A Reason Left Behind

Prologue

A white room filled with sorrow and anguish. There was never a moment without the sound of weak or loud sobs.

Most of the people in town were in attendance, mourning the death of the youngest child of the Dola family. It wasn’t surprising; the Dola clan was one of the most influential families in town.

"Mrs. Dola, our deepest condolences," said one of those who approached the bereaved family. "We didn’t expect that your son would pass away at such a young age."

Mrs. Dola simply nodded, sinking into her husband's chest, and wept. Even though a day had passed since they saw their lifeless child, she still couldn’t accept that he was gone.

Fole, the youngest child of the Dolas and the one lying in the coffin now, was found in his room the night before, hanging from the ceiling with a thick rope around his neck. The horrifying scene left everyone in shock. Every corner of town was filled with grief, struggling to accept that this innocent child had decided to end his own life.

Four chairs at the funeral were occupied by a group of young people: Sasha, Andi, Chipiro, and Morl. A group of high school seniors to whom Fole had belonged.

"Why?! Why did he—" Sasha couldn’t finish her sentence and started crying again. Andi tried to comfort her, though she could barely hide her own grief. "Why? Why? Why!"

The boys in the group could do nothing but watch the girls cry, fighting back their own tears.

"Fole, why?" Chipiro murmured, his voice barely audible as he glanced at Fole's golden coffin.

Even they, Fole’s only friends, had no idea why he had taken his own life. They had been together since day one, yet none of them could understand it.

"We didn't do anything... right?" Morl asked out of nowhere, his eyes fixed on his friend’s coffin.

"Do what?" Sasha asked through her sobs.

Morl looked at his friends, guilt unexpectedly apparent in his gaze. "We didn’t do anything, right?" he repeated softly.

"Morl," Chipiro said, sounding impatient. "What are you saying? Of course, we didn’t do anything."

"Y-yeah." Morl looked down, leaving Sasha, Andi, and Chipiro suddenly confused by his behavior.

"Why?" Andi stood up, her voice raised unintentionally, drawing the attention of a few people around them. "Did you do something?!"

Morl was startled by Andi's accusation. "W-what?"

"Andi, lower your voice! Don’t make a scene here. We’re at Fole's funeral," Chipiro rebuked her.

Andi sat down, realizing her outburst, but her eyes stayed on Morl.

"I didn’t do anything, of course," Morl finally defended himself. "And that’s my point. We didn’t do anything. We didn’t know anything."

They all fell silent, Morl’s words deepening the grief with a new layer of regret.

Sasha’s tears began to flow once more. Andi and the others could no longer hide their true emotions. The atmosphere that night was unbearably heavy—for the family, for the friends, and for all those left behind.

Because someone had left them so suddenly.

Leaving them without any clue as to the reason why.