(Viewpoint: Ki-Moon)
The wind is still howling when I jump.
My body plunges into the void, gripped by the cold. The air cuts off my breath, my clothes slap violently against my already damaged skin.
But… I let myself go.
letting me down.
The ground is approaching rapidly.
Very quickly.
And-
TAC !
The rope suddenly tightens.
My body stops abruptly in a sharp shock, my arm screams under the strain, but I grit my teeth.
I let myself slide down the rest of the way, my boots rubbing against the icy wall until I finally reach the ground and I let go.
My legs buckle beneath me.
Leaving me crouching for a few seconds.
Then I raise my head
The jump is shorter than I imagined.
The wind still whistles in my ears, the roll clutched in my hand, I turn around and leave
The cabin is already far away.
The village… it hasn't changed.
The same roofs, covered in white.
The same slow silhouettes.
The same looks that greet me.
They look like zombies.
Nobody approaches me.
They all stayed in the distance, whispering amongst themselves, then a woman caught my eye.
She lowered them immediately.
A man completely moved out of the way to let me pass, as if my presence was disturbing him.
I'll continue.
Walking while observing them.
–You're back.
I stopped, surprised by the voice.
The little girl was there.
Bouncing behind me.
I look at her without speaking, then she tilts her head slightly.
– What were you talking about?
I run a hand through my hair, still damp with melted snow.
– a child should not ask this kind of question to an adult
Silence.
She observes my hands. My clothes. My feet.
– We must be the same age, it's just that I can't look my age
I'm not answering, I hadn't thought of that possibility.
She turns on her heels and skips off into the distance.
"Come," she ordered.
I follow her without a word.
The village is more lively than I had noticed.
Not noisy.
But… organized.
Groups.
Repeated gestures.
Glances exchanged without words.
The little girl stops in front of a low house.
– You can't leave.
I frown slightly.
– You want to keep me, you like me that much?
She looks at me.
Calm.
– No, you big idiot, the road doesn't exist yet.
Pause .
– It opens after the avalanche.
The word remains suspended.
I don't react right away.
– What avalanche?
She points towards the horizon.
– from the mountain.
Pause.
– it will flow all the way here
The wind is blowing between us.
I understand.
Not entirely.
But enough.
- When ?
"One month," she whispered.
One month.
My gaze glides over the village.
About these people.
On this snow.
Regarding this expectation.
I nod.
- All right .
She blinks her eyes.
As a surprise.
Then she smiled slightly.
– You just accept it like that?
Would anything change if I didn't do it?
She thinks.
– Non.
- SO…
I walk past her.
– There's no point in wasting time.
A week passes.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
I get up early.
Always.
Before the others.
At first, nobody spoke to me.
I was simply ignored.
Glances.
Silences.
Sometimes a nod of the head.
Nothing more.
They never argued in my presence.
Today marks the start of the second week.
I approach anyway.
The men were cutting wood outside.
I take an axe without asking them.
They looked at me, one approached and tried to dissuade me.
I knock.
Once.
Just.
Twice.
Better.
Three times.
Again.
The noise attracts other eyes.
I'll continue.
Without speaking.
Without stopping.
The others watched me out of the corner of their eyes.
And when I had finished, I put the axe back exactly where I found it and left.
The man said nothing.
But the next day…
They don't stop me when I arrive.
A woman is carrying blocks of glass
The bucket trembled in his hands.
I'll take it.
She jumps.
I don't look at her and I walk on.
She hesitates.
Then he follows me.
Having arrived at my destination, I set down the bucket.
She opens her mouth but I'm already gone.
The group of men rebuilt the fence.
I climb.
Without an invitation.
Without a word.
A glance.
Then they let me do it.
Gradually…
Attitudes are changing.
The little girl is still there.
She never misses a day to annoy me.
Observing my every move.
– Are you pretending?
I'm stopping.
- What ?
– I don't know, why do you want to leave when you're doing everything to integrate?
I look at her.
– I'm not following you?
She tilts her head.
– Forget it and stay with us, it's much better here.
Silence.
I smile slightly.
- maybe .
She frowns.
But he doesn't reply.
Tonight.
The wind is stronger.
The village is gathered around the fire.
I stay back, a blanket over my head, watching the flames dance.
– The wave is arriving earlier this year.
– The defenses are not strong enough.
– We lack manpower and time.
I am not yet one of them
The little girl sits down next to me.
– You're looking for something.
I'm not looking at her.
– Everyone is looking for something.
Silence.
She is playing with the snow.
– Do you still want to leave?
– Why do you want me to stay?
I turn my head slightly towards her.
She stares at me.
A long time.
– You are going to die.
I smile.
– We all die one day.
Pause.
– You're the only one my age, all the others are old bones with ideals stuck in time
The little girl whispers:
– You've already managed to integrate
I'm not answering.
Because it's not true.
Not yet if I want their support.