38 Waiting Year After Year (1/2)

-Long Wei-

[Every day I visit, there is nothing but silence and melancholy. Every time I wait, depression overcomes me. Every time I bring her roses, I only return to see them withering away the next day. It's always empty, lonely, and silent.

I still remember the last time I saw her. She was broken, sad, and alone. She needed help but I was so incompetent. I wasn't able to help her, protect her, or love her enough. She always tried to smile for everyone but on the day she needed help the most no one helped her.

I still remember her tear stained face as her own father threw her into a cave of despair. I remember the sound of her cries from the other side of the stone door. I remember the sound of her fall as she collapsed on the other side of that tomb. All I did was watch. My body was frozen in shock and fear. My mind and heart were screaming out to me but my body wouldn't listen. It wouldn't move. It didn't move.

I failed her.

This must all be my redemption. It must be OUR redemption. She gave us everything and we gave nothing back. She brought us light despite her own pain and we just stood in the sidelines watching her bear our burdens along with hers.

I hate myself.

I could have stepped in with her. I could have done more for her. I could have been next to her to shoulder our problems together but I wasn't. I only followed her claiming to love her and yet I was never able to stand by her side. I wasn't able to be the person she could depend on or lean o when she needed it. I wasn't the person worthy to even be near her but there I was because she allowed me to. Because despite everything she was capable and kind.

I'm not worthy.

The only thing giving me hope is the connection I have with her. Despite disappearing for so long I know she is alive. Despite seeing the emptiness of any living being within the tomb I believe she's I there.

Although I failed her, loathe myself, and know I'm not worthy of her, I have worked and will keep working to stand next to her and be her comfort.

I will wait and wait even if she never comes out I will keep waiting until death takes my hope away…

Because I love her. Because she is the only one fated for me.]

Long Wei walked up the small hill with sad eyes. His short hair had grown into calm waves that extended to his neck and his cultivation had surpassed the eighth level a year after Fan Daiyu had disappeared.

After she disappeared from their lives, the trio who had been waiting for her seemed to lose the light of hope day by day. Mallory became a living puppet without direction and Morris had locked himself away in his lab. Only Long Wei would come out of his room every day to wait for her. He would sit in front of the tomb and wait until night emerged. Without her he had no drive and the awakening of his bloodline slowed down along with his cultivation. He had only leveled up twice despite his lineage in the span of four years. He was a beginner tyro embracement cultivator with no goals or hope. This had only stunted his spiritual growth. But even though Fan Daiyu's loved ones were struggling to move forward without her, the world was not.

The world seemed to have erased that girl from their minds. Fan Ying made up a story of her death a long with Nuwa Yenay. He erased all traces of her existence only to leave behind an empty tomb as her only remain. They were gone and quickly forgotten. She had captured all their hearts and yet they seemed to go through everyday forgetting about the little ray of sunshine that had stunned them breathless.

She was erased and forgotten.

Apart from the trio, only the emperor truly mourned her. However, after mourning her for a few days he became occupied with the twins and replaced her with them. Fan Susana Melaina had become the new star but in the trios eyes she would never compare. All she did was shame Fan Daiyu's name in their opinion.

The twins had grown to be four years old that year and they had no knowledge of the existence of their own elder sister. Melaina had become the apple in her father's eyes and Fan Ming had become the pride of the household.

Fan Ying had erased all traces of the two women that had once habituated that home and had gathered servants. He had returned to his usual kind façade and was the loved general of the kingdom. His children were his pride although they were only a bit above average and he was loved by everyone… except by the trio who saw through his façade.

Everything had changed except for the people who still missed and remembered Fan Daiyu.