[Short] The Bird Without Hope

-- short story --

How many days have passed since I was locked in here?

Morning, noon, and night.
Meals are brought in regularly.
In portions easy to eat, tailored to my small appetite.

There is a wooden door at the entrance.
It has a small hatch at the bottom,
through which only the tray is passed.

I carry the still-warm food to the receiving slot.

--It's delicious.

When I look up,
light streams in
from the window in the ceiling.

However, that light never reaches me.

The ceiling was so far away.
A cramped room with nothing but the bed I am sitting on now.
There is no light, and it is dim.

Yes.

This was a prison.
If asked if I had done something wrong,

I would answer no.
But, honestly, I didn't know.

--Because I haven't done anything.

Whether this was a good thing or a bad thing,

I had no way of knowing.
Only my sister, who locked me in here,

kept accusing me, saying it was my fault.
A disgrace to the family.

A failure.
A jinx.
That everything happened because of me.

I close my eyes,

and relax my shoulders.
After finishing my meal, I return the tray,

and lie down on the cold sheets.
The chilly air and the darkness must be my punishment.

The blue sky visible through the ceiling window, which I see whether I want to or not,

makes my chest ache.
Tears, for the umpteenth time, streamed down my cheeks.
At that moment,

--Clang

I heard the sound of a padlock opening.

Stopping my tears and rubbing my eyes,

I look toward it.
Standing there was my sister's fiancé.

With a handsome face and eyes filled with kindness,
he looked at me and smiled.
He was a very kind person.
--Even to me.

Enough to make my sister jealous.

"I've come to give you a chance."

What is he saying?
"Now, choose from these three."
Three?

"1. Please let me out.
2. Please forgive me.
3. I love you"

--Well, which one is it?

My body temperature suddenly dropped.

...Ah... ah, ah, this person is...

...What should I do?