The Seventh Man By Haruki Murakami Novels & Stories

Waves splashed her skirt as he turned and smiled, “Hold on tight, Mrs. Carter!” Seven years of love were just like a bubble. She pulled out her phone and sent a message: [Pick me up in seven days, as planned.] No sooner had she pressed send than a deafening bang echoed from downstairs.

What if Leina was right? ‘You can’t let feelings cloud your judgment,’ Seven said sharply, sensing my hesitation. ‘This isn’t about him. This is about us. Our freedom.’ I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I believed it. Standing up from the bed, I walked to the window, pulling back the curtain. The moon was high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the land. My eyes drifted over the garden below, and that’s when I saw him. A tall man with long red hair, picking mushrooms in the dark. He moved slowly, carefully, as if he was used to this kind of work. His back was to me, but there was something familiar about him. Something strange.

Our old villa had long been auctioned off, so we moved into a modest house in the suburbs. The day Rory came to visit, a light rain misted the air. He stood at the gate with a black umbrella, the drizzle weaving a translucent curtain between us. My mind flashed back to the first time we met. His striking presence had made him stand out in the crowd. Now time had softened his sharp edges. He was much thinner, and his once-dazzling aura was gone. Seeing him again didn't stir the wild heartbeat I used to feel. I stood under the eaves, hands in my pockets, and asked casually, "What brings you here, Mr. Lawson?"

I replied without hesitation: [Quinn, let's break up. After sending it, I blocked her. I did not question her any further, nor did I accuse her hysterically. I simply ended this seven-year-long deception. When the plane took off, I turned and looked at the city lights outside the window. Where those lights glowed in the distance, there would never again be a way home for me.

I didn't even know which of his promises were real anymore. I lifted my head, gazing at him, and murmured, "It's been seven years. We've been together for seven years." His indifference melted a little. He leaned across the desk and pulled me into a tight hug. "I know you've waited a long time, but right now, the company is at a critical point," he murmured. "I can't get distracted. I need to focus on work. This company is something we worked hard to build. We've come so far. You understand, right?"

His body weakened, his mind was crumbling, yet he believed it was the only thing that could ease his guilt toward me. Melody tried to approach him, but he drove her away every time with cold indifference. The woman he had once seen as gentle now appeared to him as nothing but deceitful. That was enough to fill him with disgust. - Meanwhile, I had completely left that world. The system sent me to an entirely new one. Here, I met a man named Colin Hoffman. Standing in the sunlight, his sharp facial features made him look like a painting come alive. He handed me a cup of hot cocoa, his fingers brushing the back of my hand, warmth seeping into my skin and making my heart skip a beat.