Night Voice Pharmacy Night 5: The Night I Put Away My Smile

The Night Voice Pharmacy appeared in a small park on this 'night I put away my smile'.
She sat down on the edge of a bench and whispered to herself, 'I'm so tired.'
There is someone who is always complaining.

They would suddenly become grumpy, and sometimes their anger would be directed at me.
Before I knew it, I became the one who had to take it all in, and as I listened, the depths of my heart grew a little heavier.
Even so, to soften the mood, to make sure no one got hurt, and to keep the situation calm, I had been covering it up with a smile.
Today, for some reason, I felt an irresistible urge to cover my ears.

Even so, I just nodded and just listened.
I stopped forcing myself to smile.

A bicycle passes by in front of the bench.
Somewhere in the distance, someone is laughing.
She stands up.

I should go home now.

That's enough for today.
Just as she thought that, the night breeze gently swayed the hem of her coat.

She wanted to feel the outside air for just a little longer.
She lay down on the slide with all her might.
The cool sensation of the metal traveled to her back.

When she looked up, the moon was larger than she had expected.
She remembered the days when she was a child, lying down just like this and looking up at the sky.


Back then, there was no reason for it; the wind just felt good.
She takes a deep breath.
The heaviness that had accumulated deep in her chest slowly unravels into the night.

Here, you don't have to force yourself to smile.
There is no need to act like you are 'doing okay'.

It is enough to just lie down and watch the moon.
That simple thing was what I needed tonight.

The Night Voice Pharmacy is quietly there, even for those who have put away their smiles.