ceylon

Dressed in full protective equipment, Ceylon deftly pushes the cart carrying Delia's body towards the cremator.

She has gotten used to seeing and dealing with the bodies of the Infected.

But this does not make it hurt any less.

'If the day comes when this happens to Schwarz...'

'Would you still be trying to convince yourself with the same rules?!'

There was clear anger in Hourglass's voice, but Ceylon willingly accepts it.

It is her duty to bear the brunt of such anger. She was prepared for it, ever since she decided to help Rhodes Island establish this office.

As for the question itself—

'It's none of your business what happens between me and Schwarz!'

She almost retorted with that, but of course she could not.

Just as she could not tell Hourglass that 'I understand your pain.'

Regardless of what made Hourglass say it, though, Ceylon had already lost count of how many nights she had spent crying over the possibility.

Every time, she wiped her tears dry, to continue to read the research and write the reports.

It is one of her firm beliefs that tears are less useful than medical research.

If the day comes when it is Schwarz lying on that cart, and it is somebody else pushing it, it could only be because she was prevented from finding a way to save her first.

In which case, she would accept it, she thinks.

She would have done everything she could, she thinks.

I'm sorry, Delia.

Things rarely go the way we want them to.

She pushes the body into the cremator.

After a moment of silence, she presses the button.

...Good night.

What are you looking at?

The sea.

She didn't like the sea. She said she'd gotten sick of it, after seeing it all her life.

She always said she wanted to go on a journey. That she'd go once she'd saved up enough money. But it wasn't meant to be.

You...

I've calmed down now. I'm sorry for shouting like that.

It's alright. I'm glad you understand.

I'll hold a funeral for her in a few days.

Have you already made the arrangements?

Yes. I started planning it long ago.

The ashes were never necessary. I just wanted to give it one last try.

I'm sorry.

You have nothing to apologize for. I know you're hurting too.

But it's hard to keep your cool at a time like this.

Will you come to her funeral?

Of course.

A few days later

The road from Fashion Street to the shore is paved with flowers. Massive flower baskets line the sidewalks.

A temporary stage has been erected at the end of the street, with a dozen chairs set up in front of it.

A photo of Delia hangs high above the stage.

Delia's parents died when she was young. She led a secluded life after contracting Oripathy, but she had a friend who stayed by her side until the very end—Renata.

We'd like to invite Renata to come on stage.

...Excuse me, I have just been informed that Renata is unable to come, but she has prepared an audio recording for us to play.

Huh?

The first time I saw Delia, she was dancing by the seaside. Back then, I hated my life. I hated everything, and was even thinking of letting the sea take me.

But somehow, she seemed to know what was going through my head, and started dancing in front of me.

I will always remember that dance. The way she whirled and leapt across the beach, the way the hem of her dress shone in the sunlight.

These last few days, all I could think of was that dance, the one burned into my memories.

I compiled all my memories of her in an album. I thought that was enough.

I thought I was prepared for the day she would leave us.

But when I woke up from my dreams with a start, only to find once again that she was no longer there, I just couldn't do it anymore.

I miss her so much...

Ceylon feels overwhelmed by emotion. She cannot imagine how she would take it, if the day ever came when it was her turn to experience all this.

Schwarz still has time. Intellectually, she knows that she cannot truly understand what Hourglass is feeling right now.

Yet the fears conjured by her overactive imagination across all those tearful nights begin to overlap with the portrait of pain being painted by Hourglass, prying open the already-fragile barriers of her heart.

She wants to see Hourglass. She wants to talk to her.

Excuse me, sir, do you know where Hourglass... where Renata is?

Er...

Is something the matter?

I'm her supervisor at work. You can trust me.

...She just gave me the recording and left. I don't know where she went.

What?

I'm here, Delia.

In the end, I lied to the director.

She's sharp—it won't fool her for long.

But I don't need much time for this.

It won't take long for me to take you with me, for us to leave this place together, to go far, far away.

I'll take you to all the places we visited together.

And all the places you wanted to go, but never could.

Then, we'll live quietly together, somewhere we can see the sunset.

Hourglass mutters as she searches for Delia's name on the shelf holding the ashes.

She has worked here as a doctor for over a year, and treated many patients. Her hand begins to tremble as she sees familiar name after familiar name.

Finally, she finds Delia's name.

The shelf is a little high. She finds a chair and drags it over. The screeching sound it makes on the floor echoes through the room, making her heart skip a beat.

She steps on the chair. With a trembling hand, she tries to put in the key to open the cabinet with Delia's name on it.

Perhaps her tears have clouded her vision, or perhaps her hand is trembling too much, but she cannot get it in.

She tries once, twice, many times.

Until the tears are all over her face.

Until the key slips from her hand.

Until she falls from the chair after bending down to pick up the key.

Until she is sitting on the ground in a daze.

Until she cannot hold it back anymore, and begins to cry her heart out.

I'm sorry, Delia.

I'm sorry...

It's me. Is Hourglass there?

Director! I thought you asked her to come pick up Delia's ashes?

Where is she?

She just left. Crying.

I need you to—

Hm, that's odd.

Yes? What is it?

Well...

Something was obviously off about her, so I went in to see what was going on.

She didn't take Delia's ashes?

What?

In fact, it looks like she didn't even open the cabinet.

...I'm coming back right now.

How did she do it?