What Separates Me and You

Mrs. Larson ran to the store room and saw Lewis rummaging around the room. He seemed to be searching for something.

"Mr. Alvarez, what are you looking for? Let me help you find it."

Mrs. Larson offered, but Lewis didn't respond. He continued searching on his own.

After ferreting around a pile of assorted items, he finally found what he wanted.

He pulled out a small box from a corner.

He exited the room with the box. Mrs. Larson noticed it was filled with scraps of paper.

Lewis returned to the living room with the box and sat back on the sofa before pouring out the fragments.

He picked up the pieces and painstakingly pieced them together on the table. It was challenging because there were so many pieces, and he had to try them one by one. Although many pieces didn't fit together, he showed no signs of impatience. He assembled them calmly.

Messy hair fell over his lowered head. He was still in his patient's gown. Mrs. Larson thought his focused demeanor made him look like a child.

It was like watching her eight-year-old grandson play with puzzles.

Every time Lewis completed a piece, he would tape it, gently place it aside, and use something to keep it in place.

Mrs. Larson wanted to help, but Lewis stopped her.

So she only stood by and watched him piece the papers. He continued late into the night.

The next day, Conrad came to see Lewis, but he was still working on the papers.

"Chairman Alvarez, there are some documents that need your signature."

Conrad handed him the documents. Lewis took them without even glancing at them. He hastily signed his name and tossed them aside before continuing piecing the papers. "Chairman Alvarez, what are these?"

Lewis ignored him.

Conrad scratched his head. He was worried things might turn worse if Lewis kept behaving this way. But he couldn't think of a better way to handle the situation.

After standing there for a while, Conrad quietly retreated.

Lewis worked tirelessly for a day and a night until he finally completed the puzzle. It was a notebook filled with densely written words.

These were the memories Josephine had written down while she had amnesia, along with her desires.

Lewis turned to a page, and it read. "It seems like I've forgotten some things again, and he's upset with me. We're divorced. We're divorced. We're divorced. I shouldn't approach him again."

"He grew furious when he saw I wanted to ride in a hot air balloon. He seems to have forgotten that he made a promise to me. I lost a kite-flying competition with my classmates in fifth grade. He promised me that he would make a one-of-a-kind, giant kite, bigger than a house, to beat them all.

"I've waited so long, but he didn't make me one. Maybe he's forgotten by now."

"If I forget everything, will I become his favorite little sister again?

"It must be. Lewis said that as long as I obeyed him, he would treat me well for a lifetime. I forgot everyone else and only remember him."

Lewis turned page after page. Even though it was all written in a jumbled mess, each sentence held her helplessness and bitterness.

Mrs. Larson had awakened from her nap. She opened her eyes and saw Lewis still sitting on the sofa, flipping through the notebook. Glancing at the sky, she realized it was dawn again.

Rubbing her eyes, she got up, approached him, and whispered, "Mr. Alvarez, you haven't slept again?"

He turned to the next page without lifting his head and said, "Sleep? What's the point?"

"You need to get some sleep..."

"Sleep? Do I deserve to sleep?" He lightly traced his fingers over the words on the paper. "If only I had carefully gone through this back then, she wouldn't have ..." He stopped midway and chuckled self-mockingly. "It seems like it wouldn't have changed anything anyway. Seth would still jump off the cliff, and she would still leave."

Mrs. Larson gathered her courage and tried to console him. "Mr. Alvarez, try to see it in a positive light. Perhaps it's a form of liberation for Mrs. Alvarez." "I've already promised to release her. What else does she want?" He closed the notebook and lifted the urn. She's clearly punishing me."

Mrs. Larson didn't know how to respond. Her lips twitched.

Holding the urn, Lewis got up and went upstairs to the bedroom.

He placed the urn on the bedside cabinet and caressed the box as if he were touching Josephine's face.

Outside the window, the wind rustled the curtains. In the empty room, even the wind carried a sense of desolation.

For the next two days, Lewis remained behind closed doors. He refused to see anyone who came to visit.

He didn't hold a funeral either. The villa remained as it always had, as if Josephine were still alive.

Mrs. Larson thought he had given up on life, but on the third day, he came downstairs, dressed neatly. He showed no sign of distress.

"Mr. Alvarez, you're up?" Mrs. Larson greeted him eagerly.

Lewis glanced at the empty sofa and silent television.

"Turn on the television."

"Huh?" Mrs. Larson was momentarily puzzled but quickly turned on the TV. She switched to the children's channel. Familiar voices filled the room, bringing some life to the otherwise quiet villa. Now, it felt like someone was actually sitting there watching the television.

Only then did Lewis turn and head to the dining room. He ate his meals and took his medication. And Josephine's place at the table still had clean tableware set out.

Mrs. Larson couldn't help but find his behavior somewhat eerie.

Yet, recalling what happened to Dr. Halliday, she dared not run or even mention resigning.

After breakfast, Lewis left for work as he always did.

His appearance at the company left Conrad astonished. Lewis actually came to work.

Once at the office, Lewis immersed himself in work. He worked from morning till night like a workaholic.

He worked straight through until eleven o'clock in the evening.

Conrad noticed that the lights in his office were still on and couldn't help but knock on the door and enter. To his surprise, Lewis was still busy. "Chairman Alvarez, it's almost midnight."

Lewis paused, raised his wristwatch to check the time, and for a moment, he looked dazed. "You're right."

After contemplating briefly, he stood up, grabbed his coat, and walked out.

Conrad followed him and drove him back to Styx Mansion.

Just before stepping inside, Conrad heard the sound of the television from within. His heart skipped a beat, and he rushed inside before Lewis did.

But upon entering, he found only the television playing. Conrad sighed in disappointment and turned to Lewis, who was also staring in that direction. "Chairman Alvarez, you should rest. I'll head back."

As Conrad left, Lewis walked to the sofa, sat down, and took out his phone. He turned it off and set it aside to focus on the television.

It began drizzling outside in the middle of the night. The pattering sound and the sound from the television echoed across the living room.

The room was dim since most of the lights were turned off. Mrs. Larson came out and was startled to see him. For a moment, she thought it was Josephine sitting there. Josephine used to sit there every night, waiting for his return while the television played on.

No matter how far he went or how long she waited, at least there were times when he returned.

She would wait for him as long as she knew he would return.

But who was he waiting for?

Mrs. Larson fetched a blanket and carefully covered him.

The moment she touched him, Lewis suddenly opened his eyes. He stared blankly at Mrs. Larson, his gaze somewhat vacant, as if he hadn't fully emerged from a dream. Shocked, Mrs. Larson retracted her hand.

Lewis' vision gradually cleared when he heard the sound of rain outside. He closed his eyes and said, "Why do I dream of her whenever I close my eyes? Does it signify something?" Caught off guard, Mrs. Larson replied, "Mr. Alvarez, you must be missing her."