"Haaa!!!" I sighed with relief as the last patient of the day walked out of my office.
Léon, 36 years old, single cardiologist — that's me. I really do work myself to the bone.
It's been a few years since I opened my clinic, and I haven't stopped working since. I should probably take a vacation.
To think it's been so long since I got my doctorate, and now I'm even a medical professor. Haha, time really flies. Tom just entered his second year, Rose just had her second child, and Arthur's son is starting university. Time really does fly… Even I'm teaching now — I never imagined that. It surprises me.
"Ha~" I yawned loudly.
I'm getting old, I thought as I stood up from my chair and looked out the window at the moon.
She loved looking at the moon… it calmed her.
I became a cardiologist after the death of my first patient. I chose cardiology because she died of a heart disease.
"I guess I still can't forget her? I'm still in love~ As expected of me," I said as I left my office.
I headed toward the daycare to pick up my daughter, Lucie… I couldn't help myself — I adopted her two years ago. I gave her the name Claire wanted to give our daughter if we ever had one. She had insisted on it.
One day, as I was coming home from work, I found her abandoned in the street, and I decided to make her my daughter.
Claire always had a soft heart for those who suffered — I always admired that. I bet she would have done the same if she were still here.
As I entered the daycare, Lucie jumped joyfully into my arms.
"Daddy!" she said with excitement.
"That's my girl. Come on, I made your favorite dish today!" I said happily.
Strangely, she had the same tastes as Claire, so I really enjoy taking care of her. I always feel like I'm with Claire, even if she's no longer here.
"Yay! We're eating Chinese food!" she said, bouncing around.
I lifted her onto my shoulders as we walked out to get to the car. Snow had begun to fall over the city.
"Daddy! Look, snowflakes!" she said in awe.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Thank you, Léon…" said a familiar voice behind me.
I turned around but saw nothing. Yet I could have sworn I heard Claire.
"Daddy? What's wrong?" my daughter asked.
"Nothing, Daddy's hearing voices…" I said as I opened the car.
That's when I saw a poster stuck to the windshield — the poster of the book I had written.
I took it and drove home.
"We're home. You're hungry, I hope?" I asked cheerfully.
"Of course, Daddy! I made sure of that!" she said proudly.
Before eating, she stood respectfully in front of the photo of Claire and me.
"Mommy, we're going to eat now. I hope you're doing well up there," she said before coming to the table.
"Did you wash your hands?" I asked, noticing her hands.
"Uh… yes…" my daughter lied.
"Go wash your hands. You'll eat after," I said, taking out the poster.
While she washed her hands, I looked at the poster — my book had been a success. I then looked at Claire's photo. She looked so happy.
"I miss you… Our daughter is very energetic, you know? She's a bit stubborn — she probably got that from you. But she's very smart, like me, and she's not afraid of anything… She loves you a lot, but not as much as I do. Don't worry — up there, you're the only one I love," I said, kissing her photo.
"Daddy! I'm done!" she said joyfully, interrupting me and making the poster fall.
"What's that, Daddy?" she asked curiously.
"The poster for your father's book. A book I wrote — it's about Mommy and Daddy," I said, patting her head.
A book that tells the love story of Mommy and Daddy. Just a Love Story.
As I looked at the sky, everything came back to me, and I felt my heart beat again as nostalgia washed over me.
"Tell me! Tell me!" she said, jumping around.
"Yes, yes, sit down first… It all started a few years ago… when I had just finished a video game…" I said, beginning to tell her our story, while behind me a gentle spirit watched us tenderly.
"I really do love you, idiot," she said with a smile as she faded away.
"Huh? Mommy?" Lucie suddenly said as her father told the story.
"What is it?" I asked, curious.
"No, nothing… Continue the part where Uncle Arthur caught you kissing," she said happily.