Chapter 68: Parting

I went back to Paris and continued to write my novel. I was cooped up inside my apartment not interacting with anyone aside from Lambert. I really appreciated how

Lambert would bring me food every time just to keep my health in check.

I already told him what happened in my short visit in Japan and he gave me a big hug after coming back. I bet he was worried but never asked a question about it. I think he's trying to respect that I'm not in any mood to talk about it.

I was working with my mind set on finishing that novel before Yukino part ways with us.

I stumbled upon a wall in my writing that made my progress slow down significantly. Lambert would say that I'm rushing it too much that I failed to portray the essence of the story.

It was true, I felt too much pressure that I have to finish the novel as quickly as possible sacrificing the quality of the contents I've been producing.

That being the problem, Lambert told me to take a 1 day break to set my mind straight and to regain my focus. I didn't have the energy to step outside so I spent the day just watching movies trying to get some inspiration. Before I knew it, it was already 7 PM.

I lied down in my bed staring the same old ceiling that I've been staring at the past 2 weeks since coming here. Am I rushing things? It seemed like I was out of focus without even noticing. I haven't heard any news from them since the day I came back here so I might have been thinking about that unconsciously. Yukino probably told them not to distract me from work by sending updates but that didn't help.

Just what am I doing? She's there thinking of me, doing her best to not distract me from my work just so I could achieve my much awaited dreams. But someone just tell me how I'm supposed to do that?

I never arrived at an answer that night so I woke up the next morning trying to write every detail and ideas I have. My only choice was to pour every emotion that I'm feeling to my novel. After a long process of doing so, Lambert and I finally found our way back and made some significant process.

"I guess you're out of your slump huh?" Said Lambert jokingly.

"I don't think I am but we'll manage. I wouldn't have been able to do it alone so thank you for being my support pillar."

"It's too early to celebrate. We still have a lot on our plate. But we'll get there."

Lambert and I worked ourselves off these past 3 weeks and we were close to reaching our goal. It made me happy to be honest. It felt like I'm a legit novelist thinking that this book will soon be published.

A night before August came. Uncle called my phone which surprised me knowing that this is the first time he's ever called my phone number.

"Uncle? Didn't expect to recieve a call from you."

"Yeah. Me too. How are you doing?"

"I'm doing good. We pretty much finished the book. The publisihing will probably start by next week. I'll send you a copy."

"That's good. I'm proud of you kid. Keep up the good work."

"Why did you call uncle? It's hard to believe that you're just checking up on me. So what do you want to tell me? Is it Yukino?"

"Yeah. It's about her."

Uncle's voice became shaky and I've noticed it ever since the call started but decided to pay it no mind.

"Yeah what about her? How is she?"

"She already left us. A few hours ago. The group was with her in her final moments. She left us with a smile."

I was too stunned to even say a word back to uncle. The phone fell from my hands and my body that stood there slowly fell on the floor. It was as if all the energy that kept me standing there for a few minutes left me.

Tears came falling and my world went mute. The only thing that accompanied me in that room was the sound of the movie playing on my TV.

I did expect it but I never thought that it would hit me this hard. Morning came and I never answered any of the phone calls that came. It was probably the group checking up on me.

It was already 11 AM but I haven't moved an inch from my position since last night. I never fell asleep despite feeling the sleepiness.

A few minutes later, someone came knocking on my door. It was probably Lambert. We're supposed to meet today after all.

"Do you plan on opening this door or I'm breaking in?" Shouted Lambert from outside my doorstep.

I never answered. I didn't feel like talking so I let him be.

"I'm counting to three. 1…..2….3. Okay that's it I'm breaking in."

My door came crashing right infront of me after he kicked it a few times before breaking it. It felt like the police broke in just to catch a wanted criminal.

"What are you even doing there? Are you alive?"

"Still not answering huh? What happened? You look like a dead person."

Lambert started to pick me up from the floor to make me sit on my bed and check up on me. He then grabbed a glass of water and forced me to drink it.

"Aoi, please talk to me. I won't be able to know what's happening. Why are you like this? Who did this to you? Was it something I did? We're so close to achieving that dream Aoi. The book's finished and is ready to be printed. Yukino will be able to read it."

"That'll be impossible Lambert."

"Why?"

"She died. Yesterday."

Lambert dropped the glass he's currently holding that made it shatter on the floor.

"What?" Asked Lambert, his eyes opened wide surprised of the words he just heard.