Love and Let Go ↔ Yang Jungwon

24

✧○ꊞ○ꊞ○•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙○♡๑•୨୧┈┈┈୨୧•๑♡○•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙ꊞ○ꊞ○✧

Giselle tugged her thin jacket closer to her body. Oh, why had she decided to wear so lightly in late autumn?

It was late November, another lone, bleak day without her family. Even Sakura seemed to have left her. Winter was rapidly approaching the doorstep of Seoul.

She shivers under the protection of the jacket. Puffs of steamy air flew out of her mouth when she exhaled. Giselle checks the time on her watch. It was getting late, she should hurry. But maybe she could stop for a warm cup of hot chocolate at a cafe?

As she stops at the door of the cafe, her phone buzzes in her pocket. Frowning, Giselle pulls it out and swipes the phone, "Hello?"

"Giselle? Can you please come to the hospital? West Wing, Room 9."

The familiar voice of Mrs. Kim came through the speaker. But why was she calling her? She and Sakura haven't talked in so long and already parted ways. Giselle clears her throat. "Mrs. Kim? Did something happen?"

"Giselle, please. Please just come."

The kind woman seemed to be on the verge of tears. Giselle exhales softly. "I'll be right there." She hangs up.

She looks for a taxi before spying one right around the corner. Giselle runs towards it and opens the cab door. "Seoul Hospital, please."

The driver only nods before speeding off.

As she leans on the cushion, she takes a moment to catch her breath. What could've been so important that Mrs. Kim had to call her? How come she sounded so upset?

So many questions, yet no answers.

Giselle turns to the window, only to witness the first snowflakes of the season, floating gently to the ground.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Go to the hallway on the left and down a few doors, you'll find Room 9 there."

She bows towards the receptionist at the front desk. "Thank you."

Scurrying towards the room, Giselle passes many patients with a queasy feeling in her gut. She tries to shake it off. It was probably nothing. After all, her gut was often wrong.

If only she knew how wrong she was.

With clammy hands, she hesitantly twisted the door knob open.

Bright light flooded her eyes. She blinks, trying to adjust to the brightness, before her eyes fell on a horrific sight.

Sunken eyes. Pale skin. Eyebags. Thin.

Never in her life would Giselle ever imagine her beautiful best friend to look like this.

Sakura laid on the hospital cot, breathing heavily. A heartbeat monitor stood next to her, humming softly.

Her skin was as pale as snow. She was so thin that her veins were easily spotted on her face. Dark eyebags were visible under her eyes. Her cheeks deprived of their usual chubbiness, Giselle couldn't even imagine it was her. The girl in front of her didn't look like Sakura at all.

Yet she was, in flesh and spirit.

Sakura smiles weakly at her, "Ji, it's been so long-"

A wracking cough escaped from her mouth. Alarmed, Giselle rushes to her friend's side. "Kura?" she whispers. "What happened to you?"

Her question slips out her mouth, barely audible, yet Sakura had heard it. Her best friend attempts to sit up straight before giving up, the blood draining from her face as she had no energy.