I slowly open my eyes. The light is too sharp. My eyes can’t handle it. So, I quickly closed my eyes. The pain is still in my eyes though.

“Oh, he is …….. Get o…….” I heard some voices. But nothing is clear.

It really hurts. My eyes. But the pain decreases slowly and about 6s later, I can finally open my eyes. The light is not that sharp now.

The first thing I saw when I can finally open my eyes is “Larry?” Is this afterlife? If so, I have to atone my sins. I have to repay her everything she owed me. Even if it takes my life again, I will willingly repay her. But wait. Isn’t this my room in the village? The windows, the furniture, the scenery and the fragrance of black MARIAO flower. They all look the same. Was afterlife designed after one’s memory? Or am I dreaming? I never found Glyph again?

I raised my left hand to place on my heart. But there is no movement. When I look at my left hand, there is nothing. Then, all of this is not a dream? I’m startled. I don’t know what is going on.

“Relax Black we are safe here. We are in our village. Cank’s party and Unlce Bark saved us” I heard her. I’m sure now. This is Larry. We are alive? Weren’t we sacrificial objects? Why are we still alive? “Ahh, my head hurts. I can’t think a lot.”

“Relax, don’t think too much. I’ll explain you everything later. Keep yourself alive for now. And make sure to be healthy as soon as possible.” I heard her sound again.

But I feel too tired and when I tried to relax, I fell asleep again.

- - - - - - - - - -

“Chpp,,,, we….. daf…….” I heard some voices. Nothing is clear.

“Tsk Tsk Tsk” I made some noises and tried to open my eyes. Oh this is not daytime. But I’m still in my room.

“You awake?” asked Bark.

“Uncle Bark?” before I can say anything, my body was telling me to drink water. “water” I weakly said.

“Here” he gave me a cup of water. I drank it slowly. My throat hurts.

“While you were unconscious, we did everything to treat your wounds and feed you.” But it was a tough task.

“Where am I and what’s happening? Mind explaining me?” I told him while closing my eyes.

“Relax, I’ll tell everything.” Said Uncle Bark.

It took him about 30 minutes to cover everything including Cank’s party’s efforts, his involvement, the riders’ betrayal, the final battle and lastly, Larry’s case. I’ve known some of what he has told but I didn’t know many of them.

When his explanation finished, the first thing I started to think about is Glyph. Why did she betray me? I loved her with my life. I waited a decade for her return. When I finally meet her, she betrayed me.

But she never loved me. She has already been taken a decade ago. SaberTooth was EagleEye and her son. I was used. I was fooled. I loved her to the most. I gave my all to her. I never think of betraying her even when she was not around me.

Suddenly, I feel like life is worthless. I don’t know why I’m living. What am I supposed to do by living? The one I love never loved me. She played me. My everyday life is eat, sleep, sit and walk. I don’t find a meaning in anything. I don’t find a reason to live. I feel like everything has become dark and silent. I can feel nothing. No pain, no anger, no dejection, just emptiness. Everything is empty. I feel like I’m an insignificant object in a never ending emptiness. The most pathetic, useless thing.

Tears? Why? All I feel is emptiness. Why is there tears on my cheek? Why am I feeling a wave in my chest? What is rolling in my chest? It hurts. But does it still matter. If I am not alive, pain is non-existence.

“Acky…. Are you okay?” I heard it again. Oh that’s right it’s Larry.

“Acky…. Why are you crying? I’m here by your side. You can tell me everything.” I found a ray of light in the darkness. That ray of light comes from the voice. I started to see her face. The time we played together, the time we worked together, the time we travelled together, I see her warm smile.

The ray of light become wider and wider. A while later, that ray of light illuminates everything around me. The darkness recedes and I can see dull colors again.

‘Larry’ she has been by my side since my childhood. Although she did break my heart by reporting Glyph, she has been being punished for a whole decade. Even then, when I say I would go with Glyph and never come back, she didn’t stop me. She almost always prioritized me. She always placed me before everything. She has suffered too much because of me. This time, if not for her, I wouldn’t be living anymore.

When I was in agony, it was her who helped me with everything. When I’m happy, when I’m angry, when I’m dejected, she was there by my side. She was always by my side.

“I’m sorry Larry” I said with a shaking tone. I can’t help it. The feeling of sadness cannot be covered.

“It’s Okay Acky. I’m here by your side.” She said.

She is standing beside my bed. So, I slowly get up into sitting position and put my left arm around her waist.

“I’m sorry Larry” I said again. Actually, I tried to say other things such as please don’t hate me for making you suffer for such a long time. But nothing comes out of my mouth.

“It’s Okay Acky.” Said Larry putting her on my back. She was patting my back gently.

Looking at her face which is above me (because she is standing), I slowly said “Will you marry me?”

I see a look of surprise in her eyes. She looks at me. No, she is gazing at my eyes. I’m sure you will see my sincere apology and I think my love for you as well.