Aberdeen, Scotland
24 September 2022
"Are you all right? do you need anything?" Ryan asked as he lifted Edelweiss' bag and suitcase into the apartment he had prepared beforehand.
Edelweiss opened the window when the wind that blew from the sea carried the scent of the sea water. She smiled a little, turned around as if to give him that she was all right.
It seemed that Ryan could immediately understand her smile. Being friends for 15 years is not a short time to find out what this brown haired girl is thinking.
"When did you start work?" asked Edelweiss as she opened one of her bags and took out the package she had brought from her hometown.
"I'm taking time off, and it's already autumn after all. I thought I wasn't going to go sailing until spring came,"
"You didn't do it because of me, right? you don't have to push yourself, I'll be fine here!" she said. Edelweiss thought that she could make Ryan keep calm with the 'I'll be fine' line she just said.
Ryan was always worried about her and Edelweiss knew that. Not because of her older brother, Mark is close friends with Ryan. It's not because they were neighbors for 15 years. However, because Ryan always felt that he was responsible for her life.
Edelweiss gave the parcel that she brought to Ryan who was busy helping her arrange the clothes she brought. Although at first he thought that Edelweiss would stay in Aberdeen was just an April Fool's Day joke. But now, he had to believe because this girl was around him.
"What's this? a gift for me?"
"Yes, your mother asked me to give it to you. She is worried if you go sailing without a thick jacket and sweater,"
"Oh ... Mom! did my mom think I wouldn't be able to buy it myself?" Ryan laughed with amusement as he opened the package containing two jackets and three long-sleeved sweaters from his mother.
He is 24 years old and too old for him to receive this kind of sweet treatment from his mother. But rather than that, it seems Ryan is waiting for another gift that Edelweiss might give him.
"You didn't bring me anything?"
"What do you want me to bring? your favorite rugby ball? or the comic strip in your room?"
"Hahahaha ... I thought you would bring your homemade gingerbread. You know that I really like it!" Ryan smiled softly. The gifts he hopes are just simple gifts that Edelweis always gives him every birthday, even Christmas gifts.
Gingerbread jar in the shape of a doll that tastes very delicious. This girl is great at baking, but the gingerbread cookies have a special memory for Ryan.
"I'll make it for you!"
"Is it true?"
"Yes!"
"Okay, I'm waiting!"
The wind blew harder, coming in through the open window. The smell of the sea is very close, as if you are right in front of this apartment.
Edelweiss was lost in thought, staring at the window blankly. She really wanted to see the sea, not the lake she usually saw in her hometown. But the sea was vast, as if it was endless.
***
Edelweiss placed the jar of freshly cooked gingerbread on the table. Ryan promised to come this afternoon and take her on a tour to see the harbor and sea. But it seemed that she couldn't wait.
Armed with directions from her cell phone, Edelweiss went out to sea which was only 500 meters from the apartment, very close as she thought.
The cold wind blew louder carrying the scent of the sea water that was thicker. This scent, Edelweiss really likes this scent. It felt as if her feet were being led to take a step closer to see the vast expanse of blue water as far as the eye could see, as if the water would never run out until this world perished.
Her eyes widened when she saw the dark blue scenery that so spoiled her eyes. Edelweiss very rarely travels far from her hometown, Abriachan.
"Amazing ..." she muttered with sparkling eyes. Even though the wind was blowing so hard it almost blew away the scarf that was wrapped around her neck. Edelweiss didn't feel cold at all.
For her, this is the best place to rest and throw all the burdens on her shoulders. After all, what else could she hope for other than a peaceful and vast resting place like this?
Her feet stepped further to the edge of the cliff where she could see a closer look at the sea. There is no one in this place, it might be too cold for people to sit and relax by the sea. It would be more pleasant to stay at home and enjoy a warm cup of tea.
"Trukkk ... truukkk ... trukk ..." the gravel and sand that touched the tip of her shoes scattered and fell into the sea.
Edelweiss started shivering as her eyes caught the true color of the sea. It was dark and very deep, as if there was a creature with a large mouth that was gaping wide down there.
"Isn't it just? why am I so scared?" she thought. Her body shivered as she realized that making the sea a resting place was not as easy as she thought.
People say, the sea is the largest grave where the bodies buried in it have no headstone. They alike will gather in a place where only darkness is visible.
Edelweiss swallowed, her willpower slowly fading over what was hidden there. However, she had insisted on coming to this city on purpose to lie to her family to stay in this city.
"No, I can't go back. Just one more step, then I can be free! one more step, I will be free from this hell ... I ..."
"What are you waiting for? hurry up! jump over here and join my kingdom!"
There was a voice from the sea, a voice that was trying to call out to forget her fear and immediately jumped in to end it all.
The voice convinced her that her decision was the right one. Her doubts disappeared and Edelweiss was determined to jump into the ocean.
"Mom, Dad, Mark, Grandma, Ryan, goodbye ..."
"Byuuurrr ..."
Her body plunged into the very cold sea, Edelweiss let her body sink and closed her eyes so that she could not see anything. When the water began to close her airways, Edelweiss spontaneously opened her eyes in a panic on her deathbed.
In front of her, a pair of large eyes glared at her. Edelweiss began to choke, felt tremendous fear with the strange creature that appeared before her.
"Don't be afraid, the pain will not last long. You will soon be free from a very cruel world!"
***