Moving Forward

32. Mikrokosmos

As their number ended, the first notes of Mikrokosmos began playing. ARMY's screams filled the stadium as everyone remembered the significance of this song. It was the song that ended their life as a group in 2022, but now it would mark their new beginning.

They each chose their corner on the stage to interact with ARMY, to assure them that, yes, it may have taken a long time, but they were okay now. The physical scars had healed, and even the scars that no one could see, these were healing too. They had learned many lessons and wanted to have the time to share these with ARMY. Most of all, they felt an overwhelming gratitude to their fandom for enduring their absence and remaining faithful all these years.

J-Hope looked at the smiles in ARMY's faces and finally realized that his anger was rooted in missing them so much, missing this life when they were always together. The anger had melted away and he could smile again. He was himself again. This was where he belonged. This was home.

Jin stood at the center of the stage and basked in the sight of ARMY's lights surrounding them. He wondered if they would ever understand this feeling of being at the center of this love, the kind that had the power to make one a better person. Suddenly memories from their beginning started to fill his mind. They had nothing but the willingness to work. The vocal line could not even sing that well then, but every time they met ARMY they had the overwhelming feeling of wanting to do better, to strive harder. Today, he could confidently say that their singing was unique and unrivaled. It would not have been possible without ARMY's love.

Suga stood at the front end of the stage, a position he seldom took since it usually belonged to the maknaes. But tonight he just wanted to be as close as possible. He remembered the night he cried out to a starless sky, desperately hurt at the loss of this universe. And as though the universe conspired to prove him wrong, here they were. His tears started to come down and he didn't hide them. ARMY started screaming his name and he didn't turn away. He faced them. He wanted them to understand what this moment meant to him.

Jimin and Taehyung stood, arms around each other as they sang. They had survived the fall. They were alive, and not just breathing. They could feel the life flowing through every part of their body and soul. Taehyung's spirit had revived with Jimin's resurrection, and being in front of ARMY again was the final touch of healing that they needed. Maybe this is what being soulmates meant. Only when they were together could they be truly whole and complete.

RM put his arm around Jungkook, who looked at him with tears in his eyes. JK was all grown up now and facing the greatest challenge of his life, how far he had come from that child who came into their dorm so many years ago, their youngest maknae. He could see JK being their leader one day, the one to pave the way for them, to plan the roads ahead, to keep them safe as they lived their dreams. He squeezed JK's shoulders tight as they walked to where Suga was. They couldn't sing anymore and it was ARMY who was singing Mikrokosmos for them. All of them drew close to the edge of the stage, as close to ARMY as they could get, and looked to the sea of lights. They would not get lost again as long as they were together, they would not let go of each other's hand ever again.

"ARMY!" RM shouted. How could he show his love? There were no words that could adequately express it.

ARMY seemed to sense their predicament and started chanting their name. They didn't need the words from their boys, this kind of love did not require that assurance. This love was not born yesterday but many years ago, when seven young boys dared to dream and began sharing their lives to ARMY, filtering nothing but baring all of who they were.

ARMY filled the air with the words that BTS could not express. And the love wrapped around them like a warm embrace, one that promised to protect them and take care of them forever.

(Credits to Brilliant for the video above)