Prologue

In the dark alley way only gun shots and screams could be heard in the silence of the night. Only a cry and scream could be heard coming from a woman. She was crying over the dead body of her fiancé. She took his head and put it a rest on her lap. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at the pale and cold body. 

She wiped his moist hair out of his eyes and slowly caressed his bruised cheek. For her he wasn’t gone because for her only, he was sleeping. She kept whispering to him to wake up, that he was only having a bad dream although she knew he wouldn’t.  Sirens of police cars and ambulances filled the chilly night air as the woman slowly cried herself to death, slowly noticing that her heart had been shattered into pieces that night. She didn’t know who did this. She didn’t know why they did this to her love. She didn’t know why it had to be him from all people. All she knew was that a piece of her had been lost that night.

———–––

Her brother took her into embrace and let her cry into his chest as the corpse of her dead husband to be was carried away in a black bag by two men.  She couldn’t bare the sight knowing that she was never going to see him again, smiling and laughing like always. He was gone and she had to accept that. Her brother started to kiss her forehead and silently whisper words of comfort to into her sister’s ear.

“It’s going to be fine Hyera…” He said silently just as she started to lift her head up from his chest. “I’m going to be here for you, always. I promise you that I’ll be here for you and Jongin.”  As soon as the woman heard her son’s name she immediately threw her head back against her brother’s chest and started to cry again, but harder this time.

At least she had one last piece left from her dead fiancé; a small baby with plump lips and crazy brown, curly hair just like his father. He’d gotten those genes from his father as well as the dark shade of his skin. That little bundle of joy was all that was left for her. As much as Hyera wanted to take her life that night, she knew she couldn’t. How could she leave such an innocent little child alone in this world? It was bad enough that the baby had only one parent left, how could he lose another in the same night?

She didn’t want the small baby to be an orphan. Although Hyera knew that Jongin wouldn’t get the future he truly deserved due to her financial struggle, Hyera knew she had to give him a chance. Hyera couldn’t think straight at this point. All the thoughts of her baby and fiancé ran through her head.

“H-H-Hyunseung…” She slowly said in between sobs. “W-w-why… does it always… have to… m-m-me?” She said looking up and into her brother’s brown orbs. “…w-w-why is it… always my… fault?” She said fighting back tears. Her brother looked at her in pity. He knew that she had just lost the most important person in her life apart from her son. He knew what she was going through at this moment, doubting herself and telling herself that this is all her fault.

“Hyera, nothing of this is your fault… believe me you’re the last person whose fault it is.” Hyunseung reassured her. 

“B-b-but…” Before Hyera could make out another word, the two were interrupted by two men who had just carried away the corpse. They both looked at the dirty ground which was dotted with blood and trash before looking up at the woman. She looked up at the two of them doing her best not to let any more tears fall although she knew that they were falling slowly and silently.

“Please accept our deepest indulgences. We are deeply sorry for what happened and your loss.” One of the men started to say to the woman who was now a crying mess. She didn’t need this. She knew that she didn’t deserve this. “If there is anything we can do for you please just tell the two of us and we’ll do anything to make your life better.”

“Thank you… You’ve worked hard and I thank you for everything you have done.” Hyera said barely making it out a whisper. The two men left the two siblings to themselves and preceded to the dead man’s father, mother and sister who were standing on the other side of the road talking with the police officers. They were going through the same thing as she was, maybe even worse. Losing a son, a brother maybe that was worse then what she was feeling.

They didn’t even go over to Hyera to see how she was doing. They weren’t that fond of Hyera anyway so how was it their duty to go over to her and say their deepest indulgences to her for her son. It wasn’t their place to do that. All they knew was that it was Hyera fault because their son was never involved with gangs, alcohol, crime or violence. They just looked at her in disgust.

After everyone had left, Hyera and Hyunseung were the only ones left. Hyera refused to come with the terms that one minute her fiancé was with her, smiling, laughing, kissing and hugging her and the next moment her was on the ground, bleeding, and his usual dark skin turning pale as paper. Just seeing him unhappy nearly killed Hyera every time but seeing him on the ground with gun wounds dotting his torso and deep red blood flowing from his nose and mouth shattered her into pieces.

Hyera’s clothes were covered with her fiancé’s blood and her knees where stained with dust from the dirty ground. Her tears had run out and all she did was stand in the spot where the love of her life was shot. The police told her that they were going to find out who did this but she didn’t believe them. They had failed her many times before and she knew that the case would go on for months without any progress and would eventually be forgotten.

“C’mon Hyera, I’ll take you home. Jongin’s going to be up soon and he’s probably missing his mom.” Hyunseung said taking hold of his sister’s hand gently making her flinch at this sudden movement. She was lost in thoughts trying to figure out how this must have happened. “Hyera, c’mon it’s cold and I don’t want you to catch a cold.” Hyunseung said but still nothing but silence came from Hyera.

Hyera couldn’t hear her brother talking to her. All she could think about was trying to put the pieces together to form the puzzle. He husband didn’t have any enemies did he?

“Hyera, are you even listening to me?” Hyunseung asked tugging her sister slightly to get her attention. He sighed deeply knowing that his sister hadn’t yet come to grips with her lose. After a couple more minutes of standing in the cold Hyera turned around without making another sound and walked towards her brother’s car. She took one last look at the alley way before getting into the passenger’s seat and waiting for her brother to drive off. The only thing on her mind right now was her son and his safety. That was all that mattered to her now.

———–––

The drive back to Hyera’s apartment was long and quiet and all that could be heard were the deep sighs and calm breathing of the two siblings. Hyera just started out the passenger window avoiding eye contact with her brother as she looked at the night sky which was now turning from a dark black with stars littering the sky to bright pink as the sun’s rays started to light up the sky to signal morning once again.

After a good twenty minutes of driving, the two reached Hyera’s apartment. Hyunseung let Hyera out of the car as he drove off to find a parking place. Hyera made her way into the building and she walked straight into the elevator. Some of the people were already awake getting ready for work and school while the rest just did as always, sleeping in until all that could be heard was the Seoul traffic. Hyera dug into her bag looking for her keys in order to unlock the door. Her eyes were red from her crying and there were now noticeable dark bags under her eyes due to the lack of sleep that she had.

She unlocked the door and entered her apartment. She didn’t bother to take of her shoes or to change her bloody clothes because all she wanted to see was that her son was safe and sound. As she approached the nursery, soft singing of her mother could be heard followed by chuckles of a small child. Hyera sighed in relief because she knew that her mother would never let anything happen to her grandson.

Hyera walked up to the door of the nursery and leaned on the door frame, softly smiling with tears in her eyes as she looked at her son who was smiling and laughing while throwing his arms around. Warm tears started flowing down her cheeks as she looked at the innocent child in her mother’s arms. Her mother finally noticed her presence and looked up from the child. Hyera gave her a soft smile while wiping the tears away from her cheeks.

Hyera remembered the times when her mother used to sing to her as a child. She was an amazing singer, Hyera had to admit but the one thing that saddened her was that her mother kept her talent to herself and didn’t share it with the world. She should’ve, at least that’s what Hyera thought.

“Go and get washed up Hyera…” Hyunseung came from behind Hyera, startling her. “…and get some rest. You need it.” Hyera just nodded before taking one last look at her son and walking towards the bathroom.

———–––

She held her son in her arms as she slowly cooed him to sleep. She knew he missed the presence of his father and she knew that it was hard on him although he was just a small child. Slowly but surely Hyera would provide for the two and give the best future for her son that she could.

“It’s just you and me now, sweetiepie. Just you and me” Hyera said looking at the small sleeping figure resting in her arms while grabbing a fistful of her blouse in his little fist.