The Widow's Guardian

Chapter 3

The silence amplified the wind hitting the gable roof above. It was evident that Dae-ho was uncomfortable with the topic, shifting in his chair and avoiding my eye contact. The spirit gave a brief exchange to the Haechi before dropping his gaze again.

Death was inevitable. It wasn't uncomfortable for me. I had been accustomed to death at a young age. My mother died in a fatal car accident and my father died of cancer before I was five. My aunt took care of me until I was old enough to go to college and then she passed away from lupus a year before Ha-jun's death. Death followed me. It was my shadow, and I was not afraid.

"A month left to live?" I repeated, my expression shifting with confusion.

The Haechi swung his head to Dae-ho. "Did I not say it correctly?"

"You did," he confirmed, nodding his head repeatedly. He looked like those bobbleheads in Namdaemun Market. It was almost humorous.

"Is she deaf?"

Dae-ho chuckled. "No, the human is in shock."

"A month, that's rather ambiguous of you," I rasped. "You don't have a specific day?"

"You don't need to know the specifics, just that you're going to die," the Haechi informed me rather harshly.

The spirit snapped at the Haechi, lowering his hand to emphasize he needed to tone it down. The Haechi didn't take too kindly to a scolding, muttering his curses under his breath.

I kept nodding my head, attempting to come to reality. "I am going to die," I whispered slowly. I let out a choked laugh, leaning over until I was laughing so hard that I had to hold my stomach in fear that my dinner would come back up. It probably would later. It always did. I couldn't keep most dishes down. Really only kimchi.

The Haechi's eyes widened. "Why is she laughing?"

"Humans cope differently. Sometimes anger, sometimes tears. For this human, it would appear manic laughter," Dae-ho informed, his brow furrowing. He appeared concerned. He must have known a lot about humans to realize I was not coping well.

Truly it was the best news I had received since my engagement. I could see my husband again in a month. It had been so long. Too long.

Then the dam collapsed. I pushed my chair back, the screeching resounding across the kitchen. I attempted to get up. Then my knees gave out. I caught myself with the table, refusing to look at the two men that jerked to their feet with their arms stretched out to catch me. I wanted no help. This was the best news. This was what I prayed for these last five years.

Then why am I crying?

My hands turned white, gripping the side of the table as if it was my life source. I knelt to the ground, releasing a whimper that increased to a full-on wail. My chest tightened with the onslaught of sobs. I tried to keep my composure, grinding my teeth, but it just resulted in biting my tongue and then choking.

Firm hands gripped my shoulders, shaking me gently until my cries softened. "Snap out of it. We have business to tend to."

I stiffened from his hostility. "What business?" I asked, softer than my pounding heartbeat.

"Keeping you safe until your last day," Dae-ho explained, manifesting at my side. He put his hand out, sliding a piece of my hair behind my ears. "That's what we're meant to do."

The Haechi observed the spirit's movements, arching a brow. He must not have been keen on human reactions because he attempted to take after Dae-ho and rubbed my hair, but his movements became too harsh.