[You laughed.]
["Right, right, right, I need to pick carefully. Let me think, which housing development was the hottest again..."]
["Child, have you been doing well lately?"]
[You were lost in recollection and answered casually.]
["With Mom looking after me, of course I have."]
["Aren't you going back?"]
["Huh?"]
[You froze for a moment, then your eyes gradually focused.]
["Mom, what are you saying?"]
[Mom's gaze grew even gentler and more loving.]
["Child, you've been through so very much. You're strong now, and you can say goodbye to your past self. If a ship doesn't have the courage to leave the harbor, how can it discover a new continent? There are more important things waiting for you in this world, aren't there?"]
[You looked at the mother before you, tears welling in your eyes.]
["Mom, do you want me to go?"]
[Mom patted your hand and spoke with a smile.]
["Child, you don't belong here. Go back to where you belong."]
[You lowered your head.]
["At least this time, I can earn enough money to treat your illness. I can keep you with me and spend more time with you, even if all of this is only..."]
[Mom interrupted you, shaking her head.]
["I didn't give birth to you, raise you, and nurture you just to get something back. Knowing you're doing well is enough for me. Let go, child."]
[Everything around you was like a reflection on water. With Mom's words, it was as though a stone had been tossed in. Every reflection began to tremble, ripples spreading across them.]
["Mom..."]
[Neither you nor your mother moved, yet the distance between you seemed to grow at a terrifying speed.]
[Everything around you receded, like the unstoppable carriage of time, rolling ever onward.]
["Where is this taking me?!"]
"Was it