Tobias was taken aback, finally understanding why Hamish had been acting strangely earlier. Could it be that he saw Elisa downstairs, afraid she would see him in his current disheveled state, or perhaps unsure of how to face her now that he had let go… That’s why he hurriedly escaped to the elevator.
Tobias realized that Hamish wanted to have a chat with him, now that Hamish had lost interest in entertainment and only spent time talking about money.
Tobias asked, “Why did Miss Powell come to the hospital? Is she ill?”
Hamish croaked, “I saw her coming out of the obstetrics department.”
That meant she was pregnant. It wasn’t really surprising, as she and Louis had been married for several months. Pregnancy was a normal occurrence, yet Tobias was worried that Hamish was burdened by unresolved emotions, leading to depression.
“Maybe she was there for other tests, not necessarily about pregnancy.”
Hamish shook his head. “I saw her holding her stomach carefully. I know her look, I can never forget it.” Because he had seen Elisa pregnant, carefully holding her and their child.
Thinking of the two children who had died, one he never knew and the other he personally signed the abortion agreement for, watching the doctors and nurses bind Elisa and take her away.
At that time, Elisa knelt and begged him not to abort the child, but he did.
The first time, perhaps he wasn’t so concerned, but the second time was truly heartbreaking, killing his own flesh and blood, witnessing a vibrant life turn into a stillborn infant, a dagger to the heart couldn’t describe the pain.
A hint of bitterness appeared on Hamish’s lips, his gaze still fixed outside the window as he muttered to himself, “If our children were still alive, they would already be in elementary school by now.”
If the first child was alive, they would probably be in middle school by now.
He had ruined his chance at happiness.
Tobias couldn’t find words to console Hamish.
He thought Hamish would be drowned in memories of “Elisa’s pregnancy,” but unexpectedly, Hamish appeared unperturbed as if nothing had happened.
After spending a night at the hospital, Hamish seemed remarkably better the next day, with a healthy color returning to his usually sickly pale face.
Seeing a revitalized Hamish should have brought joy to Tobias, but he felt a subtle unease.
He recalled how his grandmother had suddenly perked up before her passing, speaking with vigor. He had thought it was a sign of recovery, only for her to quietly slip away that afternoon, never to wake again.
The current state of Hamish reminded Tobias of his grandmother’s last days, a fleeting glimmer before the end, not an improvement in health.
“Tobias, I don’t want to stay in the hospital. Take me back to North Bankshire,” Hamish’s eyes regained their former brightness, but the light wasn’t directed at Tobias; it seemed to emanate from within.
Tobias nodded in agreement, not refusing because he knew North Bankshire was Hamish’s home, their new house with Elisa. This might be his last trip back.
Tobias folded the wheelchair, helped Hamish sit in it, and pushed him out. He felt a tremor in his hand as he guided the wheelchair steadily downstairs. After assisting Hamish into the back seat of the car, he drove away smoothly.
It would take about half an hour to get to North Bankshire. Along the way, Hamish said, “Tobias, when I die, don’t hold a funeral for me. Bury me at the Burns family cemetery, where I can be near my parents and see the direction of the sea, let me pass peacefully.”
Tobias remained silent as he drove, but Hamish continued, speaking nonchalantly.
“Regarding the inheritance, you know about it. Please handle it for me.”
“I wish I could see the baby Elisa gives birth to. I bet they will be exceptionally beautiful.”
“Do you think I should buy something for her…” Halfway through his sentence, Hamish stopped, “If she knew it was from me, she would never accept it. It’s better to pretend not to know.”
“I don’t want to upset her,” Hamish’s calm voice dropped to a whisper.
Throughout the journey, Tobias remained silent. Hamish couldn’t catch a cold, so Tobias kept the windows closed even in the stifling car. However, his face felt cold for some reason. At a crossroads, when they hit a red light, Tobias wiped his face. His palms were wet; he had unknowingly shed tears.
Arriving at North Bankshire, Tobias, trying to hide his teary eyes, assisted Hamish out of the car. Hamish gently pushed his hand away, “I can walk by myself, let me walk back.”
His legs were weak, and his steps unsteady, but with sheer determination, he slowly made his way back. He sat on the balcony, settling into the rocking chair where Elisa frequently sat reading. The chair had soft cushions and backrest. Hamish held the armrest delicately as he sat down, rocking back and forth like a swing.
Leaning back, he looked up at the perfect sunlight shining on his face, highlighting the fine blood vessels beneath the skin, enveloping him in a fragile, almost ethereal glow.
“Tobias, could you please take down the wedding dress hanging in the bedroom?”
Tobias went upstairs and quickly returned with the dress in his arms. Hamish carefully received it, holding it horizontally. The manner in which he held it was reminiscent of a princess being carried, creating the illusion of someone being cradled in his arms.
He seemed to have taken the dress for Elisa.
“Is summer approaching?” Hamish inquired.
Tobias replied, “It’s still far away.”
Hamish softly murmured, “Far? Why do I feel like hearing cicadas chirping?”
“You must be mistaken, there wouldn’t be cicadas this time of year. They come out in July, during the hottest months,” Tobias explained.
Cicadas wouldn’t be chirping in April.
Hamish remembered a question Elisa once asked him.
“Hamish, have you ever heard cicadas sing in winter?” That one question doomed their relationship forever.
Straining his voice, Hamish said, “In the past, I found the cicadas’ summer song annoying, this year I long to hear it… But it seems that I won’t be able to hear it anymore.”
“Tobias, can you tell me how Elisa has been recently? I want to know if she’s doing well.”
Tobias detailed Elisa’s recent situation to Hamish without holding back, “She’s doing well. The White family genuinely cares for her like a daughter, and Louis treats her well. Miss Powell is indeed pregnant, with fifteen weeks along, expecting twins.” He had confirmed Elisa’s pregnancy yesterday, and the process was surprisingly smooth due to available resources.
Tobias relayed Elisa’s recent conditions to Hamish.
With his eyes closed, Hamish’s lips curved into a smile, repeatedly muttering the words, “That’s good… that’s good…”
He repeated those three words aloud, transitioning from loud and clear to a soft whisper, eventually just mouthing the words silently.
Still cradling the wedding dress, gazing out into the sunlight, he expressed gratitude for Elisa’s presence in his life, her love, sacrifices during their four-year marriage, and for marrying him.
The sun was warm and comforting, accompanied by a refreshing breeze, he hugged the dress while fiddling with the ring on his finger. The ring’s inner band bore a single letter: E. He rubbed it gently, as if inscribing those three characters into his bones and soul.
“Creak… Creak…” The rocking chair swayed back and forth, and as Hamish shifted slightly to the side, the chair continued to rock. His eyes half-closed, he watched his fleeting shadow on the ground.
Indeed, when a person dies, their shadow departs along with them.
Nothing could be retained, everything once possessed would vanish after death.
Seemingly grasping the truth, Hamish weakly loosened his grip on the ring. As it fell to the ground with a crisp sound, rolling into a narrow gap on the balcony.
As he closed his eyes, Hamish thought: This year, he won’t be able to hear the cicadas’ song. In a daze, it seemed he could hear Elisa’s voice from that day, reciting her farewell wish.
“Hamish, I wish you to have a companion in winter warmth, to walk alongside in summer breezes, a bright future, free from sickness and disaster, meeting a good person, growing old together…”
“Mr. Burns…” Tobias softly called out, but only silence greeted him.
Observing Hamish’s “peaceful slumber,” Tobias sniffled, his hand reaching out to give the rocking chair a gentle nudge.
“Creak… Creak…”
Hamish passed away in the warm sunshine and gentle breeze.