Abyssal

The hospital doors slid shut behind Pun as he stepped outside.

For a moment, he simply stood there.

The night air felt cooler than the air inside the hospital, but it did little to wake him. His shoulders were heavy, his eyes burned with exhaustion, and his mind was still filled with the sounds of monitors, footsteps, ringing phones, and voices calling for doctors.

It had been a long shift.

Too long.

Pun rubbed his face before checking his phone.

10:47 p.m.

He sighed.

All he wanted was a shower and a bed.

Nothing else.

He made his way home through the quiet streets, barely paying attention to his surroundings. His thoughts kept drifting back to the hospital. A patient he had checked earlier. A nurse who had asked him to review some results. Another case waiting for him when he returned.

His life had become a cycle.

Hospital.

Home.

Sleep.

Hospital again.

By the time he reached his house, his body felt like it belonged to someone else.

He unlocked the door and stepped inside.

The lights were still on.

Pun immediately knew what that meant.

"Pun!"

He closed his eyes.

Of course.

"I'm home, Mom."

His mother appeared from the living room almost immediately, arms folded.

"You're late."

"I work at a hospital."

"I know you work at a hospital," she replied. "That doesn't mean you should come home looking like you haven't slept in three days."

Pun dropped his bag beside the sofa.

"I haven't."

She stared at him.

"Go and take your bath."

"Mom-"

"Bath. Then sleep."

"I'm tired."

"Exactly. That's why you should take your bath and sleep."

Pun sighed and dragged himself toward the hallway.

"I'm going."

"And don't sleep with your clothes on again."

"I won't."

"And tomorrow-"

Pun stopped.

He slowly turned around.

"Tomorrow what?"

His mother looked at him as though she'd been waiting for the question.

"We're going to the temple."

Pun stared at her.

"No."

His answer came so quickly that she blinked.

"Excuse me?"

"I said no."

"You haven't even heard why."

"Because I know where this is going."

His mother frowned.

"We're going to pray."

"I have work."

"Not until the evening."

"I need to sleep."

"You can sleep when we come back."

"Mom."

"Pun."

He rubbed his forehead.

"I've been working all day. I just want to sleep."

"You've been saying that for weeks."

"Because I work at a hospital."

"And tomorrow is Wednesday. You can spare one morning."

Pun gave her a tired look.

"Why do we have to go to a temple?"

"Because I want to."

"That isn't an answer."

"It is my answer."

He stared at her for several seconds.

She stared back.

Neither moved.

Finally Pun sighed.

"Fine."

His mother's expression immediately softened.

"Good."

"But I'm not praying."

"We'll see."

"I'm serious."

"Go take your bath."

Pun shook his head.

"You always do this."

His mother smiled.

"Because it works."

Pun muttered something under his breath and disappeared down the hallway.

Behind him, his mother remained standing in the living room.

Her smile slowly faded.

For a brief moment, she looked toward the dark window.

Then she turned away.

---

The next morning arrived far too quickly.

Pun was deep asleep when someone pulled his curtains open.

Sunlight poured into the room.

He groaned and pulled the blanket over his face.

"Pun."

Nothing.

"Pun."

A hand shook his shoulder.

"Five more minutes."

"You said that ten minutes ago."

"That means I need another five."

His mother sighed.

"Get up."

Pun slowly opened one eye.

His vision was blurry.

"What time is it?"

"Six thirty."

His eyes widened slightly.

"Six thirty?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"We're going to the temple."

He closed his eyes again.

"I've changed my mind."

"You haven't."

"I have."

"Get up."

Pun groaned.

He eventually dragged himself out of bed, looking as though he had personally been betrayed by the concept of morning.

His mother watched him disappear into the bathroom.

A few minutes later, the sound of running water stopped.

Pun returned wearing a tired expression, rubbing his damp hair with a towel.

His mother was waiting outside his room.

"Wear something green."

Pun stopped.

"Green?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Just wear green."

He looked at her.

Then at his wardrobe.

Then back at her.

"Why green?"

"Because I said so."

Pun opened his wardrobe.

His hand hovered over several shirts.

He picked up a green one.

Then paused.

A small smile appeared on his face.

"Actually..."

His mother narrowed her eyes.

"No."

Pun looked at her innocently.

"What?"

"I know that face."

"There's nothing wrong with black."

"I said green."

"Black absorbs more light."

She stared at him.

Pun continued, completely serious.

"If we're going somewhere hot, wearing black technically isn't the most practical choice, but the difference in actual comfort depends on the material, airflow and several other factors."

His mother looked exhausted already.

"Pun."

"And there's no scientific evidence that wearing green will make anything happen."

"I never said it would make anything happen."

"Then why green?"

"Because I want you to wear it."

Pun picked up a black shirt.

"Black it is."

His mother sighed.

"You're impossible."

"I prefer scientifically skeptical."

"You prefer annoying."

Pun smiled.

"Same thing."

---

The temple was already crowded when they arrived.

People gathered in the courtyard, some sitting quietly while others spoke in low voices. The air carried the scent of incense, and the distant sound of bells drifted through the morning.

Pun stepped out of the car and looked around.

He wasn't impressed.

His mother, however, seemed completely comfortable.

She adjusted her clothes and walked toward the temple.

Pun followed reluctantly.

"Stay close," she said.

"I'm right here."

"You always say that and then disappear."

"I don't disappear."

"You wandered away at the market last month."

"I was looking at something."

"You were gone for twenty minutes."

"I came back."

His mother shook her head.

They joined the others.

The monks began to lead the prayers.

Pun sat beside his mother.

Everyone around him seemed focused.

Hands together.

Heads bowed.

Quiet voices repeating words he didn't understand.

Pun remained still.

He wasn't interested.

His eyes wandered around the temple instead.

He studied the architecture.

The wooden beams.

The old walls.

The candles.

The decorations.

Everything seemed ordinary.

At least, to him.

His mother closed her eyes and joined the prayer.

Pun glanced at her.

Then at the monks.

Then at his watch.

How long is this going to take?

He resisted the urge to sigh.

A few minutes passed.

Then more.

Pun shifted slightly.

He wasn't religious. He believed in things that could be observed, tested, studied.

Medicine made sense to him.

Biology made sense.

Chemistry made sense.

Even things science couldn't explain yet could eventually be investigated.

But prayer?

Spirits?

Curses?

Possession?

Those belonged in stories.

Not hospitals.

Not reality.

The prayers eventually ended.

People slowly began standing and talking among themselves.

Pun immediately stood.

His mother remained for a moment longer.

"Mom."

She looked up.

"Coming."

They walked out of the temple together.

The morning sun was already brighter.

Pun loosened his shoulders.

"Finally."

His mother gave him a look.

"You could have shown more respect."

"I was respectful."

"You looked bored."

"I was bored."

She shook her head.

Pun smiled slightly.

They continued walking.

Then-

His mother stopped.

Pun took another step before realizing she wasn't beside him.

He turned.

"Mom?"

She was standing completely still.

Her body had jolted slightly.

Not much.

Just enough for Pun to notice.

He frowned.

"What happened?"

She didn't answer.

"Mom?"

She looked at him.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

There was something strange in her expression.

Not fear.

Not exactly.

It was difficult to describe.

She simply stared at him.

Pun's smile disappeared.

"Are you okay?"

Still nothing.

"Mom?"

Finally, she blinked.

"I'm fine."

Pun looked at her suspiciously.

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"You jumped."

"I thought I saw someone."

"Who?"

She looked away.

"No one."

Pun studied her face.

His mother wasn't usually like this.

But before he could ask again, she started walking.

"Let's go home."

Pun remained where he was for another second.

Then followed.

Neither of them noticed the figure standing at the far end of the temple courtyard.

The figure didn't move.

Didn't speak.

It simply watched them leave.

---

By the time they returned home, Pun's thoughts had mostly returned to work.

He had a night shift that evening.

His mother went straight into the kitchen.

"I'll make dinner."

"You don't have to."

"You'll need to eat before work."

"I can get something at the hospital."

"You'll eat my food."

Pun smiled.

"Yes, ma'am."

He dropped onto the sofa.

His exhaustion returned almost immediately.

From the kitchen came the sound of chopping vegetables and running water.

Pun closed his eyes.

For a few moments, everything was quiet.

Then his mother's voice came from the kitchen.

"Pun?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't forget your jacket."

"I won't."

"And take your umbrella."

"I checked the weather. It won't rain."

"Take it anyway."

Pun opened one eye.

"You know weather forecasts are based on data, right?"

"And umbrellas don't hurt."

He smiled.

"Fine."

He closed his eyes again.

The house smelled of dinner.

For the first time since leaving the hospital, Pun felt completely relaxed.

For now, Pun only knew one thing.

He had a night shift.

And he was already tired.

He opened his eyes and glanced toward the kitchen.

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"What time is dinner?"

"Soon."

Pun smiled faintly.

"Good."

Outside, the afternoon light slowly faded.

And somewhere beyond the walls of the house, the day continued toward night.

Wednesday had only just begun.