Chapter 1
School was stressful for me. Everything seemed to be torturing me, with every second it could get. The weight on my shoulders only get heavier when the awful thoughts clouded my mind.
It was two years ago, when our father left us, for another woman. I remember my mother breaking down, and crying nonstop. It was an unusual sight. She was always so strong, loving, caring, hiding her emotions well. And seeing her like this made me feel scared.
"Sooyeon," I heard my mom call. I turned towards the direction of her voice, and there she stood, looking weak and suffering. I sat up from my bed, still tired.
"Yes, Eomma?" I forced a smile, fake, but she bought it.
"How's school? Everything going well?" She asked. the only answer she got was a nod. She never asked me this, which meant she had another question, one that was more important.
"Sooyeon . . .," she trailed off, "I wanted to ask . . . if you could just, head to the hospital for me? To visit your aunt?"
Yes, my aunt. She was the sister of my mother, and she was just as strong. When my mom was going through things, my aunt was always there to comfort her, to take care of her. But that was a long time ago, before my aunt caught leukemia.
Now she stays in the hospital, never to be let out. The reason why my mother never visited her was because she didn't want my aunt to see her like this, the weak person she was now. My mom never had the confidence to do it.
"Mom," I sighed, raking my fingers through my hair, "you know that I can't. I have school, I have stuff to do. I can't even remember the last time you visited her."
"Sooyeon," she shook her head, "please."
"No, Eomma," I responded. I was tired of seeing her in this state, still wishing for our father to come back, the depression that was eating her up in the inside. She needed to see her sister, and I'm not going to be there to stop that from happening.
My phone rang near me, and I instantly reached my hand out for it. My mom watched me as I held it to my ear, and listened as my best friend, Hye Ji, laughed.
"Sooyeon!" She exclaimed. "You have to come to this awesome party at Namjoon's house! Everyone is going to be there, I will too! You need time off of your studies."
"Ji, I can't-"
"And why not?" Her breathy giggles stopped.
"My mom-"
"That's no excuse! She needs to take care of herself, not depending on you every single time. I just want you to attend this party," she sighed, her voice getting softer with each word.
I muttered a singe "sure" as I hung up and looked back at my mom. She wasn't there, she must've walked away while I was talking to Hye Ji.
I just wish she was that same person, who brought confidence into me, happiness.
Not the person she was now.
