Moving Forward

27. I Need U

All army bombs were lighted now and they stood up.

"Are we okay, ARMY?" RM asked and they cheered in reply. He really hoped they were. Only time would tell. He scanned the faces around them and wondered if these would stay. He regretted once again that they let go, and he couldn't shake the fear in his heart that, although they were here now, they may not walk with them after.

Except for Jimin, they left the stage and allowed him time alone with ARMY.

"ARMY, I'm glad we have this time together. You know, the last time I was with you was a long, long time ago. For me though it was just like yesterday. I have no memory of anything else that happened after that night."

ARMY listened intently to him as he spoke. He was such a small figure in the vast stage but they were attuned to his every move, his every breath. They had seen the other members after the accident in 2022, and had caught glimpses of them in the news and social media. But Jimin, some of them had feared the worst. To see him standing before them now was too much to take in.

"I'm so glad that I, we, made it back here to see you again. It's almost a miracle that this happened, and I want to thank you for waiting for us, for still being here for us."

"Where else will will go, Jimin-ah? We belong to BTS," someone shouted.

"Saranghaeyo, Jimin!"

"You're our family!"

He smiled. "I have Taetae to thank, too. If not for my friend, my soulmate, I might not be here. He suffered a lot because of me and I want him to know that, even if it takes my whole life, I'll try to make it up to him. I know they're listening, and I haven't told them this yet, but I also really want to thank all the members for being patient with me, for staying with me and waiting for me. I am so happy to be with them and with you again. I don't need anything more in my life now."

The muster was turning into a crying session for BTS and ARMY, but they had wanted to share what they had been going through for the past years with their fans who had always been with them from the beginning and through their every moment. There were so many things to say and he didn't want them to be kept in the dark anymore.

"You know, ARMY, my parents and my brother, they were there with you that night. I'm so thankful that they didn't get hurt, at least not physically. They're here tonight, too, so please take care of my family if you see them. They have gone through so much for me. Eomma, Appa, my dear dongsaeng, i love you so much. There are no words that can ever express how much I love you. Let me spend the rest of my life showing you."

He was crying openly as he tried to look for his parents and his brother. He spotted them on the first level and waved to them. His mom was sobbing into her handkerchief and his dad had his arm around her. He wanted to rush to them and hug them, but he would have to wait until later. There was something he had prepared for them all to see and he wished that he would do well.

"ARMY, with Hobi-hyung's help, I was able to prepare something for you."

"No Jimin, you don't need to dance!"

"Just talk to us, Jimin-oppa, it's okay!"

"It's alright, I can do this. This is for you, ARMY. After such a long time, give me this chance to show you my best."

Jimin looked around him at the lights that had filled the stadium, from the ground to the bleachers. He prayed he would not lose his way again and would be allowed to enjoy their company for as long as it was possible. He bowed to them, thankful for ARMY's love that kept burning despite their absence.

Then he moved to the center of the stage as the lights dimmed around him. He entered the small pool of light and prepared to show them what he had been pouring his life into from the beginning - his best form of expression, one that required much sacrifice but showed his utmost sincerity and love.

(Credits to BANGTANXSave ME for the video clip above, taken from the 2019 MMA)