How could you think that way? If you die, I''ll cry. Charlene will too." When he accidentally revealed this thought to Edith, she pouted, angry and sad.
Raphael suddenly felt so happy. He really wanted to see Edith shed tears for his death. He couldn''t sleep the whole night, lying in bed and keeping thinking about this.
He thought, how blissful it would be to see others cry for himself. But if he were to die, how could he witness it?
Raphael didn''t expect that in the end, the one who wept would be himself.
It was around the summer of 1781 when one day Edith suddenly stopped coming to play with him and his sister. Every day, he would push Charlene and stand at the garden gate, craning their necks and looking out, but she didn''t show up for several days.
When Edith appeared in front of the two of them again, her eyes were swollen like two peach kernels, dressed in simple black mourning dress.
"I''m leaving tomorrow morning, Charlene, Raphael. Auntie is taking me to Rouen," she told the two of them, rubbing her eyes. Her voice was hoarse.
"Why are you suddenly leaving, Edith? When will you come back?" Charlene anxiously held onto her little friend''s hands.
"You''re not coming back, are you?" Raphael quickly followed up. It would be years later when he realised that his ominous pessimism had already shown its signs.
"I don''t know. My home here is gone. Even if I come back, I might not have a place to stay," Edith replied.
"Oh, poor, poor Edith!" Charlene immediately understood her friend''s meaning and hugged her tightly.
The two little girls pressed their cheeks together and cried.
Reluctant to part, they exchanged many intimate words and kissed each other''s cheeks again and again.
"Adieu, adieu!" It was not until the sky had completely darkened that Edith finally walked away in the direction of the village, turning to look back at every step.
Throughout it all, she never came over to give him a hug.
It rained heavily that night. Raphael stood by the window crying. With the raindrops on his face, no one could tell that he was shedding tears.