The car ride home was suffocating. My father didn’t utter a word, but his silence weighed heavier than words. Familiar streets passed by the window, each corner evoking memories of a childhood under strict surveillance.

Once we arrived, he firmly led me inside, his fingers gripping my wrist tightly.

“Sit down!” he ordered, pushing me toward the living room sofa.

The room, with its dark wood furniture and heavy curtains, suddenly felt more oppressive. My mother was waiting for us, arms crossed, her face like a mask of steel.

“What happened, Yui?” she asked, though I could tell she already knew the answer. My father had likely called her on the way.

I sat down, my head lowered, unable to bear their accusatory gazes.

“I’m sorry, Mother, Father. I just wanted to spend some time with my friends.”

“Spend time with friends?” My father let out a joyless laugh. “Is this how you thank us? By hanging out with useless company and getting deplorable grades? Look at this!”

He held up my latest report card, his finger pointing to a particularly low math grade.

“We provided you with every resource to succeed…” my mother said, her voice trembling slightly with anger. “And this is how you betray us?”

“I didn’t mean to... I just wanted... a little freedom…” I murmured, my voice breaking from shame and frustration.

The words struggled to escape my mouth, as if trapped by my fear.

“Freedom?” My father repeated the word with contempt. “Freedom is a privilege, Yui, not a right. You’ve done nothing to earn it.”

Each word they spoke hurt deeply, like dagger blows. A muted anger began to rise in me, but I knew it was useless to fight back. They would never understand. But suddenly, somehow, words slipped out of my mouth.

“Maybe if you didn’t treat me like a prisoner and didn’t put so much pressure on me, I would have better grades and wouldn’t have had to hide this outing from you…”

I came back to my senses and realized what I had just said. What was I thinking, saying that? I was really messing up today.

I looked up to see my father’s reaction. Then, in a burst of anger, he raised his hand and slapped me hard. Pain shot through my face like lightning, and I stood paralyzed with shock.

“Don’t you ever dare disobey us or talk back again. Pressure? Prisoner? Is this how you thank us?” he said, his voice filled with rage. His eyes burned with fury, and I could see the muscles in his jaw clenching.

The pain felt unbearable, but beyond the physical blow, it was the emotional pain that crushed me. I had always done what you asked of me, always met your expectations, always pushed myself to the point of suffering and forgetting myself completely. But did you ever genuinely care about me? Did you ever wonder what I felt, what I wanted? Did you ever ask for my opinion? Did you ever give me sincere love?

Am I the problem? No, it’s you. You are so preoccupied with social status, with what others might think, with success, that you’ve forgotten what it means to be a parent. You are horrible and bad parents. I’m not the problem, no, it’s you, Father and Mother!

---

That night, locked in my room, I finally let the tears flow. Not just for the slap, but for this whole life I was leading, this existence under tight surveillance, this heartache that wouldn’t go away and had accumulated over time, that I kept trying to repress.

The walls of my room, once a refuge, now felt oppressive. The posters of serene landscapes I had hung to mentally escape were no longer enough. I looked around, the walls seeming to close in on me, almost suffocating me. I couldn’t bear this controlled, constantly monitored life any longer.

Why me? Why do I have to live like this? I am human too; all this exhausts and hurts me. Couldn’t I just once dream of an ordinary life? All those things that seem ordinary to others, I dream of them, knowing that they will only remain a dream.

Then, the idea sprouted in my mind. To leave. To get away from it all. I knew it was risky, but I had nothing left to lose. Silently, I got up and opened the drawer where I kept my savings. It wasn’t money saved to escape, just money I’d never had the chance to spend, since I was never free to do so in my own way.

My heart no longer raced; the adrenaline and fear that would have once flooded me were gone. Whether my parents discovered my plan or not, whether the consequences were terrible, it no longer mattered. What was this new feeling that kept me from feeling anything?

I climbed out my bedroom window, cautiously descending along the gutter. Each movement was calculated, every sound a potential alert. My feet touched the ground gently, and I took a deep breath, savoring the fresh night air.

The full, bright moon lit my path with a silvery light. The trees, standing like silent guardians, seemed to encourage me to keep going.

Where would I go now? Was there even a place that would take me in?

Then only one place came to mind: Lake Towada. I quickly walked to the bus stop, praying not to run into anyone along the way.

At the bus stop, I boarded a bus heading toward Lake Towada. This place symbolized my freedom, a place where I could be myself, far from my parents' expectations and demands.

The memories of times spent there with my grandmother warmed my heart. I remembered our laughter, her stories, and the peace I felt by her side. It was as if her spirit was guiding me, showing me the way to peace and freedom.

Sitting in the bus, watching the city lights fade, I felt a mix of apprehension and excitement swelling within me. The bus vibrations seemed to resonate with my heartbeat.

---

After several hours of travel, I finally arrived at Lake Towada. The air was fresh, filled with the scent of pines and wildflowers. The lake stretched before me, serene and mysterious under the moonlight. The water’s surface glistened softly, reflecting the stars in the night sky. It felt like stepping into a waking dream.

I walked slowly toward the lake, memories of moments spent here with my grandmother flooding back.

The shimmering blue butterflies, just like in my dream, suddenly appeared, dancing around me in an enchanting ballet. They seemed to invite me to follow them, and without hesitation, I approached the water’s edge.

I looked at my reflection in the lake, searching for answers in the ripples of the water. Although it was my reflection I saw, I didn’t know this person. I didn’t know myself. Tears welled up inside me. I’m so pathetic. My life is so miserable.

Suddenly, a noise behind me startled me. I quickly turned, my heart racing, but saw nothing. Then, a cat slipped quickly between my feet, causing me to lose my balance. Before I could steady myself, I fell into the lake.

I couldn’t swim. The icy water enveloped me, and I felt my body sinking into the lake’s depths. Air bubbles slowly rose to the surface as I sank lower and lower. The blue butterflies continued to dance around me, lighting my descent with a magical glow.

As the air ran out, a strange calm washed over me. Oddly, I didn’t struggle. Maybe that dream I had was a kind of premonition. Despite the initial panic, I felt strangely reassured. If this was to be the end, at least I would be free. Free from this life of constraints and surveillance.

I think I understand now what this feeling is that makes me indifferent to all these emotions: despair.

My thoughts began to fade, and I surrendered to this sensation of peace. The lake’s depths engulfed me, but instead of fear, I felt a serenity I had never known before. At last, I could be calm and free.

Suddenly, a bright light appeared below me, blinding and dazzling. Before I could understand what was happening, I passed through this bright point and felt my body pulled in another direction. The underwater world abruptly disappeared, and I found myself thrown into the void, as if I had crossed an invisible portal.

I was now falling from the sky, the wind whistling in my ears. The landscape stretching below me was not one I knew. It was a beautiful and magical world, with lush forests, shimmering rivers, and majestic mountains. The sky was tinted with incredible colors—shades of pink, purple, and blue—as if the twilight there was eternal.

Fantastic creatures flew around me, birds with shining feathers and luminous beings I couldn’t identify. The blue butterflies, my glowing companions, continued to whirl around me, guiding my descent.

The wind caressed my face, and despite the speed of my fall, I felt a deep peace, a sense of total liberation.

I was so absorbed and impressed by what I saw that I forgot I was falling. Is this heaven? I wondered. If it is, then I’m dead. I wonder how my father and mother will react. Will they finally be happy not to have me anymore? Me, the bad daughter in their eyes.

As I approached the ground at an alarming speed, I saw something move below me. A large cat, with soft and thick fur, emerged from the underbrush. An enormous cat, almost my size. Its amber eyes shone with intelligence and surprising gentleness. It stood on its hind legs, stretching out its front paws, ready to catch me.

The contact was soft, almost comforting. It caught me gently, cushioning my fall. Its thick, warm fur enveloped me, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I wasn’t alone in this strange world. The cat looked at me kindly, its large eyes full of curiosity and gentleness.

Instead of feeling panic or questioning where I was, I was captivated by this enormous, yet cute cat. I loved cats, so seeing such a large one was a dream!

“A big cat! So cool!” I said, hugging it with a playful voice.

“A human!” it said, hugging me back with the same playful tone.

I gently stroked the cat’s fur, feeling a bond forming between us—a bond that promised many adventures to come.