17 The Coffin's Load

Lil

I walked down the street, listening to my own heartbeat and counting my own footsteps, so that the tiredness would turn into solace. It was quite weird; there was no one outside their houses, and the doors and windows were all closed. I might be the only one outside. Even the beggars who were sitting on the street-side before had disappeared.

I didn't care what other people would do. They had their freedom and it was their life. They were in charge of themselves. Perhaps I was thinking about that thing because I cared. An emotional defense mechanism I learned that everyone had a responsibility to each other; their lives were adjoining; and no one could live alone, except me.

"What else can I do?" was the question that always stayed in my mind. I knew I could do something in every situation. But if not, I could still hope that everything would be fine. I hoped that my inference wasn't true and that my friend would be alright soon.

Eventually, I arrived near the gate of my friend's