Chapter IX: The Cessation

"Brother, what time are you going to wake up again? Mother already made us breakfast." He heard a faint sound that seemed familiar. So familiar indeed that even though it was quite faint, it was clearly interpreted by his mind. Slowly, he opened his eyes.

Still feeling a bit sleepy, it took him a while to fully take in the scene. The moment his eyes were opened wide, he felt a sense of familiarity in the place. He blinked again twice but the information wasn't really going into him. It was like the words are in his tongue but just falls a bit short from blurting it out.

The voice that was calling him out was still present so he shifted his gaze towards it. The moment he looked, he blurted out these words, "Sister?" He then looked around and slowly said, "This is my room."

He was left with a confused face. With a questioning tone, he said, "Why am I here?" He was lost in his mind thinking why he was there and was rendered completely oblivious of his surroundings.

His sister suddenly spoke and said, "What do you mean? You're here in your bedroom when you're supposed to be in the kitchen right now. It's already a bit late for a morning meal but it's still best if we all ate together." She smiled as she let go of those words.

"Since you're already up, I'll go back now. Be sure to fix up your bed before coming to eat, okay brother?" Her sister said as she walked out of his room and went to the kitchen.

Still, he was left speechless. He didn't know what to do but before going outside his room, he followed what his sister said and fixed up his bed.

As he was fixing his bed, he was also thinking about what had happened. To his surprise, it wasn't like last time that he forgot. He completely remembers exactly what happened.

"She did something to me, and that must be the reason why I'm here." He muttered. Since he knows everything that had happened so far back in the labyrinth, he was quite calm after just minutes of confusion about what had happened. "That pain in my head must be a catalyst to trigger something so that I can be put in a place like this again."

After fixing his bed, he stubbed his toe on one of the legs of his bed. "This hurts. I should've been more careful." After saying that, he suddenly realized something. "Why did it hurt?"

Those words suddenly came out of his mouth. Since he remembered back then when he thought that he was home, when he was run over by a truck, it didn't hurt one bit. Yet his toe getting stubbed hurts like normal.

He thought at first that surely he must still be in the labyrinth and this was just another dream to conquer and yet, stubbing his toe hurt him physically. "Am I really back home?" He said to himself. "I thought I was supposed to go inside that white space because I'm dead? Did I get reincarnated? Was I given another chance?" He again questioned the situation.

After such a long deliberation while discussing with himself, he gave up understanding. He knows that he just never knows what the labyrinth would do and if whether he is actually back home or not.

Since he was taking too long to fix his bed, her sister came back to his room and said, "You could've asked for help if you are going to take this long you know." After hearing that familiar voice from her sister, he responded. "It's okay, I'm already done. Let's go and eat."

After hearing that reply from him, her sister smiled happily. Both of them went to the kitchen where both their parents are waiting patiently for them.

Seeing his parents again, he felt emotional. He almost felt like crying at that point but he kept composure and didn't continue doing it. "Sorry for waiting. Let's go eat." He said as they all enjoyed a happy morning meal.

During that breakfast, he couldn't help but look at all of their happy faces, talking with each other. "Thank you for visiting us, brother. The moment you said last week that you were going to visit and stay here for a week, I got very happy. It's lucky that it's our school break right now." Her sister said as she ate. Their parents smiled at both of them as he replied, "I guess it doesn't hurt to come back home once in a while."

He enjoyed every bit of the breakfast with his family and made sure to etch every moment in his memories. After eating, he tried his best to have fun with all of them. He wants to at least experience a wonderful time with his family since he doesn't know how long things would last.

He went outside and saw his mother watering the plants. As he got close, her mother spoke of these words. "Nothing can stay forever but everything can be gone forever." After a brief moment, it got to him. Those words made him realize that he should treasure every moment. It made him appreciate everything. It made him understand that one day, everything will be gone. His time is limited so he should live a life full of happiness.

After spending some time outside with his mother, he went back inside and saw his sister watching some television. He looked at her and saw that she was happy watching something. Since he didn't want to ruin the mood, he also jumped in by sitting on the same sofa and watched along with her.

After some time, he wanted to also see his father but he suddenly realized that he got off to work just after breakfast. Since he cannot spend time with his father right now, he went back to his room. After going back to his room, he looked around. He smiled as it looked exactly the same since the last time he left the house. It was also as clean as before, with no spot of dirt to see. "Even though I wasn't staying here anymore." Again, he smiled.

He went back to the living room and continued to spend more time with his sister and mother. They ate lunch just after a while. More time passed and just like that, it was already evening. He was back home and they all continued to eat dinner.

After dinner, his father went to the veranda of the house and smoke a cigar. He followed him. He knew back then that his father doesn't smoke so he asked, "When did you start?" Although it was such a vague question his father knew what he meant. "Possibly the moment you left the house back then, I guess." His father replied.

"Why?" He added to his first question.

"Maybe because I felt relieved? I don't know. At some point back then, I just felt like it. Your mother saw me but didn't stop me." He said as he gazed into the night sky.

"But my sister still hasn't finished school. She still got a long way." He replied.

"Don't worry. It's not like I'm already giving up on life. Maybe this speeds up the process but I promise that I'll be here until the end. It probably just hit me, that I was exhausted from living. Not tired for you guys, of course not, but maybe of my own life. Rinse and repeat daily. When you grow old you just realize that at some point you won't have time left. But it wasn't all bad." His father said as he continued to exhaust his cigar.

Hearing his father's statement, he was left speechless. He also felt the same, just like his father. After saying that, his father went back inside. He stayed outside for the time being. Looking at the star-filled black carpet above him, he said to himself, "I guess this feeling is really just a part of living. Huh."

After a while, he went back inside and took a shower. He couldn't prompt himself to do anything after that conversation with his father. He went back to his room right after taking a shower.

He laid down his bed and looked at the window. "No matter what, this night sky really is wonderful."

He tried to sleep but his thoughts were filled with what his father said earlier. It made it hard for him to sleep. He kept thinking about why do we go through such a phase in life and where will it all end. He wondered for a long while.

"I should not fill myself with such thoughts for now. Aren't I back home since I want to enjoy this moment with my family?" He muttered. He then fell asleep as he was assured of what he wanted to do at that moment.

Another morning came and it was the usual. His sister woke him up, ate breakfast with his family, and enjoyed every moment he spent with them. Luckily this time, his father was going to cook for dinner. Her mother said as she told them to go out shopping for the ingredients and other stuff as well. A big smile was seen on his sister's face as well as his.

It was right after lunch so they both prepared to go out.

As he was putting on some clothes to wear, someone knocked on his door. A voice from her sister saying, "Do you think this is a good one to wear today?" He made sure to quickly wear his clothes and opened the door. He saw her sister in such a beautiful dress and said, "You look beautiful in that but I guess that won't do."

"What do you mean, I thought you said it was beautiful then why is it bad?" Her sister replied angrily.

"I mean, we are going out shopping. Why not just wear a simple t-shirt and shorts?" He replied with a good point. "Besides, it's hot outside. I think it's better to just wear something that is easy to move with and is comfortable." He added.

"You really think about things too much, brother." She said as she went back to her room and changed to what her brother said.

He chuckled after her sister left and said to himself, "She really is grown up now. I guess I should be happy enough that she still minds talking to me."

After changing clothes, he went outside the house and waited for his sister to finish changing. As he went outside, he looked above him and squinted his eyes for the sun was very bright. "I guess I should bring an umbrella." He uttered. He went inside to get an umbrella.

As he went inside, he saw his sister was already finished changing clothes and was also ready to go out. He quickly got the umbrella as the two of them said goodbye to their mother.

They went directly to a supermarket to buy the ingredients.

"Father is going to make sour pork stew later so we should pick the best pork cuts!" His sister said in joy. He smiled in reply as they both walked towards the meat section of the supermarket. They took their time to find the best cuts to use for the sour pork stew.

After choosing the best pork cuts, they went to the vegetable aisle to also pick the best ones. The two of them took their time in handpicking all the ingredients so that they'll taste even better. At least that's what his sister thinks. Whether it was true or not, He didn't mind. This was a time he wanted to spend happily. He enjoyed every moment of it.

After shopping for the sour pork stew ingredients, they took a break at a café. "Get what you want, don't worry it's all on me." He said as he looked at her sister's happy face.

Her sister chose the best tasting cake that they can offer, mouth-watering sweets, as well as the best drinks on the menu. After her sister was done choosing all the things that she wanted to eat, he smiled and a faint laugh was seen on his face. "Why are you laughing, brother? It's not every day that I can order all the sweet stuff that I can so I did." She said. Her brother replied saying that, "I know. I just didn't know back then that it was this easy to make you happy."

They both looked at each other and chuckled. It was a scene that looked like two children happily discussing something as siblings. They both talked for a while about their parents, school, job, and other stuff as they waited for their order to come.

Their order finally came and they enjoyed their time eating.

After enjoying their time in that café, they went off to buy other stuff that they needed to buy. "Mother said that she needed some new pots to place some of the new plants that outgrew their old enclosure. As for father, I think he needs some new tools to fix the old pipe tomorrow." His sister said as they were walking.

"What about you? You don't have anything you want?" He said.

"You already bought me some sweets earlier and I'm already thankful for that." She replied.

He smiled in reply. As they were walking he saw an accessory shop that they passed by so he stopped.

His sister noticed that he stopped so she asked him, "Why did you stop, brother? We should hurry to buy the other stuff we need to buy so we won't be chased by the night."

He looked at her sister and shifted his gaze on the accessory shop. "Are you sure that you don't want anything?" He replied

"I guess I can buy some, right? Since it's your treat after all." She replied with a grinning face.

He smiled as he looked at her happy face. The two went to the accessory shop.

After getting inside, her sister picked up a pink hairband and wore it. She then said, "Do you think this suits me?" He looked at his sister and replied, "I think anything would suit a beautiful girl like you."

"If you answer like that every time then how could I pick properly, brother?" She replied. He then chuckled as they continued to spend their time in the accessory shop.

While spending his time there with his sister, he recalled his dream about buying his family gifts, having to eat his parent's cooking as well as enjoying his time with them.

A bit of tear came out of his eyes as he felt that everything that he wanted to do back then came true. Everything that he thought would be gone, he was experiencing it right now. This moment felt like the happiest he was in his entire life.

He didn't realize that he was spacing out and his tears are showing. His sister saw it and said, "Are you crying?" For a moment after her sister said that, he came back to his senses. He wiped his tears and said, "You like that, get anything you want." Her sister understood as she smiled back at him and continued with what she was doing.

After shopping in the accessory shop, they quickly bought all the items that their parents needed and proceeded to go home.

"I guess the night really caught up to us. Let's just walk towards that bus stop and wait there since we bought a lot of stuff." He said to his sister. Her sister agreed as they both walk towards the closest bus stop.

As they were walking, her sister said, "Thank you for these gifts. For these advance gifts for my birthday." He thought for a while and looked at the date on his phone. He then remembered that his sister's birthday was next week. He then smiled and said, "I guess you will be eighteen soon."

Her sister then added, "Thank you for always supporting our parents for my school fees and such. I know you rarely visit home since it was like six or maybe seven years since the last time I saw you in person. I'm just glad that we can spend some time together." She smiled. He also smiled in reply.

As they are getting closer to the bus stop, he suddenly felt a large object hit him in the back which made him fall on the ground. He hit his head from that fall and can vague see. His sister then screamed as he heard a voice that was not his sister's saying, "Such a beautiful find. I will surely have fun with this one." He wiped the blood that was coming out of his head and saw a dark figure holding his sister's hand as she screamed, "Let me go!" He instinctively got up and formed a fist with his hand.

Before he got up, he heard a gunshot and felt a very striking pain in his left foot. He looked at his left foot and saw that blood was oozing from it. He then realized that his foot was shot with a gun. He didn't saw at first but when he looked at the shady man that was threatening his sister, he was holding a gun.

He saw her sister struggle with that shady man and so the shady man threw her as she hit the wall. The shady man walked up to her and said, "I think she is still alive, maybe just unconscious. Either way, I don't mind." He got angry, leaving behind all kinds of logic.

The only thing in his mind was his anger towards that man but even as he tried to get up, the pain was so strong that he was rendered helpless. He tried to crawl towards them, inch by inch, the pain in his foot was the only thing that was making it hard.

At that moment as he was crawling to their position, his mind was filled with countless of stuff. His treasured moment with his family, his sister's birthday, his feelings that he can't seem to grasp, and his anger towards the person who is taking everything away from him.

As he got closer, he said these words, "Don't worry, your brother is here." The shady man heard him and saw that he was getting close to them so kicked his side stomach as he tumbled away from them.

He felt so sick at that moment. He felt so utterly useless even though he wanted to assure his sister of his safety. He screamed and said, "You stupid old man. I won't let you lay a finger on her!" The shady man heard him so he went towards him. He kicked him again in the stomach and punched him in the face multiple times. Blood was oozing from his skin as he felt helpless and can't move.

He felt so much pain during that time but even so, he was trying his best to not faint. "Please, get up. Get away from here, please." He mumbled to himself. The shady man held him in his neck and tried to choke him to death.

After a minute of doing that, he was still alive so the shady man pointed the gun towards his head. He looked at the gun and shifted his gaze at his sister. He looked at his sister, still unconscious, and said, "I'm sorry." As he let go of those words, another gunshot was heard in the vicinity. The night sky is surely beautiful.

He woke up, feeling tired, with tears coming out of his eyes. He opened his eyes and saw the maid again. He was lying on the floor while having his hand being held by the maid. While looking at the maid, he cried.

He cried his lungs out and said, "Was that the memories that I lost before coming to this place?" The maid didn't respond and just looked at him, just like always.

At that moment, the ever quiet labyrinth was filled with the echoes of a man crying.

He still couldn't believe that the memories he lost were the moment that he enjoyed the most out of his life and the most painful feeling that he could've ever imagined.

He then remembered his sister and so he abruptly asked the maid, "What about my sister? What happened to her?" Again, the maid replied with silence.

At that moment he realized how weak he was. He knew he wasn't prepared for what had happened but he keeps blaming himself. "If only I didn't force her to stop by that accessory shop. If only we took a taxi than going to that bus stop. If only we didn't spend much time in the store and focused on our task. If only I was a bit stronger maybe I could've thought of a way out of it. No. Even if I was, that whole situation that came upon us was just too much to handle. What could've I have done either way?" He screamed as he looked at the bright sky.

As he continued with what he was doing, he saw that the maid was still holding on to his hand. She never did let go of it since he came back to his senses. She looked at the maid and such a bittersweet smile was seen on his face.

He continued to cry while thinking about his sister. Although he knew that there was nothing he could do, the tears just won't stop.

"Thinking about the same stuff over and over again, how pathetic is this state that I'm in right now." He uttered. He looked at the maid again and realized what had happened back in the labyrinth.

He looked in front of him and saw that the white void was still there. He then remembered that he was supposed to go there before the time runs out. Before the big tree would crash down. Yet even though he felt the need to rush, the maid was still holding his hand, firmly, without any rush.

Going and passing that white void was his only choice. His only hope to understand everything. His only solution to all the problems that he is facing. Even though this was his notion towards it, it was still just a possibility and can still be a fluke.

It might not even answer anything in the slightest but seeing that thing in front of him, he felt the need to go there. It was as if the need to go there precedes his current situation or even the situations prior to that.

But even with all that feeling that he felt, the maid didn't rush him to go there. He felt that she knew that he wanted to take his time. Even if the leaves may end up falling before he can go inside, the maid felt it was for the best.

"I do not understand why these things have happened in my life but I can at least make some things clear. I might be dead. I lived a life unmotivated and yet have experienced it to the fullest. I was happy at some point in my life. I know I must accept the facts presented before me earlier but it's just too hard to accept." He said to the maid.

He then stood up, let go of her hands, and looked directly at the white void. He then said, "People do tend to lose their way, huh? Even so, I guess the reasons to live that I couldn't find was necessary for everything to come up to this conclusion. Even if it was predetermined, I guess it couldn't have gotten any better. Fate decided by gods or the fate I imposed on myself."

He then turned back and looked at the maid. He went closer and hugged her. He then said, "You look exactly like her. So much that even if it makes me happy to see you, it just hurts so much at the same time." He paused for a while and let go of her.

"Could you do me a favor when she comes to this place?" He said with a pleading face as he looked at the maid's expressionless face.

He smiled and said, "I do not even know if she might already be dead but if she ever comes to this place, please tell her that I'm sorry. Tell her that I will miss her greatly. Tell her that, once we meet again, I will be picking her the flowers that she loved the most. I will spend more time with my father and mother. I will try my best to be a better brother which I couldn't become."

After saying all that, he slowly walked towards the white void. As he got closer, he turned around and looked at the maid one last time. Tears flow from his face as he said his final words. "I guess I found the reason for living. It might be the end of the journey from here but I've felt the liveliest during these moments that I have spent in this place."

He walked towards the white void. Slowly the human figure from him disappeared, leaving nothing to his trace. The maid's expression didn't change one bit. She watched the whole scene unfold in front of her keeping such a demeanor. After the human's presence was nowhere to be found inside the labyrinth, the white void slowly disappeared leaving also nothing to its trace.