Minsons

Living with a diagnosed incurable illness is difficult. Jisung was one of them. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia as a teenager. And after that, his life changed. His teachers looked at him with pity when they learned of it, employers at all the various part-time jobs he applied for turned him down one after another after seeing the diagnosis in his medical records, and his mother was heartbroken over her son's loss. Of course, even before Jisung officially learned of the illness, it had plagued him periodically. Voices in his head, shadows around corners, obsessive thoughts—all of it indicated that something was wrong with Han, but he studiously ignored it.

Things weren't much better in adulthood. Jisung knew that with his diagnosis, most jobs were off-limits to him. So, after finishing school, he didn't waste time on university. He went straight to his childhood dream: creativity.

Minho had been by Jisung's side for most of his life. They started out as friends, and at some point, their relationship blossomed into something more. They've been together for six months now. Minho always supported Jisung, listening to his every rant and rave. And only with him did Han feel better. His voices quieted, his thoughts became more coherent, and then vanished altogether. Minho's calm was terribly contagious, and that was what Jisung needed most.

Another day. After work, Han retired to the bedroom to rest. The soft bed quickly relaxed him, and he began to drift off to sleep. But a whisper pulled him from this state. Foreign, unfamiliar, echoing in his head. Jisung sat up abruptly, looking around the room. Empty. How could it be otherwise? He frantically began searching for his phone, which was lying somewhere nearby. Then he turned on music, turning the volume up almost to full, trying to drown out that annoying voice. It was no use. The whispers only grew louder. Then Jisung turned off the music and pressed himself into the very corner, covering his ears. Time passed. Suddenly, warm, familiar hands lay on his knees. It was Minho.