In the dark, quiet room, with a small candle, a diary, and a pen, she was writing about her life—about everything, about her journey.
"Mom, it's been 4 years since Grandma died. Everything changed from that day. Is it because of me? Mom, I feel so bad and guilty, and I regret it. I don't know what I can do. I felt like home there at first, but now I feel like everyone is blaming me. I know everything changes with time, even people change, but Mom, Soru… he doesn't smile anymore. It's because of me, my carelessness. I feel so alone. Everyone is serious and alone now, even with each other. I don't know what to do, I just—"
Suddenly, Akiko said, who had woken up, "Sofia, it's already late. Sleep now, or you won't wake up on time tomorrow."
Sofia looked up from her diary and smiled a bit, then said, "Yeah, I'm going to sleep. Sorry for waking you up."
Akiko sighed and sat up, then said, "Sofia, sleep now and…"
She stopped for a second before continuing.
"And I know what you are thinking about, but believe me, it was never your fault."
Sofia gave a small, sad smile. Then Akiko said in a tired voice, "Sleep now. Good night."
Sofia nodded. Akiko lay down on her bed with another sigh and fell asleep. Sofia looked down at her diary again, then wrote, "Mom, and my sisters, I miss you all. I miss you very much."
With that, she closed her diary and put it back in her bag. Then she lay down on her bed. For a minute, she looked at the window.
She felt so weird. Her chest felt heavy. Her heart felt heavy. And she was thinking, "Why does it feel… it feels so strange now. Why does it feel like everyone is losing everything, their hope? And I'm also losing my hope. But I don't want to give up. Because, Mom, I know what you said. You always said that giving up is not an option. It's a choice. So I don't want to choose to give up. Because I believe if I never lose my hope, then we can make it. And I can meet you all again. I believe."
With that, her eyes became teary and heavy. Then she closed her eyes and fell asleep..