Alice and An walked hand in hand along the winding roads that connected the houses of the village. An's radiant smile lit up her face as they chatted cheerfully. Alice noticed the villagers’ gazes, their expressions a mix of curiosity and confusion. She didn’t mind. She was used to people staring when she went out with Arthur, though the way they looked now felt different.

“Alice, are picnics really that fun?” An asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Alice nodded, her smile warm and genuine. “Yes, they are. I’ve had a few picnics with my family before, and those are some of my happiest memories.”

As they wandered through the village, they laughed and played, stopping to pet stray dogs and buy snacks from street vendors to take with them. But as they passed an elderly couple sitting on a bench, An suddenly lowered her head. Alice noticed the shift and gently asked, “What’s wrong?”

An shook her head quickly and picked up her pace.

By the time they reached the hilltop, the sun was dipping low, painting the sky a brilliant red. The cool breeze carried the scent of grass and wildflowers, and their hair danced in the wind. Birds soared across the horizon, their silhouettes etched against the fading sunlight. For a moment, both of them were lost in thought, mesmerized by the breathtaking view.

Alice spread a blanket on the grass and began unpacking the food they had bought. An inhaled deeply, a wide smile on her face. “This is beautiful,” she whispered, her voice filled with awe.

The sound of approaching footsteps broke the moment. They turned to see Arthur waving as he climbed the hill. When he reached them, he stopped, surprised by the sheer amount of food spread before him. “You really went all out,” he remarked, a faint smile on his face.

He crouched beside An and gently patted her head. “Are you having fun?” he asked softly.

An blinked, startled by his unexpected gesture, then broke into a wide smile and nodded. “I am.”

“That’s good to hear,” Arthur said, his smile becoming more genuine. He paused, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the sun was slowly sinking. “An, I need to talk to you about something important. Can you listen to me?”

The air seemed to grow heavier, the breeze suddenly feeling harder to breathe.

“It’s about your father,” Arthur began, his voice gentle but tinged with sorrow. “He passed away during the war. He fought as hard as he could, but…” He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

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An’s smile didn’t waver. She nodded as if she already knew. “I know,” she said, her tone calm and serious.

Alice gasped, looking between them in confusion. Arthur’s expression softened as understanding dawned.

“I think it’s time for you to join him, An,” Arthur said quietly. His voice was steady, but the sadness in his eyes was unmistakable. He swallowed hard, trying to hold back his emotions. “He’s waiting for you on the other side.”

Arthur’s words faltered, and he stuttered slightly. Alice’s confusion deepened. She opened her mouth to ask, but before she could, An smiled again, this time bittersweet.

“I see… You figured it out,” An said, her hair fluttering in the wind as her body began to shimmer and fade. “Did my grandparents tell you?”

Arthur nodded. “After the military sent a letter about your father’s death, you disappeared. The villagers searched for weeks before they found you… in the forest.” His voice cracked slightly, but he forced himself to continue. “They said you were lying there, lifeless. They believed you…” He hesitated, the words painful to say. “They thought you took your own life to reunite with him.”

An shook her head firmly. “At first, I wanted to. I was desperate to kill myself. But then I thought about my grandparents… I wanted to go back to them. But fate wasn’t kind.” She paused, her voice growing softer. “Some lustful men found me in the forest. They…” She stopped, taking a deep breath as she glanced at Arthur. His once cold, emotionless expression was gone, replaced by a face full of pain and sorrow.

“You don’t have to look so sad,” An said, her laugh light but tinged with sadness. “It’s okay. Please, take care of my grandparents for me, Arthur."

Arthur nodded, the lump in his throat making it difficult to speak. "I will," he promised, his voice breaking.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned to Alice. “Thank you for making me happy, Alice.”

Alice, understanding at last, broke down. She reached out to hug An, but her arms met only air. An disappeared, her form scattering into the wind like golden dust, drifting toward the horizon.

Alice fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. It was too much to bear. Arthur knelt beside her, placing a gentle hand on her back.

“I’ll explain everything,” he said softly, his voice steady.

Before he could say more, Alice turned and hugged him tightly, catching him by surprise. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, patting her back gently.

“Cry as much as you need to,” he whispered.

After Alice was able to calm herself, they both sat down beneath the tree. She rested her head on Arthur's shoulder, their hands intertwined with each other. He explained everything that he knew to her—about what the officer had told him regarding An’s death. He knew who An's grandparents were, so he had gone to speak with them to verify the information. They explained everything to him thoroughly, which was unbearable for him to hear. Why did someone so young have to bear such overwhelming pain in her heart?

He explained it all to her, and after that, silence took over for a few minutes. They both looked up at the sky. It was already night, and a sea of magnificent stars glittered above them, their beautiful light shining throughout the night. They both smiled.

“Be with me always, Alice,” he said, his voice serious. It was too sudden, and it made her surprised, but she smiled and nodded.