Chapter Five
Meanwhile, far from Joki's cabin, in a house that stood beautiful on the outside but decayed within, Nyssa sat alone.
The walls around her were worn, cracked, and lifeless—a hollow shell of what once was.
A notebook sat open in front of her, a pencil resting between her fingers.
She hesitated.
Then, she wrote.
I thought I would hate going with Kashikoi to a café. Leaving home to sit in a broken-down building never seemed appealing to me. But… as I did, I realized… how happy I felt.
Nyssa paused, staring through the barely intact window beside her.
(I never knew how fragile happiness was—how it could hide in the simplest of moments. The presence of someone who makes the world feel less empty. The quiet hum of conversation. But once again, because of my stubbornness, I come home only to stand before an empty house, abandoned by a man I cannot stop loving—a ghost that lingers in my soul still.)
Her grip on the pencil tightened.
A memory surfaced.
A time when the world was different.
A time before everything fell apart.
1974
Nyssa's home was different then.
The inside was alive, filled with warmth, color, and carefully placed decorations. A home built by love.
She sat in a chair, cradling a baby in her arms.
A faint whimper broke the stillness—a tiny hiccup of a cry that barely disturbed the quiet room.
Nyssa smiled softly, holding the baby closer.
Then, she hummed.
"Mmm-mm… mm-mm-mm-mm… mm-mm-mm-mm… mm-mm…"
The tune was quiet, almost a whisper—The Sound of Silence.
It wasn't perfect. Some notes wavered, others faded too soon. But the melody filled the air like a promise.
A lullaby not just for sleep, but for comfort. For presence.
The baby's cries faded. Then—a laugh.
Tiny hands reached for Nyssa's face.
She gently held her child's hand, pressing a soft kiss to his tiny fingers.
"You must miss your father, don't you?" she whispered. "I'll go get him for you, honey. Don't worry."
She stood carefully, placing the baby in the crib.
The wooden floor creaked beneath her steps as she made her way down the hall.
But with every step—anxiety gripped her.
The silence from her husband's room felt wrong.
Like something was missing.
A Heartbreaking Choice
She reached the bedroom door.
She opened her mouth to speak—but stopped.
Her husband sat at the edge of the bed, his back turned to her.
His hands trembled slightly.
Nyssa's stomach tightened.
"Honey…?"
Silence.
Her breath hitched.
"Our son wants to see you. Your unusual absence is… upsetting me."
Still—no response.
Nyssa's chest ached. Slowly, she stepped forward.
The floor creaked beneath her, and for the first time, he spoke.
"Nyssa..."
She froze.
His voice was strained—fragile.
He took a slow breath, as if trying to steady himself.
"Do you… love me?"
Nyssa blinked. The answer was obvious.
Yet—the way he asked it made something inside her twist.
"My love," she said gently, "you are the only one who holds my heart. Just as the moon belongs to the night and the waves to the sea."
A single tear fell from his eye.
But he did not turn to face her.
She saw the subtle movement of his hand as he wiped his face, trying to compose himself.
Then—he spoke again.
"Then, for us… for the love we've built… I need you to make a decision."
Nyssa's breath caught.
A decision?
She slowly walked toward him, lowering herself to sit behind him.
"For your own health, for your future… and for our child's."
His voice wavered.
"You have to stop loving me."
Nyssa's body tensed.
"What…?"
Her voice shook.
"Honey, I could never do that! Do you even know what you're askin—"
"You must!" he interrupted.
His hands clenched.
"Because it would break me to have your love… yet know I cannot stand beside you through every moment."
Nyssa's eyes widened. Tears burned at the edges of her vision.
"Wait… what are you saying?"
He exhaled shakily.
"My love… have you looked outside? The world carries a weight it never used to. Turn on the news, and you'll see—it's tearing itself apart. Step outside, and you'll hear the echoes of anger in every street."
A pause.
"Long before I became your husband, I made a promise. If I ever saw the world teeter on the edge of ruin… I would leave to shield what good remains. It's a vow I cannot break—"
"Not even for your own wife and child?!"
The words cut deep.
Her husband gritted his teeth.
He expected this response. But still—he dreaded hearing it.
Nyssa clenched her fists.
Her voice broke.
"This is bullshit."
Tears streamed down her face.
"You knew all along. And yet you still chose to marry me? You became my light when I was lost, gave me hope when I had none—and we built a life together, a family. All those promises of love, of never leaving… were they just empty words? Tell me, did you ever truly love me at all?"
Her husband's shoulders tensed.
"Of course I did."
His voice was softer now.
"I have loved you with everything I am. This truth has weighed on me since the day our beautiful son was born… but I couldn't bring myself to tell you."
He inhaled sharply.
"A year from now, this world will be unrecognizable. I can't say more… but you must take our son. Let him see the beauty that still remains before it all fades into darkness."
Nyssa couldn't speak.
She reached forward—wrapping her arms around him.
He still didn't face her.
"You are a coward," she whispered, tears falling freely.
"But you know… you just know that I can't stop loving you, don't you? That's why you did this."
"I wish I could stay."
His voice cracked.
"But this is so much bigger than me or you, Nyssa. I love you. I love our son too. You will see me again, I promise that."
Nyssa slowly pulled away.
She stood up.
Before walking to the door, she turned back to face him.
"I won't let you leave without saying goodbye to our child. He deserves it."
A long pause.
Then—her husband finally stood.
The moment he stepped through the door, the baby laughed and reached his hands out for him.
Tears fell freely from the father's eyes.
He knelt, voice trembling.
"Hey, little guy… I love you. No matter how far I travel, that will never change. Even when you slip and fall, even when you feel like you're at the end of the line… please, don't ever forget just how much I love you. You are special."
He wiped his eyes, then stood, walking toward the door.
Nyssa watched, voice shaking.
"Be safe. Please… don't get hurt."
He turned one last time.
Then, he stepped through the door—and was gone.