“Rest well?”
The spirit nodded, childishly waving her feet side to side and smiling.
“…” Rubbing my back, I thought of what else I could say. I wondered why I stepped outside to sit down with the spirit in the first place. I was not much of a conversationalist in the morning. “You don’t… typically sleep in a bed, do you?”
She tilted her head to the side, her eyes curious and her smile fading.
“… A bed…? You know… Ah, nevermind.” I dropped my gaze, combing out the knots in my hair with my fingers. Then, I wondered. “How did you get outside?”
The girl twisted around and lifted her arm, her palm up and fingers together. It took me a moment to remember she was pointing.
“You know how to open it?”
She nodded.
“Ah…” The image of her last night returned to mind. “Then… you know how to get inside, right?”
She shook her head. I frowned in confusion.
“No…? But… it’s the same.”
Her head tilted again, lowering her arm. I lifted my hand and gripped the air, pulling my arm backwards like I would if I were sliding a door. “You can slide open the door the same way… from the outside.”
She shook her head again, furthering my confusion. I stayed silent this time, staring at her face as she patiently returned my gaze, my arm slowly dropping. As I thought of how else I could explain, my eyes inexplicably locked onto her petite nose. Pointed, but not so sharp; the envelope around her nostrils almost perfectly round. Eventually, I turned my gaze away from her, aimlessly staring at the foot of the steps. I did not quite understand what she was getting at. Perhaps I was missing something.
The girl brought her hands together into a clasp between her legs, slouching forward as she began to wave her feet again. She was facing the flower clearing, beaming with gaiety. In response, the florets seemed to glow back as the sunlight accumulated strength. There was a certain liveliness they always brought to the girl.
“You know… How do you understand what I’m saying?”
She looked up, her face wiping. Gradually, her eyebrows slanted outward, lips parting, her eyes cast as if concerned, or ashamed. Her feet came to a halt, and her elbows drew in, her finger grasping tighter.
“I guess it doesn’t help that I can’t understand what you’re saying.”
She slowly nodded.
I yawned again. Perhaps it was not such a good idea to change when I slept. Rubbing my eyes again, I did not continue the topic. There were ways around our communication barrier. Inquiries that could be answered with a nod or a shake was the most reliable way. However, I was not in the mood to put in that effort.
“… Well…” I leaned back, setting my hands on the warm hardwood behind me. “I do have to work today. Like I said before, please stay here until I’m back. And don’t show yourself if anyone else shows up.”
She earnestly nodded, straightening herself, her eyebrows drawing inward to a confident stare.
“… What do you want to eat for breakfast? I have—”
She shook her head.
“… You don’t need to eat?”
She nodded.
“I won’t be back until supper. You will be fine until then?”
She nodded.
“Well… right, then.” With a heave, I got up. “Will you be staying outside… um?”
She nodded. I found it awkward to keep addressing her this way.
“Do you… You don’t have a name, do you?”
She nodded.
“… You do? Have a—?”
She nodded.
“Ah… Well, it would take me forever to guess it.”
Lifting her arm, she pointed it at me.
“…? Me?”
She nodded.
“What…? The same? Elisabeth?”
She shook her head, propping her hand even higher, her shoulder shrugging up a bit. I stared into space, determined to figure out what she was trying to convey.
“… Oh… you mean, Alice?”
She quickly nodded, a huge grin stretching across her cheeks. It was the name I had hastily given her at the wall.
“Ah…” I lightly chuckled. “I see. That’s the only name anyone has given you?”
She nodded again.
“… Right, then, Alice. I’ll see you later.”