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Strangely, I felt a sense of familiarity. Like I’d known him forever.
I poked my belly—round and heavy. It felt firm beneath my fingers.
"What's inside here? Will it die?" I asked.
The man looked at my belly, his face full of pain .
"There's a baby. You’ll both be fine, "he said.
He reached out, wanting to touch my face — but I dodged, a little shy.
"Boys shouldn’t touch girls so casually."
He smiled, still gentle. "Okay, I won't."
He asked me what I wanted to do.
I turned my face and looked out the window at the falling snow. It was so beautiful.
Suddenly, I remembered.
"I'm waiting for someone. He said he watched the snow with me ."
His Adam’s apple bobbed twice. He looked like he was holding back tears.
"Who is he?"
Who was he? I forgot, but I just remembered that there was such a person. He promised me this.
Still, I waited with hope. “I don't know. Let’s wait. Maybe he'll come."
I dragged a chair over and sat by the window. The man stood beside me, keeping quiet company.
I waited for a long time. Two people came in and out of the room, but neither of them was the person I was waiting for...
The sky darkened. The snow outside faded into a blur of night.
I was very disappointed. He didn't come after all.
The man crouched beside me, his warm, broad hand gently wrapping around my cold fingers. His eyes shimmered — as if brimming with tears.
"Bella, I’m sorry..."
I tilted my head and looked at him. "Who are you?"
His voice cracked. “…Ethan.”
I stared at him for a long time, looking at his face. A faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "Your name is so nice. You must be a good person."
But for some reason, he shook his head desperately and tears spilled down his cheeks.
I didn’t know what to do. So I gently patted his back, like coaxing a crying child.
"Ethan, be good. Don't cry. I'll give you all my snacks and toys..."
But my comfort didn’t help. He broke down completely. Then — a large shadow loomed outside the window, slowly drawing closer.
I trembled in fear. Ethan pulled me tightly into his arms.
I don't know where I got the strength came from. I pushed Ethan aside and stood in front of the window, arms outstretched, trying to shield him.
"Ethan, run!"
But Ethan stepped in front of me, his tall figure blocked my view. His voice was rough, broken.
"Bella, that's just the shadow of a tree."
I took a closer look. It was really a tree shadow.
I nodded woodenly and remembered that I should go to sleep. After all, it was nighttime.
"Ethan, you can go now . I’m going to sleep."
He wanted to say something but held back. His eyes were full of reluctance. He made the bed for me with his own hands and lingered for a while before quietly leaving.
I couldn't help but call him, "Ethan."
He turned around. I smiled and waved. "See you tomorrow."
He gave a soft, almost broken reply. "Okay."
But I knew that we wouldn't see each other tomorrow. In my world, everything changed day by day. It was like magic. Or madness. Maybe Ethan didn’t even exist here. Maybe he was just… a beautiful illusion.
