Kim Juhoon

The night was so still, so quiet that your own thoughts felt like needles pricking your mind. Sitting on the sidewalk in front of your house, you stared at the sky without blinking, letting the cold wind caress your skin and send shivers down your spine. Among all the stars, there was one that shone brighter than the rest, fixed and so distant. Impossible to ignore. That star always reminded you of Juhoon.

You didn't understand why, but every time you looked at her, it was as if your heart was trying to recall what your mind was struggling to forget. Ever since you'd drifted apart because of your jealousy, you kept telling yourself it didn't matter anymore. That it had just been a phase, a relationship that faded with time, like so many others, but the truth was different. Every memory remained, intact, refusing to disappear… and you didn't seem to want to let it go either.

You hugged yourself, seeking comfort. You had to let go. You felt the tears welling up, threatening to spill, while the star continued to shine, and you kept gazing at it. Suddenly, your phone vibrated. When you looked at the screen, a lump formed in your throat. It was the name you had tried hardest to avoid… and the one you missed the most. It was Juhoon… asking if you were home. You answered yes, almost reflexively, but it all felt unreal. Why now? Why after so long? You hadn't even finished processing it when a hand rested gently and warmly on your shoulder.