The rain was relentless, hammering down on the city streets, turning the sidewalks slick and shiny. Suhyun's footsteps echoed softly as she hurried home, her mind racing through the day's lessons. Suddenly, a sharp cry cut through the storm.
She stopped.
A man stumbled in the alley ahead — blood pooling beneath him. A child clung to his side, eyes wide with fear.
Without hesitation, Suhyun ran forward. Kneeling beside him, her hands went to work, pressing against the deep stab wound.
"Hold still. I'm going to help you," she whispered, her voice steady despite the chaos around her.
But then, from the corner of her eye, she saw movement. The attacker — a violent man fleeing the police — turned and locked eyes with Suhyun. Her breath caught.
There was something haunting in his face. A shadow from her past.
Before she could react, a sudden, sharp pain erupted in her back. She gasped, staggering forward but staying on her knees.
The attacker vanished into the rain.
Blood seeped from her wound, warm and insistent.
Suhyun's vision blurred, the edges darkening. Yet her hands remained steady. She pressed harder against the man's wound, fighting the weakness creeping into her limbs.
No... I can't stop.
He needs to be safe.
Her fingers fumbled for gauze in her bag, slick with blood and rain.
The man's breath was shallow but steady.
Her mind raced — but then a memory crashed over her, vivid and unbidden.
The rain faded.
She was in the back seat of a car, warm and safe. A small voice, sweet and curious, filled the space.
"Mommy, are we there yet?"
Her mother's gentle smile.
"No, hun. Just a few more minutes."
Her father's sleepy voice from the front.
"Hun, are you sleepy? Why don't you sleep now?"
"Okii, Daddy…"
Then his playful offer:
"Do you want to come on Mommy's lap?"
"Yeeaah!"
She scrambled forward, giggling as her mother wrapped her in a comforting embrace.
The windshield wipers whispered rhythmically.
And then—
A sudden, harsh honk shattered the peace.
The memory shattered.
Blood. Pain. The stranger's labored breath beneath her hands.
Back on the pavement, darkness crept in.
Her vision failed, the world narrowing to the sound of her ragged breaths.
…huff…
Her thoughts faltered.
That haunting memory... If only I could look at the start. Not the last part. Just the beginning…
The pain in her back had dulled, replaced by numbness.
It's gone… but I feel empty.
Not relief. Not peace.
Just hollow.
How… how do I get out?
Someone?
No… there's no one anymore.
A cold wave of grief.
They were gone that day. All of them. Mom… Dad…
They left… and I stayed.
I'm alone.
Years of telling herself she was strong and fine crumbled in the cold rain.
Just Suhyun.
And the dark.
Then—
Is that… light?
A faint glow pierced the shadows.
Not warm. Not yet. But real.
She didn't know if it was the streetlamp or something else.
Her body was heavy. But the light pulled at her.
Am I dying?
Or waking up?
She tried to lift her head. It didn't move.
But inside, something stirred. Not breath. Not strength.
A want.
To know.
To reach.
She stretched her trembling hand toward the glow.
Her breath caught.
The world held its breath with her.
She reached.