"Ukeh... Cough!"
The sound of her coughing lingered softly in the room as the Matriarch clutched her throat, struggling to catch her breath. As her face started to regain color, I stared at her with a smile, finding her current struggle to be somewhat amusing.
'This is the very same woman whom I used to think of as a mother. Seeing her like this... it really does pain my heart.'
But at the same time...
I knew that this woman wasn't the same woman that I knew.
"Have you coughed enough?"
"U... kh!"
Lifting her head, she stared in my direction, her eyes trembled.
"Y-you..."
"I, what?"
Tilting my head, I raised my hand.
Immediately, she flinched, but I just brushed my hair back.
"I'm not going to touch you, don't worry."
Well, maybe.
I didn't really have plans at the moment.
But maybe soon.
"W-why are you... d-doing this to me? Why are you..."
"Ah, stop it."
I waved my hand at her.
Honestly, seeing her like this, I felt sick.
