Author's pov.
On May 2, 1987, the kidnapper called again at the same time that night, demanding money for Lucy's release. The Hwangs agreed and gave him what he wanted, but after handing over the money, they heard nothing more from the kidnapper.
Weeks went by without any news until the morning of May 23, 1987. Rushing to their company due to an urgent matter, Mr. and Mrs. Hwang saw someone lying on the sidewalk in front of their house. Recognizing the shoes, they instantly knew it was their daughter. They ran over and found Lucy, her white dress stained with blood. Tears streamed down their faces as they stood frozen in shock.
After a moment, Mrs. Hwang broke down, crying Lucy's name and sobbing uncontrollably. Mr. Hwang held Lucy tightly, his own tears falling. The commotion drew the attention of family members and neighbors, who came out to witness the heartbreaking scene.
The neighbors stepped out of their homes, drawn by the commotion, only to find the lifeless body of the little girl on the ground. Sam emerged hesitantly, his steps faltering as his eyes landed on a pair of shoes—his sister's shoes, the ones he had given her for her 14th birthday. Now scuffed and muddy, they brought tears to his eyes.
The sound of his parents' anguished cries confirmed what he already feared. The bruises on her legs and those shoes made it undeniable. Overcome with emotion, he turned and ran back into the house, rushing upstairs to his sister's room. He slammed the door, locked it, and threw himself onto her bed, crying her name over and over. Wrapping himself in her blanket, he clung to the faint scent she had left behind, sobbing endlessly into it.
Her familiar scent brought bittersweet comfort, surrounding him as his tears finally slowed. Exhaustion overtook him, and with tear-streaked cheeks, he closed his eyes and drifted into a fitful sleep.
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The next morning, Hyunjin woke up in his sister's room with a smile. He looked around for her but couldn't find her there, so he headed to the library, where she often went in the mornings. When she wasn't there either, he began checking all her usual spots, still unable to find her.
Finally, he remembered the living room and rushed there, scanning the area for his sister. But she wasn't there. Instead, he saw his parents looking somber as they entered. "Umma, Appa, where's Lucy unnie? I've been searching for her all over the house! Did she go somewhere?" Hyunjin asked innocently.
His parents exchanged a sorrowful look before Mr. Hwang spoke with difficulty, "She's already gone, son." Mrs. Hwang broke into tears at his words. Hyunjin's eyes widened in disbelief. "Appa, you must be wrong! L-Lucy unnie was with me last night, comforting me because I was sad," he protested, refusing to accept it.
"Why were you sad?" Mr. Hwang asked softly. "B-because I... I was... I..." Hyunjin faltered, memories of the previous day rushing back to him. Finally, he whispered, staring blankly at the floor, "Because Lucy unnie is gone."
"B-but Appa, I swear Lucy unnie was with me in her room last night," Hyunjin said, clinging to his belief. "Maybe she was with you in your dream, but it was only her soul," Mr. Hwang replied, as he too had dreamed of his daughter the previous night. In his dream, she had smiled at him and embraced him. She didn't utter a word, yet the warmth of that hug felt so real.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Hwang had the same dream as her husband. All three of them had seen their beloved one, someone they had been yearning for with all their hearts.
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Lucy's birthday arrived, and the family was overcome with sadness, though some traditions persisted. Three of them prepared a gift, but there was no celebration this year—they had lost the one they were celebrating for. It had been four days since Lucy's passing. They had already cremated her body and scattered her ashes at Kkotji Beach, a place she had always loved.
The family's gift was buried under a tree near the beach, a spot where they often had picnics and created cherished memories together. Before the cremation, Hyunjin overheard troubling news about their company. Although they still had money, the situation was far from what it used to be—the company had gone bankrupt.
Hyunjin managed to speak to his sister while their parents were consulting with the lawyer. Sneaking into the cremation room, he said, "Unnie, did you know our company went bankrupt? Appa and Umma are really upset and stressed. I hear Umma crying every night, and Appa drinks a lot of alcohol lately. It's so lonely at home without you, unnie. I've been feeling really upset lately too."
I haven't been going to school much either, and a lot has changed since you left. Appa gets angry so easily now and has grown distant from many people, even us, umma. I know appa is hurting, but it's upsetting because it feels like he forgets that we're hurting too. He's not the same as he used to be, unnie—he doesn't seem to care about our feelings as much anymore.
"I promise you, unnie, I will make appa and umma happy again. I'll study really hard to help appa with our business problems. That's a pinky promise, unnie," Hyunjin said, linking his pinky with his big sister's and sealing the vow.
"But one last thing, unnie, I still wish you were here. You always knew how to comfort me, appa, and umma. Even though you're gone now, I wish I could see you again," Hyunjin said, walking back to his parents with puffy eyes. At just 10 years old, he already understood the weight of his family's struggles. He truly was a strong child.
YOU ARE READING
The Cat That I Love
FantasiaIn your life, have you imagined what the cat that your mother left you well became something that's hard to believe, something that's so unreal?
