Sitting in front of the computer recording a video, Hamish was already gravely ill, his face showing no sign of vitality, pale and sickly, with lips devoid of color. He stared at the camera for a long time, his eyes gradually shifting from lifeless to bright.
It seemed as though they were gazing at each other across “time and space,” and Hamish smiled.
“Elisa, when you see this video, it will be seven years later. Seven years is a long time. Are you doing well now? I’m sure you are, with a loving husband, caring family, and children who adore you.”
“I never expected you to see this video today. The words I speak are for my twenty-year-old self to hear.”
Hamish took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, his expression relaxing as he smiled at the camera.
“Twenty-year-old Hamish, this is your thirty-six-year-old self speaking. At thirty-six, you have achieved everything you once desired, owning all of the Burns family property, avenging your parents, and even seeing the old man pass away. Yet, you have lost the most important thing in your life.”
“At twenty, when you arrived at Bankshire, you met the person you loved the most in your life, her name was Elisa.”
“She risked her life to save you. Don’t mistake her for anyone else. Treat her well, don’t mistreat her.”
“During those four years, she was exceptionally kind to you. It was she who taught you what it felt like to be loved. But you took advantage of her love, constantly bullying her.”
“At twenty-three, you married her. Treat her better, don’t let her suffer from stomach cancer again.”
“In this lifetime, at twenty-seven, Elisa succumbed to stomach cancer and chose to end her life in a fiery blaze because of your torment. Losing her will fill you with regret and profound sadness. That’s why, even at thirty-six, you are still alone.”
“Also, listen to her, don’t smoke, don’t raise your voice at her, and never lay a hand on her. Ignoring her love and care led to your terminal lung cancer diagnosis at thirty-three. Now, at thirty-six, you are on the brink of death.”
“Words spoken must be kept. You promised to take care of her for a lifetime, respect her, cherish her. Unfortunately, you failed to do any of these. Luckily, she has a chance to start anew and now has someone better than me to care for her.”
“Twenty-year-old Hamish, find Elisa sooner for me, tell her earlier that she is the only woman I have ever loved.”
As he spoke, Hamish’s eyes teared up, his entire gaze filled with tears.
“And please, convey my thanks and apologies to Louis, for saving my life, and to… my aunt and uncle, I’m sorry.”
Hamish stood up and bowed deeply towards the camera.
Elisa was like a person who suddenly entered his world, whom he loved for a lifetime. If he had only believed in Elisa even a little back then, maybe they wouldn’t be where they are today.
What pushed them further apart was distrust.
Time takes away the departed, but it doesn’t take away the deep affection.
The video ended there, filled with regret. The greatest helplessness one can feel is facing regret, wanting to make amends, to hold on, but being powerless to do so.
“Mom…”
Winnie’s voice could be heard from outside, bringing Elisa back from the darkened computer screen.
Winnie peeked through the slightly ajar door, cautiously asking, “Mom, are you done? Can I come in?”
“Of course, come in.” Elisa squatted down, opening her arms to welcome them.
Winnie ran ahead, followed closely by Eli, and both of them threw themselves into her embrace.
“Mom, I have a secret to tell you.” Winnie leaned in.
Elisa touched Winnie’s head. “What is it?”
Winnie whispered, “The door wasn’t closed properly, I peeked and saw it. Dad also came up and told us not to disturb you.”
There were some additional incidents. Winnie asked her dad who was the man in the video.
Louis replied, “He is someone who loves your mother very much.”
After that, he reminded both children not to tell Elisa what he said.
Eli and Winnie obeyed, so they didn’t tell their mom.
Eli felt hungry and pulled Elisa’s arm, “Mom, dad has prepared food downstairs. Let’s go eat.”
“Okay.” Elisa stood up, holding a child in each hand as they went downstairs.
…
The next day, the family did not go on a trip. The North Bankshire property had already been transferred to Elisa’s name, and she needed to go and handle things there.
After all this time had passed, both the inside and outside of the house bore the marks of age. The furniture inside had become old, and the greenery outside had grown much taller.
Six-year-old Eli visited for the first time, he wasn’t shy, he ran around the house everywhere, holding a small whistle in his hand, blowing it.
Worried that the two children might fall while running around, Louis watched them closely, standing not far away.
Children love swings, and seeing a rocking chair on the balcony, they both sat on it and rocked back and forth using their strength.
Suddenly, Winnie, with sharp eyes, noticed something, she jumped off the rocking chair and knelt on the ground, looking into a crack.
“Sister, what are you looking at?” Curiously, Eli squatted down, tilting his head to see what Winnie was looking at.
“Brother, look, there’s something shining here.” Winnie tried to pick it up, but her fingers were too short to reach it.
Eli also leaned over and lay on the ground, and saw the thing in the crack.
The siblings pressed their heads together, trying hard to take it out. But because it had been so long, the fissure had become narrow due to the accumulated soil and grass growing around it.
Louis thought the two children were playing with ants again and paid no attention to them.
It wasn’t until Winnie got tired and couldn’t get it out that she called out, “Mom, Dad, come and see, there’s something shining here.”
Elisa had finished her work and, upon hearing Winnie’s voice, went over with Louis. And in the crevice, Elisa immediately recognized it as a ring.
“Your hands are really dirty.” Louis picked up the two dirty children, their hands and clothes soiled from crawling on the ground, and Elisa took out wet wipes to carefully clean their small hands.
“Mom.” Eli pointed and asked, “There is something shining there, Sister wants it.”
Elisa said, “I saw it, but we can’t take it.”
“Why?” Eli asked.
“Because it’s already sprouted.” Grass had grown around the ring, giving it the appearance of sprouting.
Eli asked, “Is that a seed?”
Elisa nodded. “Yes.”
Winnie also asked, “Will it grow into a big tree and bear fruit in the future?”
“Perhaps…” However, this fruit is one that grows in the heart.