Did they say that life was a series of unexpected events? From that day on, the man naturally attached himself to my house. We went to the beach together when the sun rose and we went home together when the sun set. And this man…
—Last night there was a storm and the left side of the roof has a hole. I'll give you a ladder so you can go up and fix it.
—I don't know how to do it.
—You don't know?
—I haven't done it before. Well, to be exact, it's been so long that I don't remember how.
He was bold and shameless, but surprisingly useless. It was ridiculous. Why did he act like a well-groomed princess at a height of over 190 cm?
—Why do you still substitute the bucket to collect rainwater with those small and pretty jars? If it overflows, the room becomes even messier.
—It looks prettier that way.
I did the housework and the cleaning.
—Today you sleep on the floor.
—As I get older, my body becomes more rigid. You take the word, Miss.
He was also trying to sleep in someone else's bed!
—Stop sleeping and get up. Didn't I ask you to look for boots or a military identification tag? Did you find them?
—Yes. In my dream.
He didn't even help explore the beach!
—Cut the fish's head off.
—Cut its head? Isn't it a barbarous thing? I don't know how to do it.
And now I also had to cook? Did I have to feed a foreigner with my terrible cooking skills? While I cut the fish's neck, I couldn't overcome the frustration bubbling inside me and asked the man. Until when are you going to follow me? Rue, who was putting wildflowers of unknown origin into a can of tomato stew, smiled mischievously.
—Why do you follow me?
—Because I like you?
—Why do you like me?
—I simply find you a bit cute, that's all.
Everything this person said seemed insincere and like a joke to me. Suddenly, irritation took over me and I slowly waved the kitchen knife in my hand.
—Don't love me if you don't want them to hurt me.
He replied indifferently, shaking his shoulders as if he were scared.
—What a pity. Since we've already lived under the same roof for three days, I thought you'd open up more.
—Don't say it like that.
Still, there was something good about having a friend. In the quiet, windless nights, we lay next to each other in the narrow bed, engaging in informal conversations. Although the conversations didn't make sense, every time I talked to that man, the nights that before seemed eternally long passed in an instant, and I liked that.
—Sir.
—Yes.
—You said you were looking for something on Queen Island. What were you looking for?
There was no answer. Maybe he didn't want to talk about it. I didn't force the conversation anymore. In fact, living with someone and sharing a living space was something I hadn't done in a long time.
"So, I guess I can't easily push away this suspicious and useless man whose name I don't even know."
Could it be that I felt a little lonely even if I didn't realize it? I had spent more than fifteen days alone on Queen Island. After the black flames fell from the sky like a bombardment, the surviving residents, who were lucky enough to stay alive, became refugees overnight and fled to the continent. What remained on Queen Island was burned earth, patches of sparse grass, ruined villages and the graves of the deceased residents, covered in stone. And me.
—I'm looking for my younger brother.
The man's body moved slightly.
—My brother's ship sank in this area. Since Queen island is the closest, I thought that if I searched around here I could find him.
—Aha. Is that why you wander around the beaches so much? You're a sweet sister. Although you're a bit bad at cooking.
—My younger brother was the one who was originally in charge of cooking. I can't help it.
—Of course. I'll trust your words. There's nothing to worry about.
—While we explore the coast today, I'll also try to find the item you're looking for.
The man smiled and chuckled as if he were laughing at my words.
—In fact, you're a kind person… Okay, I can't keep my mouth shut when I'm in front of a charming lady like you. The information I'm about to share is confidential, so don't talk about it anywhere.
Then he took off one of the earrings hanging from his ear and handed it to me.
—This is the item I'm looking for.
A small cream-colored bead. It had a smooth texture. It was a pearl.
—Unfortunately, in our island there are no pearls like this. Nor do we have many large shells.
—Does it look like a pearl? It's different. It's just a semi-precious stone that has a similar color and shape.
—So is it an imitation?
A soft voice whispered in my ear.
—No. It's a heart.
A heart? This small and beautiful bead that looks like a pearl? "Well, it must mean it's as important and precious as a heart." Feeling unworthy of possessing it, I quickly returned it to him.
—You can't afford to lose a heart. I hope you find it as soon as possible.
With a gesture of gratitude, the man replaced the pearl, or rather, the heart, in his ear. The next day was the first day that the man helped in the search.
—Sir! Look at this!
After a few days, we had our first harvest. On the north coast I came across a mangled military boot. The man, who was walking slowly along the shore as if he were on vacation, asked me:
—Doesn't it look like a normal military boot? Is there anything special about it?
—A normal boot? Had you ever seen such a large shoe? I already told you that my younger brother is as tall as you, sir. Unless it's a shoe of this size, it won't work for him. He must be around here somewhere.
My brother was a soldier. The ship he was traveling on, along with Queen island, caught fire and sank. As siblings who lost our parents at an early age, we were each other's only family. That's why I didn't make a grave for Andert. Because I knew better than anyone that he would return one day.
The man, who had been looking at the shoe in silence, diverted his gaze towards somewhere on the horizon and opened his lips.
—Do you think your brother is alive?
—Of course, isn't it obvious?
—Ah, right. It's not a matter of that type. I understand your feelings, but let's get back to the topic.
—Why?
—It seems it's going to rain heavily.
As if to confirm his words, thunder rumbled in the dry sky.
—The wind…
It seemed it was going to rain buckets, just as he had said. I left behind my regrets and headed home, clutching the shoe to my chest. The next day it rained intensely from morning till night.
"I can't stay sitting here. I'm sure Andert is near that beach."
Probably his body was already weakened, I had to find him as soon as possible.
—Sir! I'll be right back.
Leaving behind the man who was busy putting dry firewood in the fireplace, I ran out of the house. After a long time I arrived at the coast, where objects that until yesterday were not visible floated.
Combat boot.
I ran to the beach urgently and checked that the combat boot was in tatters. It was the same size as the left boot I found yesterday, and it was even the right boot.
—In fact, he is in this area.
Andert was near. He must be alive, waiting for me. With emotion in my veins, I explored the coast and even climbed the cliff. Being at a higher point allowed me to see better what was below. Among the gaps left by the waves as they crashed against the cliffs, something bright caught my eye. It looked like a necklace. No... that was...
"A military identification tag?"
Without hesitation, as soon as I recognized the shape, I jumped into the sea. Sharp waves whipped my skin. Meanwhile, the waves became even more violent and mixed with the rain. Swimming through the current, I reached out and grabbed the identification tag after struggling a bit. The familiar name was clearly engraved on it.
Andert Fager. Queen Island. Blood type A. Magic affinity type C.
While I stared at the identification tag, something caught my foot. Instinctively I dove. Something was wedged between the rocks descending from the cliff. My heart sank.
"No… it can't be. I'm just worrying unnecessarily."
Even so, I was dragged by a rope swinging like seaweed. Without moving, I struggled to take off what was firmly attached to my feet. I stopped pulling the rope and vigorously cleaned the pile of stones. Beyond my vision blurred by sand, something hidden among the rocks was revealed.
The decapitated body of a soldier.
"This… is not Andert."
Andert hadn't died. He must be adrift somewhere on the island. He simply… lost his identification tag… that one, down there, must be someone else's body…
—Ugh.
Breathing became difficult. After clutching the cliff and catching my breath, I had to slowly return towards the beach. However, the furious waves were so intense that my body couldn't easily move away from them.
—Uf! Ah, ah… uf!
But was there really a reason for me to stay alive? Little by little my strengths began to fade. Falling without end, deeper and deeper. My younger brother was dead. My only family was gone. That child would never return.
"Do I have any reason to continue living?"
Paradoxically, my heart felt calm in the middle of despair. I let go of everything. If someone hadn't reached out their hand to pull me out, I probably would have sunk even deeper.