Four years ago, on a summer night, a fierce storm struck.
Under the cold rain, Endi slowly regained consciousness.
"Endi! Hey, wake up, Endi!"
When he opened his eyes, he saw a man shouting with a cracked voice while shaking his body hard.
It seemed he was lying on the sand by the sea.
Whether he had been asleep or unconscious, Endi still couldn't tell. His whole body was numb, so paralyzed that he could hardly move, barely even speak.
"You're awake! Thank goodness!" The man sounded truly relieved.
He wore a long black robe, hood pulled deep over his head.
Maybe because it was midnight, maybe because of the shadows, his face was completely hidden. But from his voice, and from the glimpse of wrinkled skin on the back of his hand, Endi thought he must be an old man.
"Who…? Where am I…? Who… am I…?"
The words came out weak, his voice faint and fragile.
Was he really Endi? Who was this man? What was happening to him? Who was he, and what had he been doing until now? Nothing made sense. Everything was strange and maddening.
"Endi, you…"
The man spoke in a sorrowful tone. He lowered his head in silence, and then, unbelievably, he turned and left Endi behind.
No one cared about him.
No matter how much he screamed, his voice reached no one.
In the violent storm, Endi was left all alone.
On the garden of a hospital standing on a hill, the sea breeze stirred Endi's bangs.
The morning sun dyed the ocean gold, and Lamia's long hair fluttered in the wind.
The two exchanged words quietly, as if confirming each other's existence.
Endi slowly began to speak.
That stormy night, four years ago.
He had lost his memory, lost his home, with no one to rely on. He didn't even know who he was.
For four years, he had wandered alone, drifting from place to place without destination.
His words were heavy, torn straight from his chest.
Lamia listened in silence, sometimes nodding deeply. Her eyes were calm, like stars sinking to the bottom of the sea.
As he spoke, Endi fought to hold back his emotions. This was the first time he had ever revealed his true feelings. Tears almost spilled, but he held them back and went on.
When he finished, it felt like the heavy fog inside his heart had finally cleared just a little.
For the first time, he had opened his heart to someone.
For the first time, someone had listened.
That simple truth filled Endi with warmth.