Catastrophe Card King

Chapter 810: Chapter 257: When the Soul-Continuing Incense Burns Out, I Shall Leave_3

As he gazed upon the sky full of petals, Leonard Churchill seemed to see that charming face smiling at him, and he heard that familiar voice ringing in his ear, “Hello, Mr. Leonard Churchill, my name is Vera Williams. I’m happy to meet you. Well… goodbye then.”

But this farewell was forever.

Never to meet again.

Do you know, Mr. Leonard Churchill, meeting you was the greatest fortune of my life.

Do you know, Miss Anne, meeting you was also the greatest fortune of my life.

….

Fate really is like a clown sometimes, bringing joy at one moment and playing tricks the next.

He had thought he would never grieve for anyone else in this lifetime, but as Vera Williams left, Leonard Churchill’s eyes still reddened, tears streaming down his face.

On the empty chair, only a picture frame was left behind.

Leonard Churchill remembered, it was something that silly girl always held close to her chest.

He reached out his hand.

For some reason, the hand that never shook even when taking a life was now trembling incessantly.

He picked it up, took a look.

The black-and-white photo depicted a pretty chapel with a small spire.

The chapel walls were draped with cascading roses.

The flowers were in full bloom, shining brilliantly.

In the center of the photo, the young man’s mouth was slightly upturned, exuding a noble air;

And the girl in the floral dress, her face beaming with a happy and brilliant smile.

The prime of youth was their most beautiful age.

Their smiles were captured in the photograph.

Looking at that radiant smile, Leonard Churchill’s mind instantly recalled the girl’s words.

“Death isn’t the loss of life, it’s just being frozen in time.”

“Silly girl, I will find you in the River of Time…”

Leonard Churchill murmured to himself, cradling the picture frame.

Definitely.

Looking at the black and white photograph, it felt like just yesterday.

Before his eyes, it seemed as if he could see that bright-eyed, spirited girl coming to life again.

But the empty chair in front of him immediately brought waves of sorrow.

Leonard Churchill also knew, for her, it had been a hundred years ago.

For him, it had been a lifetime.

….

Leonard Churchill just stood there, holding the picture frame in a daze.

For a long time.

For a long time.

Next to the chair was a small bookshelf, crammed with letters in dim yellow envelopes.

None had been sent, but they were neatly arranged.

As his thoughts settled, Leonard Churchill sat down on the chair that still retained a hint of warmth.

He lay there for a moment.

Then he took down a pile of letters and opened them one by one.

The graceful yet intimate handwriting came into view.

“Leonard, by the time you read these letters, I will no longer be here… I’ve left these letters, not to make you sad. Rather, I want you to know that I truly had a fulfilling life. Thank you. Thank you for being a part of my life.”

Leonard Churchill read, his eyes as if filled with endless grains of sand.

“June 11th, today is the third day since your departure, Mr. Sunny. Sorry, I couldn’t help but cry for a very long time. Don’t laugh at me. Then, I remembered I still have the magical ‘Stamp’~”

“Today is the fourth day, I wanted to tell you that I remember everything about us, but I have forgotten your name and face… I think of you all the time, yet why can’t I remember what you look like, even your picture is gone, I’m so heartbroken… Later, I asked Grandpa, he said it seems like some memories are being interfered with by the Law… Ah, it’s very troubling.”

“Today is the thirteenth day since we parted. Mr. Sunny, I know it might be a long time before we meet again. But I’m afraid if you suddenly come back one day and I’m not here. So these days, I’ve spent a lot of time in the treehouse. Just in case I open the door and see you, it would be such a surprise…”

“Today is… Mr. Sunny, I have been bravely facing life as I promised you, reading, playing the piano, gardening, and of course, writing to you…”

“Every time I miss you, I take out the letters we exchanged and read them over and over, then I cry my eyes out. Sunny, am I useless? I can’t seem to do anything…”

“Mr. Sunny, if you don’t reply to my letters, I won’t bother with you anymore! Humph, I won’t write to you either. Well, if you do reply, I will still write to you…”

“Something interesting happened today, do you remember the bird’s nest on the treehouse window ledge? Haha, today I discovered that the skylark I fed last year has come back, and it brought its mate too…”

“Sunny, do you know, every year when the roses bloom, I go back to the manor, then stand under the floral wall of the little chapel, thinking of the times we took photos here…”

“Ten years have passed, Sunny, where are you? I felt so sad today, I noticed a wrinkle at the corner of my eye in the mirror. If you don’t come to see me soon, you might not recognize me. Even if you do, it’ll be an old girl (*￣︿￣)…”

“…”

“This is the fifteenth year since we parted. Oh, although I didn’t want to tell you, I’ve recently been very ill, it’s quite bad, I’m afraid I won’t see you anymore….”

“Sunny, time flies so quickly, I’ve been waiting for fifty years, and still no news from you. Time has made me forget too much… I’m scared I’ll forget you one day… but I can’t bear it. Even if I forget everything, I’m unwilling to forget you…”

“It feels like we just parted not long ago, but before you know it, sixty years have passed… The second half of life is like a reflection of time, making me often reminisce about our younger days. No matter how the years change, I still feel those were the happiest, most joyful days of my life…”