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Chapter 45.5 — Life Between Death
Note:
This is a side chapter, or in other words, a flashback from the future.
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Scene 1 — At a School
Decorations filled the corridors and courtyards. Colorful ribbons hung from the walls, and balloons swayed gently with the light breeze.
Students wore graduation gowns, black caps resting on their heads. Each of them shared laughter and gifts with friends—pure laughter that hid behind it a farewell to an entire stage of life.
Beautiful melodies echoed through the air, mixing with sounds of joy, while fireworks colored the sky with bright hues. Photographers stood in the corners of the yard, waiting for the perfect moment, fingers tense on the camera buttons.
Parents and students entered the courtyards. The students sat with their families on neatly arranged chairs—hands intertwined, eyes shining with pride.
The vice principal stepped onto the stage, held the microphone, and at that very moment, the cameras began recording.
Vice Principal:
"Welcome to this celebration that has long been awaited. After years of study, and years of hard work, you have finally reached this stage. Some of you will go to work, and others will go in search of a quiet life with your life partners... In five minutes, we will begin distributing gifts and certificates to the students. When a student's name is called, the family will come up, followed by their child."
He left the microphone and stepped down from the stage amid warm applause, then headed toward the principal who was standing behind it.
Vice Principal:
"The Ministry of Education will arrive in five minutes, so you must stand on the stage with them and be the one who distributes the gifts and certificates."
Principal:
"Alright, I understand."
At that moment, a student entered the courtyard quietly and sat on one of the back seats, far from everyone else, like a shadow that did not want to be seen.
Principal:
"Our best student has arrived. I'll go and be back."
The principal walked toward him, a formal yet warm smile on his face.
Principal:
"How are you, Black?"
Black, coldly:
"I'm fine, Principal."
Principal:
"The ceremony is about to begin. Where is your family?"
Black, cold and sad:
"They left."
The principal's smile froze for a moment.
Principal:
"Alright, the ceremony will begin. Your family will return."
The Ministry of Education entered and took their seats on the stage. The principal waved his hand and walked away.
Black extended his hand toward him, as if he wanted to say something… but the principal had already left.
Black:
"He didn't understand."
The ceremony began. The principal started calling names—families came up, then students. Laughter, tears of joy, and endless applause filled the place.
Principal:
"The Kurama family, please come forward."
The parents stepped up from one side, and from the other side, three students—two boys and a girl.
Principal:
"The Kurama family excelled in all subjects. The two boys scored 98.37 and 98.40, and the girl scored 98.50."
The students stepped forward, received their certificates and gifts, then returned to their parents. They hugged them and gave speeches in front of the audience.
Families followed one after another, each student proudly mentioning their family.
In the corner, Black sat silently and thought:
They always mention their families… why am I even here in the first place?
Suddenly, the principal's voice rose:
Principal:
"The Sinero Black family, please come forward. A great salute to their son, who excelled in all subjects and achieved 99.97 at the national level, not just the provincial level."
Applause thundered. Black stepped onto the stage alone… no one from his family joined him.
Principal:
"Where is your family, Black?"
A member of the ministry:
"One of your family members must attend. Didn't anyone come?"
Black:
"I told the principal that they left."
A member of the ministry:
"Where did they go?"
Black:
"I don't know."
Principal:
"Didn't they tell you where they went?"
Black:
"No… but they are here."
Principal:
"You said they left. Where are they?"
Black took out a photo from the bag he was carrying and slowly opened it—a faded picture of his family.
Black:
"They're here."
He pointed at the photo.
Principal:
"This is not the time for jokes. Where did they go?"
Black:
"I don't know. Each one felt pain, then their body stopped moving. Then they covered them with something white, dug a hole, put them inside it, and covered them with dirt. The same thing happened to all my family, and I don't know where they went."
Silence fell.
The principal stepped back, unable to find words, his hand trembling as he handed Black the gift and certificate.
Black took them and held the photo tightly.
Black:
"I graduated. Look at me."
Everyone began to cry.
The principal held the microphone, his voice shaking.
Principal:
"Do you have a word… you'd like to say?"
Black took the microphone. His voice was calm, steady, as if coming from another place:
Black:
"In the courtyard of the sky, my star appears extinguished,
It fell peacefully upon my empty soul,
I struggled to keep you within the lands of my heart,
Yet you are no longer mine,
In a prison like captives,
Memories seep into me,
I burn with them every time,
They drag me down."
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The End.
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