. When you finally made it to town, a kind passerby pointed you in the direction of the hospital.
It only took a little while before your arm had been looked at and fixed. You had sprained it and it would need to rest for a few days, but other than that it was totally fine. Walking down a long hall, you were heading for the exit. You should probably just pick up that package now and maybe get something to eat on a café.
And then he came around the corner. Your jaw went slack as you stared at the black-haired man walking down the hall – he had yet to notice you. It was when he looked up from the papers in his hand that he noticed you. His reaction was the exact same as yours.
''IT'S YOU!''