A tiresome morning dawned.

No. Perhaps it’s dawn, as if covered in mist.

Now lying on a bed that seemed useless and vast, Eun-chae stared meaninglessly at the gradually unfolding world. She couldn’t even recall what she did at night. It felt as if everything had been swallowed by the darkness.

After a while, Eun-chae suddenly got out of bed. Without anything specific to do, she diligently washed up, had breakfast meaninglessly, and decided to go for a swim.

Without knowing which month or day it was, or even the day of the week, several days passed.

Documents arrived from the accountant appointed by Kwon Ki-joo before his death. While sipping on the health drink carefully prepared by Haman-daek, Eun-chae skimmed through the documents.

It detailed the costs and expected completion dates for constructing schools and wells in Africa and Haiti.

Eventually, Eun-chae casually put down the documents. With pitch-black dead eyes, she stared at the brilliant sun.

Everything was to be done in the name of Kwon Ki-joo.

It’s unfair.

He sacrificed his life for the country. Yet, the world doesn’t even acknowledge his existence.

Eun-chae quickly finished the remaining drink and went downstairs. From that moment, Haman-daek’s gaze followed her.

After placing an empty cup on the counter, Haman-daek, who had been hesitating, cautiously opened her mouth.

“How about turning on Viola? It’s too quiet inside the house these days because there’s no sound of it.”

Since Kwon Ki-joo ended up like that, Eun-chae was too indifferent. Haman-daek felt uneasy about that attitude.

It was said that if the shock was too great, the expression would disappear.

Isn’t the wound festering from the inside? What if she collapses again without any warning signs? Haman-daek’s worries continued to grow, like a tail with no end.

“…I don’t feel like turning on Viola.”

Haman-daek was speechless at her blunt response. She expected it. Seeing that Eun-chae hadn’t brought Viola, which had been left in the countryside, she seemed to have deliberately neglected it.

But still…

Even if everything else is lost, couldn’t she at least have protected Viola? Even that, if lost, would make her lose the reason to live, as if desperately clinging to it.

When Haman-daek’s thoughts reached that point, the color drained from her face.

Has she given up on the will to live?

No way.

Haman-daek carefully observed her face for any clues. Unfortunately, from her expressionless face, she couldn’t find anything. Unfortunately.

Eun-chae turned her body casually, seemingly indifferent. Haman-daek, caught in a feeling that she should hold onto something, flinched her hand.

Fortunately, just before leaving the dining room, Eun-chae looked back. She seemed to have suddenly remembered something.

“You used to make it often when I was young.”

As if a passing memory brushed her mind, Eun-chae faintly smiled.

“Can we have handmade perilla leaf soup for lunch?”

After a few days of eating mechanically, finally, has her appetite returned?

Haman-daek responded with a joyful face.
“I’ll prepare the dough.”

For some reason, Haman-daek’s eyes welled up with tears. She forced a smile and added,

“I’ll also make some chive pancakes, so you should eat a lot.”

Without waiting for her response, Haman-daek moved to find ingredients. She struggled to swallow the tears that were about to flow.

It was a quiet night.

Eun-chae’s lips, just out of the shower, were bluish.

It was because she showered with ice-cold water. She didn’t know why. She just realized she was standing alone in the shower booth where cold water was pouring.

It had been happening frequently lately. Since losing Kwon Ki-joo, her memory had been sporadic, with gaps here and there.

If someone found out that there hadn’t been a day with intact memories, they would immediately take her to a mental hospital.

She knew. She knew.

Taking medicine didn’t guarantee an improvement in her condition. Going to the hospital and getting prescribed medicine were bothersome.

He’s dead. Am I forcing myself to live alone?

That can’t be. It shouldn’t be.

Eun-chae ran her cold lips through. Her body, frozen to the point it couldn’t warm up even with home wear, trembled.

In the dressing room she entered without thinking, she rummaged through the clothes like crazy. When she pulled it out, it was Kwon Ki-joo’s jacket.

She hurriedly pressed her nose against the jacket and took a deep breath. His scent was still lingering.

Eun-chae’s body, which had lost its center, leaned. Her vision also swayed unstably.

It was still unbelievable. With the scent still permeating like this. To disappear as if he never existed.

Eun-chae stood there for a long time with a disappointed expression. She even thought it would be better if all of this were a lie.

Although no matter what happened, lies shouldn’t be told. There was no such decree, yet it would be forgivable. No, it might even be appreciated.