Amy sat on her bed, an old photograph clutched in her hands. It was a picture of her and her younger brother, taken many years ago. Their happy faces were easy to admire, but there was something in their expressions that added a certain sadness to the image. She had never shown this photograph to anyone, even her closest friends. It was a moment from her childhood that remained in her heart as a reminder of the best time in her life.
Her thoughts drifted back to those years when she and her brother used to run around the house, trying not to get caught by their parents while pulling pranks. It was a time of innocence and peace, when Amy could simply be herself without thinking about how the world viewed her. Everything changed when she decided to dedicate herself to the film industry. Her career quickly entangled her, and she realized that she had become a stranger to the girl in the photograph.
Amy sank deeper into thought, and soon her mind returned to Haruki. Remembering their last conversation, she realized that he had been one of the few people who had asked her truly important questions. He hadn't just talked about how her career was progressing; he had cared about how she felt. His sincerity made her reflect. Why had she never allowed herself to be real? Why did she think that success required abandoning everything that had been important to her as a child?
Amy took a deep breath and placed the photograph back in its box, deciding to leave it for later. But in her eyes, there was now a spark of determination. She realized that she had lived too long being foreign to herself. The time had come to reclaim the girl in the photograph, the one who once dreamt boldly of a great future while staying true to herself. In her mind, a new plan was born—she would reclaim not only herself but also the sincerity she had lost along the way.
She closed her eyes and remembered Haruki's words: "You can choose the path that will truly make you happy."
Now, she knew her path was one of returning to her roots, a path where success wasn't measured by status, but by inner satisfaction.
Amy was ready to start a new chapter in her life.