Hattie watched as Harry slowly closed his eyes, a smile on his lips as if he were falling asleep.
Bending down, Hattie reached to straighten the sheets that were slipping from beneath the bed, and in a sudden glance, she saw what Harry was holding tightly in his hand, even in death, his grip remained steadfast.
She reached to open Harry’s right hand, finding a photo of herself in his palm. Despite the force with which he held it, the photo remained unblemished.
Tearing the photo in half, she tossed it into the trash.
Her words were left unfinished. “Harry, I can’t forgive you. My parents must forgive you first. Even if you torture yourself like this for eternity, I still can’t forgive you.”
How can the deceased forgive the living?
Leaving the sickroom, her heart still clenched tightly, Hattie finally began to relax after a gust of cool wind hit her face.
At the doorway, a nurse hesitated to speak, her eyes shifting from Hattie to the sickroom. It was clear what she wanted to ask.
“He’s gone. No need to call me anymore,” Hattie said, confident that the hospital would take care of Harry’s body. The fact that he could afford a prolonged stay in the hospital with a nurse looking after him meant that he had set things up a long time ago. Otherwise, who would take such meticulous care of him for so long?
Raising her gaze, she saw Micah waiting under a banyan tree in front of her. Pets were not allowed inside the hospital, so Micah had to wait outside with their dog.
Hattie was about to walk over to him when the nurse suddenly called out, “Mistress, please wait…”
“What is it?”
“Once a person dies, everything is gone, but I still feel like I should tell you how he lived all these years.”
Hattie stood quietly, waiting for the nurse to finish speaking.
“Before this, he always thought of you, holding your photo and longing to be with you. Over these years, even if he forgot who he was, he never forgot you. He endured a lot of suffering during his thirty years in prison, and it wasn’t because he had offended someone as the rumors say, resulting in a difficult time in prison. It was because he paid people to torture him. He wanted to endure double the suffering you went through. He did this to repent and confess his guilt through self-torture.”
“Two of his ribs were removed, four fingers were broken, and almost all of his toes were crushed. His body bore wounds so severe that it’s likely you haven’t seen a single intact patch. Also… he even stabbed himself, on the side of his abdomen near his waist. The wound was so extensive that, due to lack of proper care, it infected his kidneys, and his kidneys were removed too.”
His assignment was to endure torture in prison, to suffer and to endure his broken bones and fingers. He wanted to live in torment.
Why did Harry stab himself in the abdomen? Because he remembered what Hattie had said, that she would eventually make up for the thirtieth stab. But she never did, so he did it himself.
When he stabbed himself, he thought that maybe Hattie would be a bit happier this way, that her happiness might lessen her hatred for him.
“Why are you telling me this? Do you want me to sympathize with him, or do you want me to handle his body?” Hattie asked.
“I’m not…”
Hattie’s expression remained unchanged. “Before he died, he must have made arrangements for his affairs. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be taking such good care of him. Do whatever needs to be done, whether it’s burying him or cremating him. There’s no need to tell me.” With that, she walked around the nurse, her gaze fixed on Micah.
“My husband is waiting for me.”
The nurse watched Hattie walk past and then approached Micah, who was holding the dog. As Hattie approached, he reached out, offering her a handful of pink roses.
“For you.”
Hattie looked at the flowers in his hand. “Where did the flowers come from?”
“While waiting for you, I passed by a flower seller. I noticed these roses and thought they would suit you. Do you like them?” Micah’s words were slightly stilted, as if due to old age.
Taking the flowers from his hand, Hattie plucked one rose and tucked it into her hair. “Is it beautiful?”
“It’s beautiful.”
The golden retriever by their side stuck out its tongue and barked twice. “Woof woof.”
“Coco thinks it’s beautiful too.”
Hand in hand, they walked along the roadside, the sunlight casting three long, slender shadows.
Micah was 66 this year, and Hattie was 64.
When Hattie was 56, she fell seriously ill. At age 58, Micah retired to take care of her, devoting all his time to her. Fortunately, Hattie recovered.
They had no children, but they had mentored several students. Every month, the students came back to visit, and they lived a peaceful life, free of loneliness and regret.
“I heard that there’s a lantern festival in Bankshire where we can release sky lanterns. Let’s go and see.” Micah held Hattie’s hand tightly, as if afraid she would get lost.
“Why not go now? There’s nothing else to do. After the festival, we can stay in Bankshire for a while. I miss the food there.” Hattie suggested.
“Alright.”
“Ah, I also want to go dancing.”
“Huh? Senior disco?”
“And a concert. I’ve never been to one. Isn’t there a popular boy band performing in Bankshire?” Hattie asked.
“If you go to watch a boy band, will you… feel like I’m old?” Micah asked seriously.
“Dear, how could I ever think you’re old? You’re forever young and handsome in my heart!”
“Hattie, I think when you say that, you should take back the word ‘old man.'”
They chattered along the way, and passersby couldn’t help but turn their heads to look at them. This was the most beautiful time in love.
May they have each other’s hearts and never be apart, to cherish each other for a lifetime. Loving and favoring each other, giving their all to one another.
(END OF TRANSLATION)