-Annual Ring Age-Seven Sounds

——FW

I have forgotten the past because of the inescapable darkness.

The shadow cannot be driven away, and the dawn dare not come.

At this moment, I am no different from you.

-

That was already a story not known how long ago, and it had even been forgotten by its owner.

When is it?

Ah, remember that Levi was only seven years old that year.

***

"Mom, I'm back."

Levi, who came home from school, took off his shoes and greeted his mother as usual.

Logically Mother would lean out of the kitchen, give him a soft smile, and say 'You're back, Levi'.

But today there was no response.

"Mother?"

Levi threw his schoolbag on the sofa in the living room and looked suspiciously at the kitchen door.

still silent...

The kitchen door was half open, and the lights inside were not turned on. The afterglow of the setting sun leaked through the gap, casting a golden red on the living room floor.

Are you out?

Thinking of this, Levi walked over suspiciously, stretched out his hand and pushed open the familiar wooden door.

squeak-

The discordant sound of opening the door added a little bit of weirdness to this silent space.

What is behind the door, he had a million ideas.

Maybe mom was joking with him, maybe mom didn't hear his voice and continued cooking, maybe it was just empty...

But, wrong.

The door wind was mixed with some fishy smell, which gave people a strong sense of discomfort.

But that pales in comparison to the thrill of what Levi sees when he opens the door.

Yes, mother is still there.

But what is that?

Red, black, on the wall, on the ground...

Ah, why did mother fall to the ground?

And what is that on her?

Blood……

a lot of blood...

"Mother……"

Levi froze at the door, opening his mouth dumbly.

There were blood stains everywhere on the floor, walls, and cabinets, as well as some disgusting objects that looked like meat residue.

And the kitchen knife her mother used to was stuck in her own neck at this moment...

The blood has been drained.

The red floor, the red wall, the red sink, the red sunset, even the tears on the woman's face are red...

Red, red, red...

"no no!!!"

Levi covered his eyes with his hands, but his eyes were still red.

"No!! Don't!!! Go away!!! Go away!!!"

The hoarse shouts shook the entire building.

***

"Later, until the police took my mother's body away, I didn't move a step from the door."

The man said indifferently.

"Levi..." Allen lowered his head sadly, the hem of his clothes was tightly held by him. "I... I didn't know you actually..."

"He's an orphan too, isn't he?"

"Well..." Nodding, Allen buried his face even lower.

"That's right, my father abandoned me and my mother before I was born." Stirring the cold coffee in front of him with a spoon, Levi said seemingly calmly. "Later he owed debts outside, so he told those people my mother's name...this despicable man."

He threw the spoon into the glass viciously, with anger in his eyes.

For some reason, Alan felt a little sympathy and understanding when he looked at Levi like this.

He has also experienced the death of his relatives, but it is not such a tragic way of death...

At least his mom can still smile when she leaves.

"Levi..." Unexpectedly, he reached out to caress the man's face.

Looking at the shocked expression on the other side, Allen just smiled lightly. "It's okay, it's all over."

past.

it's already over.

Didn't I say it, that is the past that we all have to forget.

I'm so happy, Levi.

I'm sorry, but I'm really happy.

I finally found meaning to you.

From now on, no matter what, I will walk with you.

As far as I can go...

Withdrawing his hand, Allen leaned back his chair and looked at the blue sky.

"Hey, Levi, the sun is really beautiful."

already……

I was attracted and couldn't extricate myself.