I had arrived early in the morning by car with Arthur and his little family, as well as Rose and Tom, to pick up Claire so we could go to the amusement park. She had insisted on it so much from the very beginning that we couldn't refuse her. I was walking toward her room, remembering everything that had happened since the start. Now that I think about it, ever since I met her, my life has been turned upside down. In about a month, I'll officially be a cardiologist. I reconciled with my family, I regained faith and motivation in my work, and now I'm… in love with her.
"Hey~ So, are you ready?" I asked cheerfully.
When I opened the door, I looked at her carefully. She was wearing blue jeans, a white T‑shirt, and a black cap.
"You're late. I've been ready for over an hour," she said with a sigh, placing a big box on her bed.
"Alright, let's go," she said this time with a smile.
I let out a laugh—it was so new to see her smiling.
"What is it?" she asked, curious.
"Nothing… Hahahaha," I said while laughing.
She started hitting me energetically while I laughed.
"You two lovebirds can flirt later, we're going to lose our spots if we keep dragging around," Arthur suddenly said as he opened the door.
"Alright, we're coming," I said, ignoring his remark.
I don't even know if what I feel is mutual, so let's avoid the topic for now.
We got into Arthur's minibus to go to the amusement park.
He was driving with his two sons sleeping beside him. His wife and Rose were in front of us talking—Rose was asking for advice about children since she was pregnant, while Arthur's wife was taking care of their newborn. Claire must have been too excited yesterday—she fell asleep on my shoulder. I found it amusing.
As I looked out the window and saw the amusement park in the distance, Tom called out to me.
"Doesn't it bother you that she's sleeping on your shoulder?" Tom asked.
"Well, she's pretty heavy, you know," I said teasingly, and immediately felt something pinch me.
I figured she was pretending to sleep, but I liked having her like that.
"By the way, are we almost there, Arthur?" I asked impatiently.
"We're right in front," he said, amused.
And so began a long day of taking care of the kids who wanted to try everything. We went on the roller coasters—Claire threw up her breakfast. Then we went to the haunted house—Arthur freaked out like never before, but Claire was surprisingly calm. Then we watched Tom and the kids running everywhere, and in the meantime Claire stole my cotton candy.
"It's already noon? It's getting hot," I said as I was trying to light the fire for the barbecue.
We had moved away from the park to eat, and since I was the one cooking, I had to light the fire too.
"Oh! Isn't that Léon?" said a familiar voice—the hospital director.
He was a tall, older man, close to retirement.
"Director? Is that you? Nice to see you," I said politely.
"Yes. Ah, you're here because you're out with your patients, right? I remember approving your request. You're a good doctor—maybe you even give too much of yourself to your patients. You can't light that fire? Let me do it," he said, amused, and flames rose instantly.
"Finally~ I was getting tired of failing. Thank you so much," I said happily.
"You know, you shouldn't get too attached to your patients. We often see them only for a moment, then never again. I used to be like you, and over time I grew disgusted with it—treating people I'd never see again, even though I gave them everything… Being a doctor is a thankless job, you know?" he said sadly.
"No way~ I want to help them as best as I can, and that's the best way," I said sincerely.
He smiled and looked at me with nostalgia.
"Good luck then, kid," he said before leaving.
He was right—being a doctor is a thankless job. But I chose it to help others, so I'll do it no matter what.
I started cooking for everyone—and I have to admit, I'm talented. After we ate well, Arthur decided to leave the kids with Tom and Rose so he could spend time with his wife, and I decided to spend time with Claire.
"What ride do you want to do, Claire?" I asked.
"The Ferris wheel," she said solemnly.
We headed toward the Ferris wheel, and suddenly she took my hand hesitantly. I squeezed her small, soft hand in mine.
"Oh~ A young couple? I'll give you half price if you ride the Ferris wheel," the vendor said. A real scammer, but since it seemed worth it, I paid and we got on.
"It's new for you to want the Ferris wheel. Any particular reason?" I asked as we entered the cabin.
"Well, I wanted a place alone with you to do something," she said coldly.
She's not planning to kill me, right?
Suddenly she jumped on me and kissed me gently.
"To do that," she said, embarrassed.
"Ah… well, I appreciate it a lot," I said, holding her in my arms.
"I love you, you know?" she suddenly said, my heart pounding harder and harder.
"You're annoying, stingy, often a scammer and a liar. You spend your time playing, reading, and being lazy. You never make an effort to talk to others, you only follow your own philosophy, and even if it hurts people, you leave them behind because you're too arrogant to admit your mistakes," she said all at once.
It sounded more like insults than a confession.
"But despite all that, I love you… You talk to me and look at me like no one else does. You make me feel like myself, and that's what I appreciate most about you. You never criticize me, and you adapt to me instead of trying to change me. You love the cold and pessimistic person I am. You're the only one who sees through me and always knows—through some kind of dark magic—my pain and my joy… I may not love you a lot, but I love you sincerely," she said, holding me tightly as my heart nearly stopped.
"I love you too…" I said, holding her back and kissing her.
After our embrace, we left the Ferris wheel hand in hand, and for once, I was truly happy.
"Tomorrow I'm leaving, so I left farewell gifts for all of you in my room, in the big box. And there's another one just for you," she said with a smile.
In the distance, I saw her mother and sister waiting.
"Goodbye. I love you," she said, kissing me before leaving.
Her mother approached me as she and her sister walked away.
"Thank you so much for taking such good care of her all this time. I've never seen her so happy or so healthy. Thank you for doing what I could never do as a mother," she said before handing me an envelope and leaving.
As the day ended, I wondered why she had been so formal, and what that letter was. It was only once I was home, lying in my bed, that I understood when I opened it. The first words were:
"We invite you to the funeral of Claire."