"Say Onii-san, what is it like to die?"
"Huh? Where did you got that, Minako?"
"I heard Papa and Mama talking...when Obaa-san went to 'sleep'." A pause. "Is dying like that? Going to sleep where you can never wake up?"
"I don't know..." A uncomfortable shuffle. "But we shouldn't be talking about that, you know. Mama and Papa might get angry. Obaa-san will get sad."
A soft hum in approval. "You're right. But someday, I want to get old and die with Onii-san. We'll never get separated, promise?"
"Promise!"
Lies.
Ten years had passed.
What had happened ten years ago?
I do not remember.
Only that my parents and my twin sister died in a brutal car crash.
Was it just a car crash? Or...
I forgot. Not because of that accident...but because I chose to forget.
Never remember again.
Just for a year. They told me. Perhaps, it will finally help you find some closure. They said. I do not see any logical reason for coming back to this place. I am numb, deaf, blind all at the same time. This place is the same as every other place. Nothing special. Nothing worth to remember. After all, I see nothing but the color of crimson red.
Fire.
Blood.
Death.
Lies.
Broken promises.
You are a liar.
I tried to shut everyone and everything out. I accepted orders just to pass the time. So what if I die? Why do they even care? Who do they think they are? I want to die. I want to cease to exist. The world does not need me. I am just a speck. A replaceable tool. There is nothing here for me.
Why am I still alive?
All I see is crimson red.
I wanted to be with you.
I am such a liar.
A warm feeling surged within me. It was familiar and alien at the same time.
When was the last time I felt it? Ten years ago.
I wanted to hold unto it, cherish it like it was like the last bit of my lifeline.
I can finally the colors. Blue, yellow, green, orange, violet, memories that my eyes have forgotten so long ago.
Not just crimson red.
But why I can't feel you?
Where are you?
Betrayal.
The same thing you did to me.
Death.
The sickly sweet promise that broken us apart.
The world faded back to crimson red.
The sickening color painted my vision, torturing me with its unbreakable grip.
It is everywhere. The walls. The floor. On my hands. On you.
And soon...on the being I once called my friend.
I wanted to die.
A friend brought the colors back.
I see them again - beautiful, enticing, and promising.
From where crimson red spread, now lies an eerie shade of blue.
I wanted to stay.
But it was nothing but a mask.
Beneath, lies the monstrosity I raised and started to fear.
Why?
Why me?
Why do I have to lose everything important to me?
I see it again - the grim crimson red.
It flowed at everything I see- buildings, flowers, vehicles, people, on you...on my friends.
I can't breath...
Did you find it, too? The Answer to Life? Was it the reason you left me before the long-awaited day of our promise?
Perhaps, I will know.
Will I find you at the other side?
Does it even exist? Or do we fade into nothing the moment we die?
I want to see you...
I made my decision.
I will fight.
I will live.
I promised.
For them...
The tears she had shed...
The words he had screamed...
The one wish they all had made...
I hear them. I feel them.
Now's the time.
This is the end.
My time is near.
Like a dying flame, I will be gone.
Yet, I am not afraid.
I see them.
I feel warm, not cold. I am weak, yet strong.
Yes...they can, too.
Live.
Farewell...
When I opened my eyes, I see white then green, then blue, yellow - the colors slowly overlapping at each other.
I see the a vast green field and the tree where we wrote our names in a wiggly mess and the two stick figures you drew - you and me.
A soft rustle and an exasperated sigh. "Geez. Took you so long, Onii-chan. You made me wait."
I turned and saw you. You are not who I remembered. You are taller. Your lush, brown hair long and tied down in a ponytail. You are taller, slimmer, and seemingly battle-forged. A rosy blush was painted on your fair cheeks. You are not no longer a child, but someone more fitting to be called as my other half.
Yet, I know you are her.
Your crimson red eyes sparkled in amusement. "What? Cat got your tongue? This is the other side! I can look older if I want, you know. I don't want to stay a child forever!" A mischievous smirk graced on your lips. "Unless...you got captivated by me."
I looked away. "Shut up..."
You chuckled. You reached out your hand and caressed my cheek. "You did a good job, Onii-chan. Now, it's time to finally find peace."
"Yeah." I slid my arms around you in a long-awaited hug. "They can do it. They are stronger than me. There will be more trials that humanity has to face but...there will be hope. Hope will never die."
"Just believe in them." You reached out and ruffled my hair. A fond smile curled up your lips. "Let's go. They are waiting for us."
Your hand wrapped on mine - never to let go anymore.
Death was not the end, but the beginning.
Eternity awaits...and I know you will never leave my side again.