The Gap Between You and Me - Chapter 161

[Really…… I cannot understand humans.]

The figure shook his head and murmured.

[You were given a chance to pass on the responsibility, but you still refuse to do it.]

“I’m just stating the truth. She had done nothing wrong in the first place.”

Edwin calmly corrected the figure’s statement.

“If there was anyone to point a finger at her, I will challenge them without hesitation.”

[…… What if the world says it was her fault too?]

If everyone, if the world says so. Then what was Edwin going to do?

Edwin grew quiet for a moment. The figure’s eyes at him were rather unusual. Sharp eyes that seem to penetrate the other person’s heart. Edwin gave an answer after a brief thought.

“Then I will rebel against the world you speak of.”

[Ah…… !]

Upon hearing Edwin’s answer, the figure made a sound close to a sigh. A vague emotion, whether happy or sad, passed across his face.

[It would have been possible if I had given you a little more time.]

Edwin’s face was reflected in the transparent glass-like eyes. With a firmness that the answer will not change no matter how. The figure’s expression that was looking at Edwin slowly became disheveled.

[Really, I can’t.]

With a sigh-filled murmur, the light surrounding the figure grew stronger. The lines forming the shape seemed to be swaying, but then they collapsed in an instant like breaking ice.

Whoosh. The figure, which instantly transformed into water, began to fill the ground at high speed.

“!”

Surprised by the sight, Edwin took a step back. Water splashed in all directions at his movement.

It was overflowing. Like pouring water into an enclosed space, the depth of the water deepened at a terrifying rate. The water passed through Edwin’s ankles, knees, and waist, and soon rose to his chest. It happened literally in the blink of an eye.

Edwin instinctively looked around. But now that he was covered in darkness again, there was nothing he could see. He could not latch his hand at anything. The water that had risen to the bottom of his chin soon swallowed his head completely.

Hrrrr. He opened his mouth, but his voice did not come out. Only white water bubbles formed and then disappeared.

Stretching his hands upward, he swam, but he was still below the surface. Moving on and on, he was still in place.

All around him was darkness. Edwin’s body began to be crushed mercilessly by the tremendous water pressure. His splashing legs lost strength, and his heartbeat, which had been beating like crazy, started to slow down.

Edwin, who was floundering in the water, slowed down little by little.

Did he need to struggle to swim?

He thought as he watched the air bubbles rising upward.

Everything is over anyway.

There was nothing he could go back to now, and there was nothing that could be undone. Edwin clenched the hand he had reached up into a fist. Then he stopped waddling.

Edwin’s body, trapped in the still water, began to sink slowly, very slowly. With that, the last spark of hope that remained in his heart also died out.

He couldn’t tell if it was because he was choking, or if it was for some other reason. It’s just that the terrible feeling of loneliness, like being left alone in the world, comes like a tide.

‘Miss Herietta.’

Edwin, who was staring at empty space with wide open eyes, called out the name of his precious person in his heart.

‘Miss Herietta.’

He knew that despite his calls, Herietta would not hear him. As always, there was a gap between her and him, a distance that was impossible to cross.

‘God, everything is my fault and I’m guilty. So please…….’

Edwin prayed to the Creator with the last of his strength.

‘…… Punish me please and look down upon her.’

He could not afford a splendid prayer. There was only a longing heart. There is only one wish that he sincerely wants to come true. He could only barely wish for that.

Having exhausted his last stamina, he slowly closed his eyes.

So, the complete end has come.

So, everything was over.

[…….]

[…… win.]

Until a sound came beyond his fading mind.

[…… win.]

[…… dwin.]

At first he thought it was the sound of waves. The sound of bubbles melting into water. But that wasn’t it. The sound grew clearer, accompanied by a low buzzing ringing. It didn’t take long for him to realize that it was someone’s voice.

[Edwin…….]

A soft voice, like a whisper in a dream. The owner of the voice called Edwin’s name with infinite affection.

[Edwin, don’t give up.]

“…….”

[You must not give up.]

“…….”

[I will not forgive you if you leave me. If you leave me, I will never, never forgive you.]

He wondered if she was trying to encourage him, but at times she raised her voice angrily and threatened him. But that didn’t mean she was really angry. She was afraid that he would leave her side, so she was just acting clumsily.

‘Miss Herietta.’

Even though Edwin couldn’t see her face, he could see it vaguely. That Herietta was holding back tears with all her might. That she was forcing herself to pretend to be strong for him.

He wanted to reach out to her and comfort her. He wanted to comfort her so that she wouldn’t worry, that it would be fine. But that was impossible. He tried so hard but he would never be able to reach her.

[No, you can’t. I can’t let you go like this. There are things I haven’t been able to tell you.]

Herietta’s voice became more urgent, as if she knew Edwin’s precarious condition, as if he would stop breathing at any moment. Touch, he felt a warm hand on his head.

[I love you.]

She whispered.

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