Story and pictures: Page

K.Mitasuki

-hourglass-

Su........Su........

The sound of sand grains slowly falling due to gravity towards the bottom of an hourglass. When comparing the amount of sand on each side, It's very different. This sound of sand is like a soft warning whispering to you and asking....

"How much time do you have left to live?"

'I' looked out the window from the hospital. People walked chaotically on the street below. Hurry up with everyday life Not knowing when death will come I saw two children. A man and a woman were sitting on a swing.

'Ah, that boy should die in a few minutes...' I muttered in my head. But it couldn't help anything. Because I don't have the power to go against each other's destiny.

Everyone has their own 'hourglass'. Each person's life is the total amount of sand in the glass jar. When that hourglass runs out, everything will be....'over'.

Because I have special abilities Being able to see other people's hourglasses...no, it could be said that I was able to see...'death' would be easier.

The black cat lying on the girl's lap leapt out of her embrace and ran towards the road.

Creep!!.....Crom!!!

Suddenly, the zebra crossing signal suddenly turned red. I saw the body of a boy who sacrificed his life to save his female best friend from being hit by a truck and thrown away by the force of the blow. 'Red' blood staining the road The sound of a girl crying with sorrow I couldn't bear such a sad sight and quickly closed the curtains. And to prevent 'her' from seeing this picture

"Brother....." A clear but hoarse voice came from beside me.

She is my only sister. She is the younger sister that I love very much. She is a cute and innocent child. Even though he's such a good kid, but....

I turned to look at her 'hourglass'. When I looked, I felt 'There's not much time left,' so I try my best to make her happy. Before the grains of sand run out

"What happened....." She pointed towards the window.

"...There's nothing."

...already lied

"Brother, please read me a story."

She handed me a story that she wrote herself. I don't know why she suddenly wanted to listen to a story that she wrote. But I will read it to her.

"Once a long time ago?....Didn't you write it wrong?"

“Brother, don't stop reading. Otherwise it wouldn't be fun." She frowned and puffed out her cheeks at me. It may seem cute, but the point is that she's just changing the story of how she wrote a book that was wrong and right.

"Yes..." I laughed and shook my head lightly before turning back to reading the story. I guess I'll have to guess what it reads in the wrong place.

“Once upon a time....there was a princess and a prince. They were brothers who lived in a castle. One day, people from overseas gathered together to organize a large market. The princess and prince had the opportunity to go sightseeing in the city. But then the princess was amused. Secretly separated from his older brother and disappearing into the crowd of people passing by each day.

She walked and ran until she reached the main road in front of the market. Suddenly, she heard the sound of horse hooves. And then a handsome young man rode by on a horse. 'Rided past and rode past'....?"

"...Why are you writing this?" I turned around and asked confused.

"Tell me more~" She tried to cover it up.

“Ah, look.... She stared at him in awe. Then he accidentally walked out into the middle of the road as if under a spell. Without knowing that There was a mysterious black carriage coming towards her at such speed that it was behind her without her even realizing it......"

Finished...?already? Why did it end so quickly? I sat and thought for a while and then remembered what she wrote....

“This...you. This story isn't finished yet." I asked her to be sure.

"I'm not finished yet. But I just don't remember what happened after that…”

So... the truth in the story came from the faint memories that remained in her memory. But Lan Yai Market It has become a fireworks viewing festival. No prince on a white horse comes and goes. But it was fireworks that lit up and disappeared in the night sky. There was no mysterious carriage driving behind.

There were only trucks transporting goods whose drivers were traveling at higher speeds than the speed limit. Because of the darkness and the heavy drunkenness that made the driver unable to see her, and finally, the real characters in the story were not princesses and princes. But it's me and my sister....

That's right, I was the one who saved my sister's life from a car accident two months ago. Even though my sister and I were able to survive But when I opened my eyes to see her Instead, I saw an hourglass that came out of nowhere. floating on each person's head instead When I saw my sister's hourglass, I was shocked to see how little sand there was left in the hourglass.

Less than half of mine. I found a way to help my sister by trying to flip the clock. But it passed through my body like dust in the air. At that moment I almost wanted to cry out like crazy. But I realized that somehow in human life there is death. Someday, we will all die.

At that time I thought that I should create happiness Good memories for you before the sand runs out...I can probably do just that...until today. The number of beads indicates her remaining time. Close to reaching zero. Today will be the last day I will see my little brother. Her face still held an innocent smile that never faded. I also didn't want my younger sibling to be upset, so I forced myself to smile even though I knew that she was about to leave me.

"After that....were you the one who saved me?" she said.

".....Yes," I replied.

"Thank you for helping me." She smiled again, such a warm smile.

Then she leaned over and hugged me tightly. Tears streamed down her cheeks. I hugged her back lovingly. And glanced at the sand in her hourglass....3...2...1...It's time already.

"I'm....happy to be born as your younger brother. You're the best older brother in the world. He's the person who takes care of me so diligently that he doesn't even care about himself..I..." She tried to continue but no sound came out. So she tried to move her mouth to form words. I looked at her face and intently read the movements of her mouth.

I love you....

At the end of her words, she closed her eyes as if she had just fallen asleep. But tomorrow morning I probably won't see her wake up again.

"....You love me too."

I embraced my sister's body. She's not breathing anymore. Her pulse stopped. My feeling was like hugging a warm doll in my arms. My tears don't stop flowing. Her hourglass is fleeting. To say that this child's life has ended. Because the appointed time has come. I can only think This life of mine

Am I giving this child enough happiness? Did I make you happy until the last moment? The answer is..I don't know...but I don't regret it at all. Because at least I got to see my younger sibling leave with a smile.

Right now, your hourglass still has enough sand left to move forward. But have you ever noticed how little sand your significant other has left? I just want to tell you that When your amount of sand is still left You should use that time to give lots of love and importance to those around you.

Before it's too late Because even if someone like me meets you I can't turn back the clock for anyone...

And this story has a happy ending.

-finish-