But who is this person I wept for so bitterly in my dream? I only heard his voice, like a ghost whispering from afar, faint melodies weaving through the whispers of the wind. Where is he? He is no more, vanished suddenly like dew drops evaporating with the hot summer sun, leaving behind an unfillable void, a silence that chokes the soul. Despite his absence, he left something in my hands — a small bag, like a letter or a living memory carrying the scent of the past and untold secrets. Then he completely disappeared, leaving my heart broken and my dreams shattered. Suddenly, I awoke from the dream, still feeling the bitterness of that farewell, tears pouring down bitterly, as if my heart was trying to understand who this absent person was, who left me alone with his bag and his faint voice.
That morning, we faced the truth as the sun's laughter faded little by little: we decided to leave our small town that had cradled our first dreams. There, among the homes of neighbors we loved, we used to hear their laughter seeping through the old walls; they shared words that pierced our hearts. In the corners of those streets, we built our first dreams, took our first steps toward our schools and institutes, and found a love we thought was unique and unrepeatable.
In that house full of memories, its corners echoed with our voices, our laughter almost breaking the silence and pushing us forward with a confidence we didn't know we possessed. There, memories embraced us before we even listened to them, for we never imagined they held eternal sway over a heart fluttering between fear and hope.
And now, as the time of departure approaches, we bid farewell to that small world to embrace "Izora" – or as the inhabitants call it: "Night Sky" – a city of luminous jewels that awaits us with its glittering lights and endless promises.
Mother (Sera)... "Are you done packing your things? The bus is about to leave!"
Sera stops in front of the small wooden desk, her brown eyes exploring every corner with a mix of nostalgia and sadness.
* Books scattered on the table, poems and clippings reminding her of past dreams.
* Floor toys: "Simba," "Look the bear," and "Foxie" gaze at her with motionless faces, as if silently repeating: "We don't want you to go…"
* In the second drawer, buried secrets: her diary from 2010, a title page inscribed: "Before Dad left…" beside it, a snow globe flirted with reflected light, a smiling picture of "Killua," and a family photo where smiles embraced warmth.
Sera (in a faint voice, a whisper to the books and walls):
"It feels so easy… leaving this house. Here, in this room, my memories pulsed—memories my father will never return to."
Rina (with calm steps, picking up a book from the table and putting it in her bag):
"Dad's memories don't disappear just because we left. We'll come back, Sera… this is our home and our first story."
Eileen moves around the room with the vibrancy of spring weather, shaking off reality with her laughter:
"Come on, come on! High school awaits us—new halls, new faces, and guys… and fame awaits me!"
The echo of her laughter fills the stairs when their mother replies from downstairs, teasing with maternal love:
"As if I'll replace you in everything, you cheerful mischief-maker!"
Rina's and Eileen's eyes meet with a gleam of sweet rivalry:
* Rina (with a gentle smile): "You don't even dare to have one date yet!"
* Sera (waving a pencil from above the desk): "And you, Rina… haven't you met your sweetheart since your first year of high school? Or have you just forgotten him?"
* Eileen (clutching her bag as if it were a trophy): "Excuses! Izora awaits us—a city that never sleeps, shining at night like a jewel, and handsome guys!"
Their mother's footsteps on the stairs draw closer, closer… then stop at the top, the creak of wood breaking the silence:
"Come down now, unless you want me to wait for you here all day! And… tell me what you were talking about."
Sera breathes deeply, the tension drawing her heartbeats on her temple. Behind them, the books dry dust tears, and the toys settle for silence. Outside the room, Izora awaits… "Night Sky" that will open a new chapter for them, illuminated by jasmine and neon lights, knocking on the doors of every brave heart, including Sera's.
Eileen started running around the house, chasing Biki, their strange cat with deep blue eyes who didn't walk but jumped like a rabbit, her laughter echoing as if she were a child at a festival.
Eileen (finally catching him and hugging him to her chest):
"There you are! Finally caught you, enough playing now... Izora awaits us, you troublemaker!"
At that moment, Rina was descending the stairs with quiet steps, holding Emma, their Siamese cat, who looked regal as she sat as if understanding everything that was going on.
Rina (with deliberate innocence, raising her voice to reach her mother who was still upstairs):
"Mom, by the way... I heard Eileen is starting high school tomorrow, and she's looking for a handsome guy to date! Looks like she's already started her plans before us!"
Mother's voice (suddenly rising from above, with a hint of sarcasm):
"What school? She hasn't even enrolled in any high school yet! And a handsome guy? As if I'd allow that while I'm still breathing!"
Sera was standing near the open bag, meticulously arranging her belongings. She looked at them with a calm smile and said playfully:
"The problem is she talks as if it's a done deal… Rina, wasn't your fiancé also from high school? True, he was older than you, but your love story was very successful!"
Eileen quickly turned, her expression a mix of surprise and defense:
"Sera! If you're talking about love, you're the eldest here… when do you plan to get married? Don't tell me you're waiting for a prince from Mars!"
Sera (raising an eyebrow with a sarcastic smile as she placed her white cat, Itachi, in the bag, his head peeking out as if watching the conversation):
"If I find a decent man, fine, and if not… I'll wait for bird migration. Maybe one of them is single!"
Everyone laughed, and the sound of footsteps echoed across the wooden floor as they prepared to leave. Their mother stood on the stairs, looking at them with a loving surrender.
Mother (shaking her head and sighing as she descended with them):
"A bunch of madwomen! Come on, go ahead of me before I change my mind and lock you all in here forever!"
They descended the stairs one by one, each carrying her cat as if carrying a part of her memory, a charming and intimate scene… Emma dangling her short tail, Itachi peeking out halfway with curiosity, and Biki jumping from one hand to another, oblivious to the world.
And at the last moment… their mother stopped at the doorstep, looked inside, contemplated the walls, the floor, the memories, her eyes brimming with tears.
She whispered in a voice choked with emotion:
"We will return… I promise. To this place where we lived our most beautiful moments… to our small town, where we buried those we loved. We won't abandon you… so wait for us, my beloved."
Then she closed the door quietly… as if closing her heart on a box of memories, and walked behind them towards a new world called Izora – Night Sky.
The clock struck eight, but time seemed to have stopped in that moment. The faint light from the lamp barely touched the edges of the walls, hesitant as if afraid to illuminate the entire scene.
Aiden stood in the corner of the room, his shadow extending across the floor like another entity carrying the burden of silence. Behind him, the half-open window created a soft rustle of curtains moving slowly… a fleeting night breeze, carrying the scent of jasmine and… a distant memory.
Father (his voice hoarse, as if trying to hold onto a rope slipping from his hand):
"Are you really… leaving us, Aiden?"
Mother turned towards him, her eyes searching his face. She took a step closer, then another, fearing she might break something within him unintentionally.
Mother (in a voice tinged with an old, familiar anxiety):
"Aiden… your father is talking… don't you hear him?"
Aiden remained standing, his body erect like a statue, but his breaths indicated a storm raging within him. His black hair, tinged with blue, fell over his eyes, hiding a fire burning behind the glass.
His fingers gradually stiffened, his fists trembling until his knuckles turned white from the intensity of the pressure.
Then… he spoke. His voice was not that of a desperate young man, but the sound of a heart forced into silence for too long, now slowly collapsing:
"My father?... Do I really have a father? Or even… a family?"
The words fell like stones into a calm lake, and the surface of their relationship was forever disturbed.
Mother felt the ground being pulled out from under her. Her steps quickened towards him, but her confusion preceded her:
Mother (almost whispering, stammering):
"Aiden… what are you saying? This is madness… You are my son, we are your family—"
But he slowly raised his head… his eyes, a mix of night's black and sky's blue, shone with the light of true pain, a look that slapped rather than explained.
"Enough… Mother? And do I have the right to call you that?"
Her words caught in her throat like a heavy stone. She couldn't breathe, as if a single sentence from him had stripped her of all her defenses.
Aiden lowered his head, but he didn't hide his wounds; instead, he let them bleed before them:
"I often almost lost my mind… You only repeat my name when you want me around. But I'm just temporary… an adopted child, didn't you say that?!"
Father wanted to step forward, to say something… but stunned silence paralyzed his throat.
Aiden looked at them again, but his voice this time was not anger… but a conclusion:
"Strange, isn't it? I exist, but I'm invisible. A doll? Placed when you need me, thrown away when you're tired? I've… grown tired."
And here, a tear fell.
Just one, heavy, silent, but it made a sound only heard by those who had waited for it for a long time.
Then he continued, in a voice so calm it was terrifying, like a whispered ending:
"Are we here… acting? Then tell me, why haven't you given me my role yet? All of you… you're good at lying… As for me, I was off-script from the very beginning."
Then he breathed deeply… as if casting off a mask, and announcing the end of the play:
"The play is over "