[TIDK] 68 – The Moon (2)

Scarlett opened her eyes at the sound. “Isaac?”

She hurriedly stepped out of bed and knelt in front of Isaac. “What’s wrong? Does it hurt?”

“No. It’s okay.”

“Wait a minute. Take off the bandage.”

Isaac shook his head, but Scarlett was already untying his bandage. Isaac couldn’t bring himself to imagine Scarlett disgusted by the sight, so he pushed her hand away.

Despite that, the bandage came off, and Scarlett froze. Isaac looked up.

“Strange?” 

“...”

“Tell me it’s not strange, Scarlett...”

Scarlett somehow tried to pretend nothing was wrong. But she was her breath had escaped her.

Isaac hid his pain in case Scarlett was scared. “...Scarlett.”

Isaac stammered because he was afraid Scarlett would be far away from the hideousness that had shocked everyone.

Scarlett soon reached out and held his hand. Only then was Isaac relieved. “I need your hands to feel safe.”

“...”

“Scarlett, say anything.”

Scarlett laughed as Isaac became anxious.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Perfume... Let’s buy perfume. Tomorrow.” When she said that, Isaac tilted his head for a moment.

“Isaac?”

“Wait a minute...”

Then Isaac touched his eyes with his hands and moved toward the window. Then he opened the curtain, groping about.

“Isaac? What are you doing?”

Scarlett asked, but Isaac didn’t budge. “Isaac.”

“Moon...”

“Huh?”

“Is the moon there?”

Scarlett looked up when Isaac asked. As he said, there was the moon. “Yes.”

“I can see...” 

“...Huh?”

“I can see the moon.”

Scarlett stared blankly at Isaac’s words.

Isaac couldn’t take his eyes off the moon and slowly glanced at Scarlett.

“I see the moonlight, Scarlett,” he cried.

Scarlett was shocked. “Can you see the moonlight?” she repeated.

“Yes!”

“And, anything else?

“No, only the moonlight...” 

“Wait a minute!”

Scarlett rushed Isaac to the first floor and lit the firewood.

She frantically fanned to raise the flames. She raised her head. “Isaac, what about this? Can you see this?”

Isaac glanced in the direction of the fire and brightened up. He nodded.

“Yes, I can see flames.” 

“Really...”

Scarlett covered her mouth with her hands. She ran around like a child and turned on anything that could light up.

She turned on all the gas lights inside and ran outside because there was no light to turn on. Isaac stepped outside, holding Scarlett’s hands.

In the meantime, the sun was slowly rising, and dawn was coming. Scarlett asked, pointing at all the lights surrounding them.

“What about that?” 

“Well, yes, I can see it.” 

“That one, too?”

Scarlett dragged him around and asked; Isaac stopped and soon smiled cheerfully.

“I can see the light.” 

Then he turned in the direction of the rising sun.

“I can see the sun.” 

“Not that way. My eyes hurt.”

“Oh, I see it.”

Isaac quickly turned around.

Scarlett returned to the store and brought the glasses she used to work with. It was darkened by soot.

“Here. You can see it if you cover it with this.”

Isaac took them and put them on. Then he looked around and smiled brightly.

“Wow, I can still see the light.”

Scarlett laughed merrily; no matter how many times she heard him say, he could see. After a brief chuckle, a sharp cry burst out.

“That’s a relief.” 

“Scarlett...”

“I’m so glad to hear that...”

‘I couldn’t stand the grief, Isaac. I thought it was all my fault’.

Isaac hugged the teary Scarlett.

“You were right, Scarlett. As always, you were right. You… your choice...”

Scarlett eventually burst into tears and began to cry on the spot. 

She cried so much that she wondered if she could even cry like this.

“I’m glad...but I’m sorry … I’m so happy...I’m sorry...”

Isaac comforted Scarlett as she rambled. She felt happy because she felt sorry for hurting him and that he could see the light.

-The bright moon, which disappeared at the age of thirteen, and the darkness that seemed to last forever.

♔♔♔

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