'I'm going to hibernate, so don't wait for me and do whatever you want.' I don't even remember how many years it's been since you left the house, leaving behind a note with those few words.

Your voice, face, expressions, and every single habit are still clearly alive in a corner of my memory, but now even those seem to be fading, driving me to the brink of madness.

"Today... it's the cave on the mountain. I'll go in first and report back, so you all wait here."

Do you even know? That I'm still clinging to a single trace of you, trying to find you by any means necessary.

Only after heading deep into the mountains does the cave entrance finally come into view. The resolve before entering is always the same. I hope you are there today, and no matter what you say with that shameless face of yours, I will never forgive you again.

She slowly moves her steps inward, carefully scanning the interior of the cave. Her brow furrows at the sight of the empty-looking space, thick with dust from long disuse.

Is it a waste of time again today...

Just as she is about to turn back, she hears a faint sound of breathing from within. It's weak but unmistakable; she can't help the way her heart suddenly pounds. It might be another beastkin, but maybe, just maybe, it could be you.

Muffling her footsteps as much as possible, she cautiously moves further inside, and for a moment, her heart feels like it's dropping as her breath catches. It's you. And you're wearing the same clothes, looking exactly as you did the day you vanished from her side.