"You have a pair of beautiful eyes."
This was the first time they met,
What Anne said to the five-year-old Aulos.
At that time, Aulos was sitting alone at the end of the lawn in front of Holmes's old house, Musgrave Manor. She watched Shylock and his "Red Beard" play pirate games together from afar. She wanted to play too,
But she couldn't join in.
It was at this moment that Annie appeared out of nowhere.
Then she said that sentence with a gentle smile.
That day..,
They sat under the beech tree together for the whole afternoon. Annie would occasionally say a few words. Other than glancing at her with those beautiful eyes that were praised at the beginning, Oulos had been immersed in her own world the whole time.
She didn't say a word.
When she left, Anne drew a small painting for her.
Aulos pressed the small painting under her pillow. When she got up the next day, she calmly took it out and looked at it,
Then she was sure,
That person was not a figment of his imagination.
From then on, every time Aulos was alone, Anne would appear. The second time they met, she reached out to her,
She said, "My name is Anne De Boer,
You can call me Anne. "
Anne De Boer,
She was the first,
And the only friend.
Anne taught her to draw,
She also taught her to play the violin.
She told her, "I know someone who plays the violin very well,
A very warm person. You're very similar. "
But Anne didn't play the violin very well,
It was even a little bad,
Aulos learned very quickly,
It didn't take long for her to surpass her.
Anne stroked her hair in admiration and said with a smile, "Actually, I play the piano better. I'll play it for you when I have the chance."
Aulos had waited for this promise for 24 years.
Anne had been with her for seven months.
Aulos would always remember the gentle smile on her face and the sound of her voice. The sun shone down through the layers of beech leaves and landed on her golden hair. It was as if nothing in the world could disturb her peace. Aulos always became very quiet beside her.
After Anne disappeared, Aulos sat under the tree and waited for her for a month.
Just like the first day they met, Aulos watched Shylock and Red Beard play pirate games from afar.
The five-year-old Aulos didn't understand why they didn't get tired of the same game after so long. She also didn't understand why Shylock's was still there when her friend disappeared..
When the grass was covered with golden beech leaves, Aulos calmly burned all the paintings that she and Anne had drawn together, the ancient beech tree, and the entire Musgrave manor..
.
Gibran said, "Don't forget why we set off just because we've gone too far."
"Anne" had really gone too far, and she had been gone for too long. But she had never forgotten why she set off.
Aulos was right. Shylock was dead. This was the darkest nightmare for Anne — whether it was the current her or the past her.
"No one or anything can separate us. Except death. "
When Shylock said this, "Anne" didn't immediately sense the ominous meaning behind it. Until this ominous and bloody thing was laid out in front of her.
Aulos was wrong about one thing. She didn't want to kill Shylock. She loved Shylock. She had loved him since she was young. She wanted to kill "Anne," but Shylock blocked the bullet.
That wasn't the first time Shylock had been shot, but he wasn't so lucky this time. "Anne" wasn't either. He died on the hospital bed in the emergency room.
"Anne" lay beside Shylock's cold body and hugged him for the entire night.
Everyone was worried that Shylock's death would completely destroy her, and that was indeed the case because she couldn't accept Shylock's death at all.
She wanted to save him.
She met the Doctor Who, who was forced to stay on Earth because the TARDIS was damaged. This was "Anne's" last life-saving straw.
Have you watched "The Butterfly Effect"?
"Anne" was like the male protagonist in this movie. She returned to the past time and time again, trying to change an already established ending.
The doctor had said that his principle was to only observe and not interfere with other people and other planets. This wasn't an empty statement, unless this planet was being invaded by other alien civilizations. He was protecting the safety and balance of the entire galaxy.
Every huge consequence was determined by a small cause. Time often had a fixed trajectory. Forcefully reversing it would only bring about a worse ending.
"Anne" couldn't remember how many times she had faced Shylock's death. She didn't want to remember these things. Her heart, which wasn't strong enough to begin with, was ripped open and dragged out with her flesh and blood, pierced through the thorns again and again …
Before she completely collapsed, the doctor decided to send her to the place 24 years ago, where everything had yet to begin and was about to begin.
Aulos didn't know that the seven months that "Anne" accompanied her were also seven months that "Anne" healed herself.
That kind of peace and quiet had been away from "Anne" for too long. After Sherlock's death, she had almost completely sunk into a stubborn frenzy.
The 29-year-old Aulos killed her Shylock, but "Anne" couldn't bring those feelings of despair to the five-year-old Aulos.
"Anne" knew that this was such a lonely child when she saw little Aulos sitting alone under the tree for the first time. Lonely and confused.
Little Aulos held a small blue airplane toy in her hand and looked at Shylock not far away with a calm gaze that didn't belong to her age …
Yes, there was also Shylock … The six-year-old Shylock was no longer just an old photo. He was wearing a pirate hat and running in front of "Anne" so lively.
Perhaps to Aulos, "Anne" took away Shylock that belonged to her. She wanted to get her brother back, so she wanted to make "Anne" disappear, just like how she made Victor disappear.
"Anne" had been watching all of this from afar. After three whole days, she sorted out all her thoughts, adjusted her mentality, and appeared in front of Aulos.
Yes, all the big consequences were destined by small causes. She wanted to rewrite this "cause."
"Anne" once said that the arrogant and willful Shylock was like her little child. Now that there was really such a child in front of her, she gave all her patience and care to Aulos.
She not only taught Aulos how to draw and play the violin, but also taught her the emotions of an ordinary person.
"Anne" showed all her true feelings to Aulos so that she could feel them. She encouraged her to play with Shylock and told her parents her thoughts. "Anne"'s gentleness and gentleness perfectly accommodated little Aulos' indifference and coldness.
"Anne" almost succeeded. Aulos began to talk to her and allowed her to touch her hair. Once, little Aulos pretended to hold "Anne's" hand unintentionally. When they parted that day, "Anne" gave her a big hug, and the little girl didn't refuse …
"Anne" really almost succeeded, if there were no accidents later …
When the rain outside the glass window gradually subsided, "Anne" stopped recalling.
Everyone stood still in a daze.
Only "Anne" was still calm. When she recalled these, there was no obvious painful expression on her face, only faint melancholy and loneliness.
She was like an old person who had walked through everything, standing at the end of the road and looking back. Those roads were winding, muddy, smooth, thorny, and picturesque. No matter what it was, she had walked step by step. Although there were regrets, she had done her best.
A huge sourness slowly gushed out from her nose. Anne stared blankly at the face that was identical to hers, and her slender white fingers trembled slightly.
Shylock was dead … Just this possibility was unacceptable to her, but the other "her" not far away had already experienced it, and had experienced it several times …
How could "she" bear it?!
She couldn't bear it.
But when it really happened, she could only bear it with all her might.
At this moment, Anne only wanted to walk over and stand in front of "her". She didn't know how to comfort "her". Perhaps any comfort would be useless, but she just wanted to be closer to "her".
That was herself! Only Anne truly understood how painful it had been for "her" to say everything so casually!
However, just as Anne moved, a hand immediately reached out from the side and grabbed her.
Anne turned around and saw Shylock standing beside her. She didn't even notice when he came in.
Then, did he hear it just now? Did he hear him …
Shylock grabbed her wrist, and his slender and deep eyes flashed across the red mark on the back of her hand. Then, he looked at her and shook his head gently.
Anne was stunned. She turned around and saw Aulos quietly looking at the even quieter "Anne" opposite her.
Yes, the crisis in front of her hadn't been resolved yet.
After a while, Aulos said coldly, "You're lying. You know … I'll never …"
She didn't finish her sentence, but "Anne" knew what she was going to say. She would never hurt her, let alone kill her — even though she wouldn't forgive her.
"I know you won't," "Anne" said. Her eyes flashed, and her tone became softer. "But Aulos, you didn't know me last time."
Aulos looked at her silently for a while, then suddenly smiled.
"So, you admit it. Everything you've done is for Sherlock. The time and feelings you've given me are all for ulterior motives! "
"Anne" shook her head slowly, her voice soft.
"Human feelings are complicated, Aulos. I did go back in time 24 years because of Shylock, but that doesn't mean that my promise to stay with you wasn't sincere, nor does it mean that the love and time I gave you were fake. I really wanted to do that. "
"Another lie!" There was a stubborn insistence in Aulos's accusation. "You left!"
"Anne" sighed as if she was very tired.
"Yes, I left. I'm sorry, Aulos. " Her voice became even softer. "To you, I've been gone for 24 years, but to me, it's a much longer time."
"Anne" stopped for a few seconds, and her gaze became distant.
"I didn't abandon you, Aulos. I was … sucked into a time crack. "
Aulos was stunned.
Anne's fingertips suddenly jumped, and a warm feeling filled her eyes. Shylock grabbed her wrist tightly.
"Anne" stopped for a while, as if these memories made her a little tired.
She closed her eyes and said, "I don't know how all of this happened. When I woke up, I was already there, in an eternally still space. At first, I thought I was dead, but after a long wait, I really hoped that I was dead … "
This time, she paused for a longer time.
Anne and Aulos looked at her indescribably, especially Anne. She felt that she couldn't control the warmth in her eyes.
Shylock's expression didn't change at all. Only Anne felt that his grip on her wrist was getting tighter and tighter. In the end, it hurt, but she didn't say anything.
"Annie" sensed it and smiled slightly.
"You guys look like you're going to cry for me," she said with a smile.
Anne felt even worse.
Olosi, on the other hand, awkwardly looked away.
"Anne" continued, "Fortunately, the doctor found me later, and I found out … that I was trapped there … for 36 years …"
The room became even quieter. The sea breeze blew in through the gap in the glass.
"Aulos," "Anne" finally said, "I'm not telling you this to gain sympathy. I just want you to know that I didn't abandon you. I never did."
Aulos was silent for a long time. She leaned against the back of the wide chair and didn't move, as if she was completely immersed in her own thoughts.
No one disturbed her.
After a long while, Aulos's shallow pupils moved. She looked at "Anne's" face, which had not changed at all from 24 years ago, and asked softly, "If it weren't for them today, would you come out to see me?"
"Anne" said, "Yes."
Aulos didn't say anything else.
"Anne" suddenly walked towards her until she was in front of her.
Aulos sat still and looked up at her.
At this moment, "Annie" suddenly felt that the person in front of her was still that five-year-old girl. She looked up at her with a gaze filled with judgment, alienation, confusion, and hidden longing.
The smile on "Anne"'s face became gentler, and she reached out to touch her head.
"Aulos, I have a question to ask you, but I don't know if this decision is right, but I hope you can think about it carefully."
Aulos just looked at her.
"Anne" stared into her eyes and said, "I'm leaving. Are you willing to go with me?"
Aulos's calm and cold expression finally showed a trace of panic.
"Where are we going?"
"Back to the 19th century with me."
Everyone was shocked. From the beginning to the end, only the doctor, who knew everything, was quiet and calm.
"An …" Anne wanted to call "her".
But she was interrupted by Aulos's chuckle.
"You want to take me away because you've tried countless times. As long as I'm here, Shylock might die, right?" Aulos stood up from the chair and looked at "Anne" at the same level. "So you want to take me away from his world completely. You're protecting him."
"Anne" didn't deny it and nodded quietly.
"Yes."
Aulos looked at her.
"Anne" also looked at her.
"But this is not the only reason. I'm taking you away because I want to. Even without all this, I still want to take you away, Aulos — if you're willing. "
Mcauliffe, who had been standing beside Watson, finally couldn't help but speak.
"'Anne' …" But just as he said this, he met "Anne"'s gaze. The Government of Great Britain, who had always been calm, was instantly speechless.
"Anne" understood what he meant and said softly, "I know that Aulos is under your 'protection,' but I can assure you, Mcauliffe, that I know Aulos's ability. I will control and take good care of her. I hope you can agree. "
It was like two parents discussing the child's "custody issue."
Aulos snorted softly and said with some condescension, "I don't need his consent."
"Anne" curved her lips and looked at Mcauliffe. She paused for a moment, "If you need to inform your parents …"
Aulos interrupted indifferently, "No need."
"Anne" didn't say anything else. She and Aulos both knew that this meant a definite answer.
"Anne" looked at Mcauliffe. After a long while, the latter finally nodded gently.
"Thank you," said "Anne".
It wasn't until this moment that she finally looked in the direction of Anne and Shylock. When the calmness on her face swept over Shylock, there was a moment of stagnation.
Anne had been waiting for "her," but when "her" finally looked over, she didn't know what kind of expression to face her.
"Anne's" gaze swept over Shylock's face gently and finally stopped on the thin figure beside him.
"She" looked at her for a few seconds and then said softly, "Come here, Anne."
Anne slowly walked over and stopped in front of "her."
The person opposite her was another "her." But at this moment, being stared at by "her" silent gaze, Anne felt like she was facing an elder who had seen the vicissitudes of life.
Anne heard "her" say in such a familiar voice, "I've been waiting in that space-time rift for too long. It's been so long that time has gradually lost its meaning. So, the real Anne, don't be sad, because whether it's the sadness or regret of separation, it has faded in the endless time. "
Really?
But Anne didn't believe it.
She had said that all the fears added up were not as terrifying as leaving Shylock.
This was also what "she" had said.
They were the same person.
Therefore, Anne didn't believe it at all. No matter how calm and indifferent "she" appeared, she didn't believe it.
"She" had used all her strength to save their Shylock. Now, "she" had finally succeeded and finally lost him completely.
Anne couldn't let "her" do this. She didn't even have the right to let "her" do this.
Seeing Anne's thoughts, "she" raised her hand and stopped her from saying anything.
"Don't be sad, Anne. I'm going home. You know that I've always wanted to go home. We each got a part of the perfection, and we each left a part of the regret. But this is life, isn't it? Don't worry, I'll take good care of Mom, Darcy, and Georgiana. Everything will be fine. "
"She" chuckled. "See, I said that this time, the god of luck is on your side."
Annie felt a lump in her throat. So that lucky sign was given to her by "her".
Anne could only watch "her" standing there with a smile, so tired, so distant, and so … lonely. That was her, the other her …
But even if "she" was standing in front of her, Anne didn't know how to comfort "her".
"Shylock …" Anne subconsciously looked for his hand. "Hug 'her', Shylock, please, hug 'her'!"
But under Shylock's clear and heavy gaze, "Anne" slowly shook her head.
His eyes were still as beautiful as when "she" first saw him, like a clear blue lake, reflecting thousands of stars.
"Her" hand moved slightly, wanting to touch his cheek and hair one last time, but in the end, she resisted.
"It's okay, Shylock. Maybe you don't believe it, but I'm really happy now. Because what remains in my last memory is no longer your death. This is the best thing for me. And I know that you will be very happy, "she said in a calm and soft voice." It's good now. "
It's really good …
The rain on the sea had stopped, and the sky was completely dark. There was no moon in the dark night sky, nor was there a trace of starlight. It was like a huge space-time black hole.
Anne suddenly recalled the scene when Shylock and the others left in the 19th century. At that time, the person who helped them was Doctor Strange. Everyone lined up and walked into the portal one by one.
Now that she thought about it, those things seemed like a lifetime ago.
Anne never thought that three years later, she would finally have the chance to go home, but the person who went back was her, not her.
The door of the blue police booth slowly closed in front of her. This was a farewell that didn't need to be said, because nothing would change after "she" left.
A few seconds later, the door of the magical blue police booth was suddenly opened, and a smiling face poked out.
"I'm just asking."
Doctor Who leaned half of his body out and looked at Anne with a smile. "Maybe you want to hitch a ride to say goodbye?"
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