A few days later, Norm-san's husband finally got a permanent job at a sword-making factory.
Because he had decent skills, he received a higher salary compared to his previous job.
Norm-san and her child welcomed this with joy.
Their family no longer had to worry about how to make money, since they now had a stable job.
——
40 years later...
Their child now worked part-time at a food shop.
Her husband was still retained at the sword-making factory, and she herself was still working at the library.
In the past 40 years, this library had always been in the safe zone... its visitors always remained steady and almost never declined.
Norm-san also enjoyed her work every day.
Sometimes Norm-san wondered, in ten years would the three of them still be together? What about ten years after that?
But the reality was, the lifespan of elves would always be longer compared to that of humans.
Humans would never be able to live for hundreds of years like the elf race.
And, if a human and an elf lived a life together, then one of them had to be prepared for separation.
——
Upon reaching the age of 90, Norm-san had lost all of her family.
Her child and her husband died due to a dangerous virus that spread throughout the city.
Norm-san knew her family would die earlier than her... but for her, it was still painful.
Norm-san looked into the mirror, her body and face still youthful as if she were still young.
Seeing her face reminded her of her daily life with her child and husband.
She felt guilty, frustrated, angry...
She felt as if she had made a mistake by loving and marrying a human.
If only she hadn't married that human, maybe she wouldn't have had to experience such painful things.
"WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE STILL ALIVE!?!? WHY!?!" , Norm-san held her head as she looked into the mirror.
Her heart was full of sorrow, hatred, and regret.
"WHY DID I HAVE TO MARRY HIM!? WHY DID I WANT TO HAVE A CHILD WITH HIM!? WHY, WHY, WHY!?!?!?!" , Norm-san sank further into her uncontrollable emotions.
The world where she had once been happy had now changed.
There was no one to welcome her home anymore, no one to hold her as she slept.
——
Norm-san took leave from her work at the library, which was now fully managed by Elze.
Arven-san had also passed away 5 years ago, due to his already frail body.
But now the library had more employees compared to the previous decades.
So there would no longer be any staffing crisis.
Only Elze was the person closest to Norm-san now.
Hearing about Norm-san's poor condition, Elze decided to visit her.
There, Elze hugged her and tried to comfort her. She said a few words that might build Norm-san's spirit.
But unfortunately, Norm-san was already consumed with guilt and despair. She was in a state where no one could reach her.
In the afternoon, Elze left Norm-san's room with her face full of tears.
——
A few days later, Norm-san felt a dangerous urge within her body... she wanted to commit suicide.
She took a small knife from the table and pointed it at her neck, her hands trembling in fear.
Her eyes looked restless and her body had grown thin from her irregular eating.
CLANG, Norm-san aborted her intention to end her life.
At such a moment, she suddenly remembered her child and husband.
——
Still on the same day, at night.
Norm-san decided to sleep early, as her eyes already felt so heavy.
Suddenly she woke up in a place she did not recognize.
Around her there was nothing, the ground beneath her feet was a cluster of water that felt so dense.
Looking behind, ahead, or to the sides, this place seemed to have no end.
"Could it be... that I've already died?" , muttered Norm-san.
"Hahahaha... finally I've died too... at least now I can meet the two of you... wait for me—"
CLUNG, suddenly there was the sound of water, as if someone had just stepped on it.
Norm-san immediately turned around after hearing that sound.
"Y-you..."
Norm-san saw her husband holding the hand of her child, both of them looking at her with their forms as they were 40 years ago.
Norm-san froze in place.
Her face, once filled with madness and despair, turned back into her usual gentle expression.
"Mother, you're not dead yet," , said her child.
"Maybe this is just our last meeting as a family... so please listen, okay?" , her husband also spoke.
"What do you mean?" , asked Norm-san.
"We both are indeed gone... and this is not your fault, Norm. I knew that I would die before you... but I still loved you, I wanted to always be with you" , (her husband)
"But the two of us are gone not because of age, but because of illness, right? So, this is no one's fault... this was fate" , her husband continued.
"I also knew, Mom... that you'd live longer than me... but I never once complained, because my mom is still my mom, right?" , said her child.
Unknowingly, Norm-san began to cry.
"This is my fault, I couldn't heal you when you were sick... this is my fault as a mother" , said Norm-san.
"If only I could have granted your wishes... maybe we could still be together now" , continued Norm-san.
"In that case, keep on living, Norm."
"I want to see you enjoy the long life you still have."
Norm-san fell silent for a moment, then laughed softly.
"How can I live this life without you??" , said Norm-san.
"That's easy... the three of us are always together, aren't we? Even if not physically, in our hearts we will always be a family" , said her husband while pointing to Norm-san's chest.
This made Norm-san's chest feel so warm and comforting.
"Mother, Dad and I may not have much longer..." , said her child.
Slowly, the two of them walked closer to Norm-san.
Then they both held each other's hands.
"It feels strange like this.." , said her husband.
Then they released each other's hands and looked at Norm-san.
"Norm, I won't ask you to forgive us, and I also won't apologize to you... this incident is the result of what we all did" , (her husband)
"Mother, I'll always be with you forever~!"
Norm-san cried again, but this time her tears were deeper and stronger than before.
Her husband slowly stepped forward and wiped Norm-san's tears with his hand.
"Come on... don't cry, it makes me feel like crying too..." , said her husband, whose eyes also looked watery.
"Mother, Father..." , her child also cried because they had to part with their mother.
Slowly, like sand blown by the wind, their bodies began to disappear.
"See you later, Norm"
"Mother, I'm leaving now, okay?"
And finally, the two of them vanished, leaving Norm behind.
Norm could not control her emotions, she collapsed and cried.
Her cries felt so deep and painful, releasing all the emotions she had been holding inside all this time.
This memory would always be engraved in her heart, and she would never forget it no matter what.
——
This was everything that Norm-san told me yesterday (Cyve).
When I heard it yesterday, I also couldn't hold back my tears, my feelings were so mixed up.
——
Norm-san said that after that incident she asked Elze to give her a quarter of the books in the library.
Norm-san built a house in the forest not far from the elf village where I lived, and filled her house with books.
For Norm-san, she no longer regretted what she had done in the past, because she finally understood what love was and how it felt to have a family that would always be with you forever.