Chapter Text
Trying not to start sobbing again, she immediately tapped on Phone and dialled 999. As she anxiously waited for the dispatcher to pick up, she thought about that passcode.
The 21st of June 2016... was the day she met Yuna.
‘Hello, you are through to the emergency services. What service do you require?’
‘P-police.’
‘Okay, putting you through now.’
An eternal silence rang in Chaeryeong’s ears. She imagined her father running through the woods towards her in that very moment. Hurry up, hurry up, s he begged in her mind.
‘Hello, this is the police. What’s your emergency?’
‘Help me, quick. My father is coming. H-he’s got a gun. I think he’s going to hurt me... or kill me. Please, please be quick. He shot my g-girlfriend.’
‘Right. What is your location so we can send help?’
Chaeryeong stuttered out her location, describing the cave’s whereabouts in as much detail as possible. She told the dispatcher to tell the police to shout when they were near so she could come out of the cave as they probably wouldn’t find her otherwise.
‘I’ve contacted police, they’re on their way. please stay on the line.’
And from that moment on, Chaeryeong waited and waited in complete mind-numbing anxiety. Her mind was full of thoughts of her father finding the cave and hurting her. Maybe she’d be locked up again. Maybe he’d abuse her. Maybe he’d... kill her.
After what felt like a million years, the silence was broken. A gunshot sounded. She heard shouting. But it wasn’t just one voice, there were many.
It was them... it was the police.
Did they just... shoot my father?
–47 hours later–
‘You’re awake late, Miss Lee.’ Nurse Eun said softly as she wheeled a trolley beside Chaeryeong’s hospital bed. ‘How are you feeling?’
Chaeryeong stared at the end of her bed. The truth was, she felt empty. She felt confused. She felt lifeless. I mean, what did she expect. She’d lost the only person she ever loved two days ago.
‘I’m fine.’
The nurse sighed empathetically, sitting down at the end of her bed. ‘Sweetheart... You’re going to get better.’
Suddenly a wave of anger bubbled up inside the girl. ‘How can I possibly get better? How am i supposed to get better?!’
‘...Chaeryeong, dear. I don’t know the full story of what you’ve been through. I don’t know how you felt when everything happened. And I don’t know how you feel know. But I do know that time heals everything. Even if your wound is the deepest in the world, time will heal it. It’s worth waiting for.’ The nurse smiled, before patting the girl’s knee and getting up.
Chaeryeong watched as the nurse placed a glass of water from the trolley onto her bedside table, and left the room.
Sighing, she reached over and picked up a polaroid. The only photo her parents didn’t destroy. The only photo she owned of Yuna and her. It was a picture of them at graduation, hand in hand and smiling at the camera. The person who took the photo was probably some random old friend of hers. It didn’t really matter.
A warm tear trickled down Chaeryeong’s face as she held the polaroid close to her heart. She remembered how it felt having Yuna’s heart beat against hers. She remembered how it felt to have her arms wrapped tightly around her small frame. She remember how it felt to look into her eyes and see her favourite colour.
‘I miss you Yuna.’ Chaeryeong whispered into the darkness
I miss you too. She almost heard.
Chaeryeong loved Yuna, and Yuna loved Chaeryeong.
It was as simple, and as complicated as that.