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The old town of Sinsier still bore the brunt of the devastating bombing. Annette walked through the unfamiliar neighborhood, her gaze wandering.
Buildings with collapsed ceilings and walls were visible. Repair work was underway in some places, but progress seemed slow.
Annette entered the street. A woman was sitting on a collapsed wall, reading a book. When Annette's eyes met, she greeted her with a good afternoon.
“...Good afternoon.”
Children playing soccer rushed past Annette, who was greeting her. Even in the dilapidated neighborhood, people still lived.
Life still went on.
Annette entered the street where the Grotts' house stood. The two buildings at the entrance were completely destroyed. The sight filled her heart.
She quickened her pace a little. Soon, a familiar house caught her eye. Fortunately, it didn't appear to have sustained significant damage.
Annette arrived at the front door and knocked. Ominous thoughts arose in her mind, wondering if a stranger might come out from inside.
Not long after, footsteps were heard from inside. Annette tightened her grip on her suitcase. The door soon opened.
A familiar face appeared through the crack in the door. As soon as she recognized the person, the tension dissolved. The man, with a surprised expression, opened his mouth in bewilderment.
“...Annette?”
Brunner's expression, which had been blinking for a moment as if he couldn't grasp the situation, gradually brightened. He suddenly hugged Annette.
“Who is this!”
“Brunner...!”
“Let me see your face!”
Brunner held Annette's cheek and turned it back and forth, checking her. He spoke with a slightly trembling voice.
“Your face is all bruised.”
“It was a difficult time for everyone.”
“I saw the newspaper. What the hell kind of nonsense have you been doing?”
“That’s ridiculous.”
Annette laughed it off lightly. But Brunner lowered his voice, feigning anger.
"You know there's more than one thing that makes me angry right now, right? How could you just leave without saying a word? If you're going to leave, at least stay safe!"
“I did that because I thought you might react like this.”
“Haa... Still, I’m so glad you’re safe. Really... Did you come here right after being discharged?”
“Yes. I’m coming from the station.”
“Let’s go home first. It’s a bit messy, though...”
Brunner, slightly flustered, led Annette into the house. Inside, the familiar, distinctive Grotts scent filled the air.
As Brunner had said, the house was quite a mess. It was odd, considering Katrine's neat and tidy nature, but she figured it was just the way things were these days.
Annette looked around the house with a new expression. Her gaze stopped in the middle of the living room.
Olivia was playing with a toy on the blanket. Annette covered her mouth with one hand, saying, "Oh, my."
"Oh my god...!"
“You’ve grown a lot, haven’t you?”
Annette put down her bag and crouched down in front of Olivia. The new baby she'd never seen before had grown so much. It made her wonder if all children really grew this quickly.
“Why are you so big already...”
Olivia, who had discovered Annette, began babbling something, but she couldn't understand what she was saying.
“What are you saying?”
“Olivia, do you remember me? I fed you and put you to sleep.”
She muttered, looking Olivia over. Her cheeks were soft and plump, filled with love. Brunner spoke from above.
“Katrine tried to teach her your name, but she failed.”
“Katrine already mentioned that in her letter. Oh, now that I think about it...”
Annette looked around the house and asked.
“Where is Katrine...?”
But there was no sign of Katrine anywhere in the house. Annette turned her head and looked up at Brunner.
Annette's eyes met Brunner's, who was standing behind her. Reading his expression, Annette realized something was wrong.
A teacup was placed on the table with a click. The tea water sloshed unsteadily. Annette didn't even think about picking it up, staring at the edge of the table, half-absentminded.
Brunner set down his teacup and sat down across from her. They remained silent for a moment. After a long silence, Brunner finally spoke with difficulty.
“...An evacuation order was issued.”
A phrase from the letter floated over the rippling tea.
[After the war is over, don't wander off somewhere else and come straight to my house. Understood?]
“I was at home with Olivia that day, and my wife was out at the market a little ways away... so we were evacuated to another place when the bombing happened.”
[Annette, I know it's boring to say, but please take care of yourself until the very end.]
“But the gas pipe in the bunker where Katrine was taking refuge burst due to the bombing, and Katrine was immediately taken to the hospital... but she didn’t last even two days.”
[May the Lord always guide and protect you.]
Annette groped and clasped her hands together, which were shaking like crazy. Olivia murmured softly from one side.
Why?
A strange chill ran down her skin. Though there was no one to ask why, she kept searching for a reason. A reason why Katrine had to end up like that.
Why?
She kept asking herself. And she found herself back where she had started. The irreversible past. Her mind became dizzy.
Annette slowly lowered her head. She let out a breath. She crouched down slightly and spoke softly.
“I’m sorry, Brunner...”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Why you?”
Brunner waved his hand in embarrassment. But Annette couldn't shake the guilt. She rambled on.
"It was me, because of me, because of me, that we moved here. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have come here, and you wouldn't be experiencing this..."
"That's nonsense. Annette, it's not your fault at all. Rather..."
Brunner hesitated for a moment, then continued speaking in a calm tone, as if telling a very old story.
“Rather, Katrine has always felt sorry for you, Annette.”
“What is that...?”
"I heard you tried to kill yourself after my wife visited the official residence. Twice... Katrine always felt guilty about it."
“It’s not because of Katrine─.”
Brunner smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Katrine, who visited the official residence, said this. She thought the woman was living happily in a huge mansion, but when she actually met her... she seemed so lonely and unhappy."
It was the first time she heard of it. Throughout their entire life together, Annette and Katrine had never spoken about their past.
"And then, thinking back, she felt like she'd lost her brother—that you'd lost your family, too. Being hated by everyone in the world must be incredibly painful... Why did she think you were living a perfectly happy life?"
Even in her daze, Annette felt embarrassed. Katrine didn't need to apologize to her. She was simply a victim.
"So, after hearing the news of your divorce, she hung around the residence every day. She said she wanted to meet you and talk again. So she kept waiting for you to come out..."
She thought so.
"She said that when she met you, you looked like someone on your way to death again. You seemed to have nowhere in the world to go."
How did Katrine find me that day? Was it really just a coincidence?
“So, she brought you here impulsively.”
Why did she take me home...
"Actually, we knew that David's actions caused your miscarriage. But... we couldn't bring ourselves to bring it up. As Annette knows, we all avoid talking about the past. For fear of hurting each other..."
Annette listened to him, speechless. She hadn't realized they knew. She'd assumed the matter would remain buried forever.
"That weighed heavily on her. She asked me to tell you she was sorry, Katrine said before she died."
Brunner smiled bitterly. His face was calm, but his eyes were slightly red.
“...Will you forgive us?”
The old door creaked open.
Annette's steps paused as she entered the room. Just as Brunner had said, everything in the room was exactly as it was.
Katrine said she hadn't cleaned her room, saying Annette would return there after the war.
After briefly looking around the room, she sat down on the bed. Coming into this room, it felt like time had gone back to last year.
So much has happened in the meantime. So much has changed. The days she spent here seem so distant.
Annette hesitantly opened the letter she was holding. It was the letter Brunner had given her, the last one Katrin had left behind.
The sentences that filled the paper were written in a rather unfamiliar handwriting. Katrine was unable to write at the time, so Brunner reportedly wrote them for her.
The letter wasn't long. Compared to previous letters, it was rather short. But Annette had to spend quite a bit of time reading it.
Because her heart hurts, because it hurts so much, so.
Her blue eyes slowly shifted left and right. The hand holding the letter trembled slightly. Annette read the last sentence, then slowly closed her eyes. She hugged the letter tightly, trying not to crumple it.
Dust floated quietly in the sunlight streaming into the room. Her upper body slowly leaned forward. A small sob escaped from her crouched body.
The sobbing continued for a long time.
[To Annette
I'm sorry I had to say goodbye like this without even seeing your face, and without having a chance to fully discuss the details. I've told my husband the rest of the story.
Annette, I haven't responded to your apology. I'm only now getting back to you. I've already forgiven you for everything.
Please forgive me.
Don't be sad for too long.
Don't be sick for too long.
As time goes by, you will be able to let everything flow effortlessly.
May you always be happy, my kind and pretty sister.
With friendship, comfort, and love
Katrine Grotts]
Buildings with collapsed ceilings and walls were visible. Repair work was underway in some places, but progress seemed slow.
Annette entered the street. A woman was sitting on a collapsed wall, reading a book. When Annette's eyes met, she greeted her with a good afternoon.
“...Good afternoon.”
Children playing soccer rushed past Annette, who was greeting her. Even in the dilapidated neighborhood, people still lived.
Life still went on.
Annette entered the street where the Grotts' house stood. The two buildings at the entrance were completely destroyed. The sight filled her heart.
She quickened her pace a little. Soon, a familiar house caught her eye. Fortunately, it didn't appear to have sustained significant damage.
Annette arrived at the front door and knocked. Ominous thoughts arose in her mind, wondering if a stranger might come out from inside.
Not long after, footsteps were heard from inside. Annette tightened her grip on her suitcase. The door soon opened.
A familiar face appeared through the crack in the door. As soon as she recognized the person, the tension dissolved. The man, with a surprised expression, opened his mouth in bewilderment.
“...Annette?”
Brunner's expression, which had been blinking for a moment as if he couldn't grasp the situation, gradually brightened. He suddenly hugged Annette.
“Who is this!”
“Brunner...!”
“Let me see your face!”
Brunner held Annette's cheek and turned it back and forth, checking her. He spoke with a slightly trembling voice.
“Your face is all bruised.”
“It was a difficult time for everyone.”
“I saw the newspaper. What the hell kind of nonsense have you been doing?”
“That’s ridiculous.”
Annette laughed it off lightly. But Brunner lowered his voice, feigning anger.
"You know there's more than one thing that makes me angry right now, right? How could you just leave without saying a word? If you're going to leave, at least stay safe!"
“I did that because I thought you might react like this.”
“Haa... Still, I’m so glad you’re safe. Really... Did you come here right after being discharged?”
“Yes. I’m coming from the station.”
“Let’s go home first. It’s a bit messy, though...”
Brunner, slightly flustered, led Annette into the house. Inside, the familiar, distinctive Grotts scent filled the air.
As Brunner had said, the house was quite a mess. It was odd, considering Katrine's neat and tidy nature, but she figured it was just the way things were these days.
Annette looked around the house with a new expression. Her gaze stopped in the middle of the living room.
Olivia was playing with a toy on the blanket. Annette covered her mouth with one hand, saying, "Oh, my."
"Oh my god...!"
“You’ve grown a lot, haven’t you?”
Annette put down her bag and crouched down in front of Olivia. The new baby she'd never seen before had grown so much. It made her wonder if all children really grew this quickly.
“Why are you so big already...”
Olivia, who had discovered Annette, began babbling something, but she couldn't understand what she was saying.
“What are you saying?”
“I don't know either, haha. But Mom and Dad are certain now. I guess she really is a genius.”
She muttered, looking Olivia over. Her cheeks were soft and plump, filled with love. Brunner spoke from above.
“Katrine tried to teach her your name, but she failed.”
“Katrine already mentioned that in her letter. Oh, now that I think about it...”
Annette looked around the house and asked.
“Where is Katrine...?”
But there was no sign of Katrine anywhere in the house. Annette turned her head and looked up at Brunner.
Annette's eyes met Brunner's, who was standing behind her. Reading his expression, Annette realized something was wrong.
***
A teacup was placed on the table with a click. The tea water sloshed unsteadily. Annette didn't even think about picking it up, staring at the edge of the table, half-absentminded.
Brunner set down his teacup and sat down across from her. They remained silent for a moment. After a long silence, Brunner finally spoke with difficulty.
“...An evacuation order was issued.”
A phrase from the letter floated over the rippling tea.
[After the war is over, don't wander off somewhere else and come straight to my house. Understood?]
“I was at home with Olivia that day, and my wife was out at the market a little ways away... so we were evacuated to another place when the bombing happened.”
[Annette, I know it's boring to say, but please take care of yourself until the very end.]
“But the gas pipe in the bunker where Katrine was taking refuge burst due to the bombing, and Katrine was immediately taken to the hospital... but she didn’t last even two days.”
[May the Lord always guide and protect you.]
Annette groped and clasped her hands together, which were shaking like crazy. Olivia murmured softly from one side.
Why?
A strange chill ran down her skin. Though there was no one to ask why, she kept searching for a reason. A reason why Katrine had to end up like that.
Why?
She kept asking herself. And she found herself back where she had started. The irreversible past. Her mind became dizzy.
Annette slowly lowered her head. She let out a breath. She crouched down slightly and spoke softly.
“I’m sorry, Brunner...”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Why you?”
Brunner waved his hand in embarrassment. But Annette couldn't shake the guilt. She rambled on.
"It was me, because of me, because of me, that we moved here. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have come here, and you wouldn't be experiencing this..."
"That's nonsense. Annette, it's not your fault at all. Rather..."
Brunner hesitated for a moment, then continued speaking in a calm tone, as if telling a very old story.
“Rather, Katrine has always felt sorry for you, Annette.”
“What is that...?”
"I heard you tried to kill yourself after my wife visited the official residence. Twice... Katrine always felt guilty about it."
“It’s not because of Katrine─.”
Brunner smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Katrine, who visited the official residence, said this. She thought the woman was living happily in a huge mansion, but when she actually met her... she seemed so lonely and unhappy."
It was the first time she heard of it. Throughout their entire life together, Annette and Katrine had never spoken about their past.
"And then, thinking back, she felt like she'd lost her brother—that you'd lost your family, too. Being hated by everyone in the world must be incredibly painful... Why did she think you were living a perfectly happy life?"
Even in her daze, Annette felt embarrassed. Katrine didn't need to apologize to her. She was simply a victim.
"So, after hearing the news of your divorce, she hung around the residence every day. She said she wanted to meet you and talk again. So she kept waiting for you to come out..."
She thought so.
"She said that when she met you, you looked like someone on your way to death again. You seemed to have nowhere in the world to go."
How did Katrine find me that day? Was it really just a coincidence?
“So, she brought you here impulsively.”
Why did she take me home...
"Actually, we knew that David's actions caused your miscarriage. But... we couldn't bring ourselves to bring it up. As Annette knows, we all avoid talking about the past. For fear of hurting each other..."
Annette listened to him, speechless. She hadn't realized they knew. She'd assumed the matter would remain buried forever.
"That weighed heavily on her. She asked me to tell you she was sorry, Katrine said before she died."
Brunner smiled bitterly. His face was calm, but his eyes were slightly red.
“...Will you forgive us?”
***
The old door creaked open.
Annette's steps paused as she entered the room. Just as Brunner had said, everything in the room was exactly as it was.
Katrine said she hadn't cleaned her room, saying Annette would return there after the war.
After briefly looking around the room, she sat down on the bed. Coming into this room, it felt like time had gone back to last year.
So much has happened in the meantime. So much has changed. The days she spent here seem so distant.
Annette hesitantly opened the letter she was holding. It was the letter Brunner had given her, the last one Katrin had left behind.
The sentences that filled the paper were written in a rather unfamiliar handwriting. Katrine was unable to write at the time, so Brunner reportedly wrote them for her.
The letter wasn't long. Compared to previous letters, it was rather short. But Annette had to spend quite a bit of time reading it.
Because her heart hurts, because it hurts so much, so.
Her blue eyes slowly shifted left and right. The hand holding the letter trembled slightly. Annette read the last sentence, then slowly closed her eyes. She hugged the letter tightly, trying not to crumple it.
Dust floated quietly in the sunlight streaming into the room. Her upper body slowly leaned forward. A small sob escaped from her crouched body.
The sobbing continued for a long time.
[To Annette
I'm sorry I had to say goodbye like this without even seeing your face, and without having a chance to fully discuss the details. I've told my husband the rest of the story.
Annette, I haven't responded to your apology. I'm only now getting back to you. I've already forgiven you for everything.
Please forgive me.
Don't be sad for too long.
Don't be sick for too long.
As time goes by, you will be able to let everything flow effortlessly.
May you always be happy, my kind and pretty sister.
With friendship, comfort, and love
Katrine Grotts]
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