Je vous aime, Elroy

*warning content: SUICIDE*

***

It's not even autumn yet, thought Elroy as he was trying to dry off on his way back to his room.

"Jesus, does it always rain like this in Masoullac?" complained Ferdinand beside him.

"It's not just rain. But a hurricane," added Elroy. "Is it because all summer it hasn't rained at all?"

"Is that so?"

"Who knows. No book really explains the weather yet."

"Then, you can start doing research about the weather."

"Seriously..."

Their wet shoes left imprints on the path they walked. The Palace janitor who saw that glared at the two of them. Elroy and Ferdinand both grinned apologetically at the janitor.

Looks like it's time for the rainy season, Elroy thought.

It has only been about 2 weeks since Mariette's departure, and Elroy has not received any news from her. Due to his conversation with Anatole some time ago, Elroy became…

Afraid.

But his rational thought said that it was impossible. The letter Mariette had promised must be on its way here. The journey of the letter may be a little hampered because of the rain that started pouring. Yes, that must be the reason.

[Don't you feel that Mariette will be gone forever?]

"Elroy? What happened to you?" ask Ferdinand.

Elroy hastily shook his head. "No, it's fine."

Ferdinand furrowed his brows. "Don't make me nervous. Every time you stay silent like that, surely something will happen to you."

"There isn't anything. Really. I won't suddenly faint or cough up blood again," said Elroy reassuringly. "Okay, let's go back to our room. I am cold."

They returned to their rooms. Elroy tried to calm himself when he got there. For some reason, his heart was beating really hard.

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Everything is fine," he repeated over and over again.

It was then that he found a letter already on his desk. The letter that morning was not there. It must have been a janitor or palace maid who put it there.

The letter was from Mariette.

Immediately Elroy breathed a sigh of relief. He felt it was useless to worry.

He began to read the letter from Mariette.

***

"It's been raining a lot lately, huh? What season is it?" Linda said, looking out the window. It was drizzling a little outside, but the sky was still fairly bright.

Mariette also looked outside. "Maybe so."

"Too bad. If this continues, communication lines will be hampered. Even though it has been a long time since you last sent a letter, but until now, you have not received a reply."

"We can only wait," said Mariette. "Since the weather will likely cool down, we'd better start preparing the heaters."

"Oh well. I'll pass it on to Mr. Emmanuele."

Rain.

This is between the right time and not.

Mariette came out of the house, making sure that the rain that fell was not harmful. And indeed, it's just a little drizzle that won't cause puddles. Judging from its intensity, this drizzle will soon be over.

"Let's go outside. Please don't make any noise, okay?" muttered Mariette to her horse.

The horse was according to Mariette's words. They walked through the drizzle, which stopped when they reached the end of the village road.

From a distance, Mariette could see people returning to their activities. On the way, she saw children running around, playing again. Noises other than the sound of drizzling are now replaced by the clamor of human activity. Everything sounds so calming.

But what was even more soothing to Mariette was the sound of the waves crashing.

"You stay here, okay?" said Mariette as she tied her horse to one of the trees.

After that, Mariette walked to the top of the cliff. Since her move a while ago, she was only here now. The cliff felt familiar. The scenery was exactly like the one she had seen in a dream.

The green grass with the trees beside the cliff, wildflowers growing, also the sunset light; are all the same. Even after Mariette realized it, she wore the same dress as the one in the dream.

But there was one thing Mariette had never seen.

"It really looks deep," she muttered, looking down the cliff.

Under the cliff she was stepping on, rocks and some tree roots were sticking out. Occasionally the waves hit it.

Slowly, Mariette began to take off the sapphire blue brooch she always wore and said to the wind, "Please believe me if I do it for your own good, Sir Elroy. All my life, I will never be able to love you. Don't waste your precious time on this hopeless and heartless me. Be happy. Sorry and thank you for everything you have done for me.

"Even so, for once, let me say it to you: Je vous aime, Elroy."

Mariette dropped her brooch to the ground, then took a step back. She then took steady steps, ran, and plunged off the cliff.

Her body directly hit the sea hard. With her remaining consciousness, Mariette could see the sunlight breaking through the depths of the sea. But the longer, the darkness took everything.

Mariette kept falling, falling deeply, to the bottom of the ocean.

And can never be found again.