Chapter 18

Jaejun remains quiet, gazing at the sky in silence while I watch him and hope that no biting creatures interrupt our moment.

"I don't know why they did that, Hyun. I never could understand," he says.

"They?"

"My parents. My dad and my mom were together that afternoon. Grandma said they had a lot of debt, so they felt trapped, but there's always a way, right? There could have been solutions!"

"Jaejun..." I call his name, turning to face him. "Don't force yourself to tell me something now. I don't want to see you hurt by these memories."

"It's just that..." Jaejun closes his eyes tightly, jaw clenched. When he looks at the sky again, only a single tear rolls down the corner of his eye. "I wanted her here."

"Hey," I say, calling him again, this time making him look at me. "Who said she isn't here, huh? You love her, so that means you carry her in your heart. So, she's a part of you, and that means she's here too."

"But Aunt...," he says, then s