WAVING THROUGH THE WINDOW | 김선우

21 ᴡᴇ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ɪᴛ

"better days will always come"

Kim Sunoo always had a special bond with his mother. It was like how a mother connected with her daughter but in this case, Sunoo was a son but his mother loved him the same way she would if she had a daughter.

She wasn't just a parent to Sunoo. Sunoo did everything with her. But growing up arguments and disagreements were bound to happen.

Sunoo had always been a sickly person. From a young age, his immune system had proven to be fragile, leading to countless trips to doctors' offices and hospitals. His mother has been there for him through every doctor's visit, every medical test, and every moment of illness. His mother always just wanted the best for Sunoo, she wanted to keep him safe and protected.

As a child, Sunoo had often found himself confined to his room, isolated from the outside world to prevent exposure to germs that could worsen his condition. His mother had transformed their home into a sanctuary, filled with toys, books, and art supplies to keep him entertained during those long stretches of isolation.

Sunoo's mother had always been a dedicated parent. She had researched tirelessly about Sunoo's medical condition, staying up late into the night to read medical journals and connect with other parents facing similar challenges. She was determined to provide the best care possible for her son, and her efforts had not gone unnoticed. Everyone around them knew how much she loved and cared for her son.

Their home was a haven of comfort and cleanliness. She had become an expert in sterilising surfaces, and filtering the air, and though some days Sunoo only wanted his favorite tteokbokki, she would still make sure that she prepared meals that were carefully tailored to Sunoo's dietary needs. She had embraced the role of a protector, shielding her son from the outside world to keep him safe.

However, as Sunoo entered his teenage years, he began to yearn for more independence. He wanted to experience the world beyond the walls of their home, make friends, and explore life like any other teenager. And though filled with fear, his mother let him do just that, knowing it was also time for him to experience life on his own.

With time, Sunoo's mother slowly began to loosen her protective grip. She allowed Sunoo to take small steps towards independence, always with her watchful eye and unwavering support. It was a journey of trust and courage for both of them.

But an incident brought him back to the safety of his home. His mum had pulled him out of regular school and wasn't allowed to go out with his friends or out at all unless it was a trip to the hospital. The freedom that was given to him was gone way too quickly.

He fought a lot with his mother about this for quite some time. He didn't want to stay home while his friends were out there, he also wanted to spend some time and bond with them.

But at some point, he realised that his mum only did this for his safety. Even if the smallest of things made her worry about him. While the incident was not as big to other people as opposed to his mother, he still understood why she reacted that way and how they ended up in this situation.

And it was moments of realisations like these that Sunoo developed a deep appreciation for his mother's unwavering care.

He knew at some point, his mum would let him go out again and finally accept that he could take care of himself now. It'll just take some time, that's what he keeps telling himself.

Who knew today out of all days would finally be it?

"Sunoo," his mother called as she entered his room with an unusually excited gleam in her eyes.

"Get dressed and ready, we're going out!" she exclaimed, smiling warmly at him.

Sunoo, who had been engrossed in his thoughts, the homework in front of him lay open, long forgotten, he dropped the pen he was holding and closed his book, all while he looked up in surprise. "Going out? Where are we going, Mum?"