TIME | PARK JIHYO

Cloud Cytoma

YEAR 2024

Hye-jin's fingers tightened around the steering wheel as she navigated through the congested streets leading to Sungmin University Medical Center. Anxious thoughts swirled in her mind, fueled by the cryptic message left by her doctor the day before. The urgency in his voice had left her unsettled, prompting her to rush to the hospital despite the looming sense of dread.

Parking her car in the hospital lot, Hye-jin took a deep breath to steady her nerves before stepping out into the crisp winter air. The bustling sounds of the hospital greeted her, nurses scurrying past and the distant hum of medical equipment providing a familiar backdrop. With each step she took toward the entrance, anticipation mingled with apprehension, tightening the knot in her stomach.

But as Hye-jin crossed the threshold into the lobby, the world around her seemed to shift and warp, morphing into a surreal dreamscape. The sterile walls of the hospital dissolved, replaced by towering trees draped in blankets of snow. The sudden change left her disoriented, her breath catching in her throat as she surveyed the unfamiliar landscape stretching out before her.

Lost in the midst of this strange forest, Hye-jin's steps faltered as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings. The biting cold seeped through her coat, sending shivers down her spine as she pressed onward, a sense of urgency driving her forward. She called out for help, her voice echoing against the silent expanse, but no one answered her plea.

It was only when a familiar voice pierced through the stillness that Hye-jin snapped back to reality, her heart pounding in her chest. Blinking in confusion, she found herself face to face with her doctor, his expression grave as he addressed her by name.

"When did I get in here?" she finally managed to voice her bewilderment, her tone tinged with uncertainty as she turned to her doctor, her eyes pleading for answers.

“I beg your pardon,” her doctor responded, his brow furrowing in confusion as he met her gaze.

“I remember being in the lobby. So how am I already here?” Hye-jin persisted, her confusion deepening with each passing moment. “It’s like I teleported.”

The doctor's expression softened, realizing the gravity of her concern. "Ms. Gu, has this ever happened before?" he inquired solemnly, his gaze fixed intently on her.

Hye-jin's brow furrowed as she struggled to recall past instances. "I told you last time. Sometimes, I suffer from headaches and am forgetful, and sometimes I just can’t remember what I did for the past several hours. I even missed an important appointment. I couldn’t keep track of the time I was in."

“Why didn’t you visit me sooner?” her doctor questioned gently, a note of concern lacing his words.

“I just thought I had zoned off or zoned out due to exhaustion. I didn’t feel any physical pain,” Hye-jin explained, her voice tinged with frustration. “So… is there something wrong with me?” she ventured, her fear palpable in the air.

The doctor hesitated for a moment before delivering the dreaded news. "I'm sorry to say this Ms. Gu, but you are diagnosed with Cloud Cytoma," he replied, his tone grave. "It is a very rare disease of which there are only a few cases worldwide. Ms. Gu, you are the first Korean patient to have been diagnosed with this disease."

Hye-jin's heart sank at the mention of the unfamiliar diagnosis, her mind reeling with disbelief. "Do I need surgery? A surgery is possible, right?" she grasped at a sliver of hope.

“No, Ms. Gu,” her doctor said solemnly, his tone weighted with concern.

“I see. It can be treated with medication,” Hye-jin murmured to herself.