I tried to pull the girl closer to my chest as if I was resisting fate. However, my arms managed to embrace only thin air. I quickly sprang open my startled eyes. Her body, which was leaning against me just a second ago, had completely disappeared. I stood up from the chair and looked around the area. Like the falling curtain of a stage, the color of the sunset steadily darkened. The creeping darkness began to dye the entire forest in pitch black. I stood up straight in the icy winter wind and called out her name. But there was no reply. Neither in the front garden where sprites played, nor in the kitchen—her figure could no longer be found anywhere. Before I realized it, the entire house had been surrounded by darkness. The house’s furniture and walls began to fall apart and disappear as if they were made from paper. Only the rocking chair and myself remained behind in this darkness. Even though no one sat on the chair, it continued to sway back and forth without changing. Katon, koton. Katon, koton. I closed my eyes, plugged my ears, and mustered all my strength to call out her name. My eyes quickly opened to the clear and loud voice. I no longer knew whether I shouted out only within the dream or if I actually called out in reality.