The Weight of Guilt

She stood at the gate of her new school, her hands trembling as she adjusted the strap of her bag. It had been months since the accident, but the memory of that day haunted her every waking moment.

Aito's laughter, his reassuring words, the warmth of his presence—all of it was etched into her heart. And then, the sound of screeching tires, his frantic shout, and the devastating silence.

She shook her head, forcing herself to take a step forward. "I don't deserve to remember him like that," she whispered. "I don't deserve to remember him at all."

Every night, she replayed the scene in her mind, wondering what she could have done differently.

Why did he push me out of the way? Why didn't he save himself?

She didn't know how to answer the questions. All she knew was that Aito was gone, and it was her fault. She avoided her old friends, fearing their judgment, and buried herself in studies to distract from the ache in her chest.

But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts always drifted back to him. "I can't let his sacrifice be in vain," she said to herself. "If he saw something worth saving in me, then I owe it to him to live my life fully."

She resolved to honor his memory—not through guilt, but by being the best version of herself.

 She hoped to start fresh. But fate had other plans.