"Mommy, don't be sad."
"Mommy, be happy."
"Mommy, Little Riceball loves you."
Shouko woke up the next day when the morning sunlight had already sneaked in between the slits of the curtains. Her lashes trembled as she dazedly thought of the long dream she had last night.
She no longer saw the bloody scene, instead, all the happy memories she had long sealed at the back of her mind reappeared one by one.
To Shouko, it was like she was walking along her memory lane, the lane that was shrouded by thorns and bushes before she could her way to enter it.
Little Riceball's tender and milky voice continued resonating in her mind, continuously telling her to be happy, to not be sad. Even his soft and chubby face was smiling brightly at her.
"Mommy, be happy with Daddy."
That was the last thing she heard before she woke up.
