Lovely | BTS ✓

11

The next morning, Taehyung wakes up and makes his way to the kitchen, surprised to find that August isn't in there cooking breakfast. He wonders if maybe he's still in bed until he finds a note from August laying on the counter.

"Had to run into town. Enjoy breakfast without me. -August"

Taehyung throws the paper away before getting a skillet from the cupboard to make eggs.

Taehyung figured when he got here that August seemed to be a recluse, never leaving his house and sitting idly by while his world withers away around him. But he actually seems to be a busy person, Taehyung really only seeing him at mealtimes outside of when the two of them first met two days ago.

Maybe he runs errands often to keep him away from the house - from the memories of years spent with his family that isn't here anymore. Maybe all he sees in his home, instead of the dust and decay, is the pain.

Or maybe seeing the house beginning to look like a home again has lit a fire within August and he's doing more productive things again, where before he really did spend his days locked within his home, just waiting for the day where the house's foundation would swallow him whole.

After cooking and eating his breakfast, Taehyung decides to pull the curtains open in the house, hoping that the sun will break through the trees and shine its light into the windows. This house needs warmth - something he is sure it hasn't felt since August's family died.

He goes to the entryway first, peeling away the curtains from the two small windows on either side of the front door. The sun doesn't find the openings, the air as dreary as it has been since he came here. But the idea that the sun can shine within the home now is comforting to Taehyung.

At least it has chance now.

Even though the sun is shrouded by the gnarled trees wrapping themselves like a cocoon around the house, the tiniest wisps of light seep through the glass, the sun's fingertips gently reaching as far as it dares - like it, too, is scared of whatever darkness this house is festering in.

Taehyung turns away, his eyes falling on the painting that seems to be glittering with the tiniest bits of light swimming on its canvas. It's the dullest, almost imperceptible light, but it's like the painting is calling to the light, singing a siren's song and drawing it in.

Amelia's rosy cheeks look like the sun kissed them; her lips as though she is leaning forward to kiss it back. Her hair is glowing even more golden in the newfound light, and Taehyung can't believe how beautiful it looks - how beautiful she looks.

He can just imagine the real Amelia, ocean eyes catching the light of the sun and waves of her crashing over him and pulling him into her abyss.

The front door opens behind him and Taehyung turns to see August.

He smiles at him, but is taken aback when August looks angry, his own blue eyes boring into Taehyung with more hatred than he has ever felt emitting from a single person.