The Scenery Outside the Window

A girl in relatively light clothing walked down the hallway.

With each step she took, the wood creaked.

The sound of the wood was a stark reminder of the house’s age, but the girl didn’t feel uncomfortable or shabby because of it.

Rather, she found peace in this old house.

It was nighttime, and a dimly burning candle illuminated her path.

She ran her hand along the wall as she walked down the hallway.

The smooth texture of the wall was transmitted to the girl through her fingertips.

She patrolled the house, holding the candle here and there.

And then she stood in front of a room.

-Squeak

She carefully opened the door, worried about waking the person sleeping inside.

Stealthily, she tiptoed into the room.

A girl younger than her was sleeping in the bed, breathing softly.

The girl watched the blanket rising and falling rhythmically for a while, then pulled it up to her neck.

The season was in the middle of summer, but the nights were still cold.

After making sure the child was sleeping soundly, the girl smiled and left the room.

Then she walked down the hallway again. The wood creaked again.

The girl stood in front of the room at the end of the hallway, the one with the largest door in the house.

She knocked lightly on the door, creating a cheerful sound.

But there was no response from inside the room.

The girl knocked on the door once more, and when there was still no response, she carefully opened the door as if she was used to it.

The room was generally dark.

The girl’s eyes focused on an adult sitting at a desk.

“Divine Doctor, aren’t you asleep yet? It’s late.”

As the girl spoke, closing the door behind her, the person sitting at the desk slowly raised their head.

“Ah, is it that late already…”

The person called ‘Divine Doctor’ stared blankly at the girl for a moment, then shook their head as if waking up from a dream.

The girl examined Divine Doctor’s desk. It was far from Divine Doctor’s usual neatness.

The girl gathered the scattered papers and neatly arranged them, saying,

“Come to think of it, the written interview reply is due tomorrow. I thought the deadline was quite long, this isn’t like you, Divine Doctor.”

“I know, I just can’t bring myself to do it.”

Divine Doctor rubbed a stained fountain pen with their thumb for no reason.

“Did they ask rude questions again?”

The girl snorted, thinking of the reporters who were bothering Divine Doctor.

She looked as if she was about to go to the newspaper company and threaten them right away.

“It’s not that this time.”

Divine Doctor leaned back in their chair and stretched.

It seemed like all their muscles were screaming from sitting for so long.

The girl picked up the questionnaire.

She hadn’t learned to read long ago, but perhaps thanks to her clever mind, she read it without difficulty.

“These are surprisingly normal questions.”

Unlike the previous magazine, which only asked about Divine Doctor’s personal information, this one consisted of quite professional and sharp questions.

“It’s just that there are many questions that remind me of the old days.”

Divine Doctor took the questionnaire back from the girl.

Divine Doctor picked up a cold teacup and got up from their seat, turning to face the window.

The girl looked at Divine Doctor’s back.

It had already been three years since they had lived in this mansion together.

For three years, she and her sister could confidently say that they had lived a life without lack.

Warm bread and stew, and neat clothes.

Divine Doctor had taken them in, washed them, dressed them, and even taught them.

Perhaps the affection she received from Divine Doctor was greater than the affection she received from her parents, whom she could no longer remember.

But although she had received a lot from Divine Doctor, there was one thing that the girl had never received.

It was Divine Doctor’s smile.

Rarely, very rarely, the corners of their lips would curve slightly,

But Divine Doctor had never smiled with their eyes crinkling like crescent moons, or with their teeth showing.

The girl always thought that Divine Doctor was lonely.

Their face was gentle, but Divine Doctor did not smile.

“It’s late. Go in and sleep now.”

Divine Doctor said, still not taking their eyes off the scenery outside the window.

They were expressing their desire to be alone in a roundabout way, and the clever girl knew what they meant.

“Yes. Divine Doctor, please don’t stay up too late either.”

The girl bowed politely and grabbed the doorknob.

“Divine Doctor, please close the window when you sleep. It’s summer, but you might catch a cold from the cold wind at night.”

The girl, who had opened the door halfway, turned around out of concern and said.

“Thank you for your concern. Go to sleep now.”

“Yes.”

As the door closed, Divine Doctor was left alone in the study.

Divine Doctor’s eyes were still facing the window.

Drunken people were staggering around the village.

There were still a few houses with lights on.

“Summer…”

Divine Doctor opened their mouth, looking at the vibrant summer night scenery.

Divine Doctor superimposed their memories onto the scenery unfolding outside the window.

The precious old memories, now distant, of wrapping themselves in a coat and leaving footprints on the snowy streets.

Square.

Campfire.

Flame.

Dance.

Precious memories, carefully stored in the drawer of memories, unfolded before their eyes as if they were yesterday.

A drop of tears ran down their cheek.

“But I’m still in winter.”

With deep longing and sadness, Divine Doctor sobbed in that spot.