A solitary figure knelt, arms wrapped protectively around knees, hair pulled back into a tight bun, head hung low, clearly a sadness overcome in her heart.
She wore a bright yellow hoodie under a long comfy white sweater and gray pants. The only reason why she found herself out at this late hour on a dimly lit street in front of her house waiting for that one person to ease the impending pain. She glances at the red string bracelet, her only real connection to him…
Click, click, click of men's dress shoes on street pavement echoed in the quietness of the night. Dong Kyung looks up, sees Myeol Mang striding towards her spot, wearing all black, head to toe, a sharp looking black trench coat with white lined along the shoulders emphasizing their broadness.
Dong Kyung's eyes follow him until he stops in front of her spot, holds out his hand, palm up. She places her hand into his palm, as he gently closes long fingers around her hand, tenderly gazes at their joined hands.
Meeting her eyes, he says,
"It's uncomfortable in many ways since we're not living together."
Glancing up at his tall frame, she agrees,
"That's right."
He smiles, gazes at their hands, says,
"Since it's done, I'm leaving."
He turns to leave, she continues gripping onto his hand, concerned he turns back, asks
"Why? Do you not want to let go?"
Gazing at their enclosed hands, softly inquires,
"What if…I say I want to live longer, can you grant me that wish?"
Gazing down into her eyes, saddened, he responds,
"No, I can't do that, since I'm Doom."
She let's go of his hand, Myeol Mang stares at the empty palm, his heart clenches at causing her pain by his cruel words although truthful words coming from his perspective.
Disappointed, she glances down upset, softly says,
"Okay. I knew you would say that. I just asked you once. You heard, right? What everybody is thinking on the inside. While looking at me, people are all smiling like that, but on the inside, they are all in pain, right? As much as me. Even more than me."
He nods, blinks back any tears, gazes down, only seeing the top of her head.
Still crouching on the ground, arms tightly wrapped around her knees, gazes downward, softly asks,
"How about you?"
Not giving him an opportunity for a response, she lifts her head, gazes up into his dark eyes, she chokes out her next words,
"What do you think about when you look at me? Do you think I don't know? You keep…telling me to live, calling out to me to live with your eyes that look as if they are dead. How do you think I feel when I see you with them?"
Meeting her eyes, quietly speaks,
"Like you thought earlier, you just have to do that. It's simple."
She drops her head, defeated, shoulders slump, disgusted tone, says, "Leave."
Rising to her feet, places hands in her pockets, walks towards the entrance to the stairwell. Myeol Mang feeling heavy hearted, watches as she walks away, feeling unable to grasp his emotions in that particular instance. Turning around, he walks towards an unknown destination, needing sometime to contemplate.