serendipity | kth | completed

chapter 25

i sit on the floor with my legs crossed in front of kiyoung, she's sat in her chair and i've sat a few toys down in front of her so we can play with them.

i watch as she grabs the cube and slides it into the square slot on the wooden box. i gasp and give her tiny hand a high five, "good job kiyoung, you're so smart!" she smiles widely and claps her hands as her round eyes glisten. there's a knock on my door and i quickly hop to my feet because i know exactly who it is.

"elizabeth, hey." i open the door and allow her to step inside, "hey taehyung, it's pouring out there." she chuckles and pulls off her raincoat before hanging it on the coat rack. her eyes catch ahold of kiyoung before she smiles and walks over towards her, "hi, kiyoung! are you playing with toys sweetie?"

kiyoung stares up at her as she grabs the cylinder and raises it up to her mouth. i quickly interject and replace the cube with her frozen, circular toy. "sorry, she's still teething, shall we get to work?"

she nods and we take our usual seats at the kitchen table. as she begins to pull out her things i lean down and fill hannie's food and water bowls. when y/n stopped coming home she stopped eating, drinking, and being active altogether. she's become habituated to her bed. i glance over at her hopefully as her head rises, but then it falls back down again. i frown and turn to elizabeth — who's come to tell me y/n called her eliza — as she opens up the documents.

we've spent many months trying to collectively create what y/n had envisioned for this final publish of hers. it was much, much shorter than her other works, but her main focus was leaving behind something for her fans rather than nothing. "okay, it seems as though the last thing we should add is her back matter; this is what i feel like you'd be the most helpful with."

i nod and lean against the table, "alright i'm ready to help, as soon as you tell me what a back matter is." she face palms herself and shakes her head, "you're right, sorry about that. a back matter is personal information or accomplishments about the author that's printed on the back of the body copy. i know some things like her awards, you can help with personal things."

i sit and contemplate on what information i could give, "would i tell them stuff like how she was as a person or about her family?" she shrugs as her fingers rapidly type against the keys, "any of that is great, give me what you got."

"she was thoughtful, and her even fighting through her toughest days to submit these entries to leave behind something for her readers illustrates that. she wanted to be the best writer she could be, and always told everyone how grateful she was to have fans that supported her throughout her entire journey as an author. she leaves behind a husband and daughter, a mother and father, two older sisters, and her beloved pomeranian — hannie."

with a final click of her keys she smiles up at me, "done!"

•••

today is the release party of y/n's book/memoir, today is also kiyoung's first birthday. i woke up early to take her to a bakery called the happy cake.

y/n's family had sent gifts, but i wanted to spend this day with only her and i. i grabbed the tiny cake and carried her in my arms to find a table. i sat her in the high chair in the seat across from me and set down the smash cake in front of her. "here you go, kiyoung! happy birthday!" i kiss her cheek and watch as her tiny and chubby hands immediately fall down onto the soft treat.

i smile happily as she grabs a fist full of the cake and shoves it into her mouth, smearing frosting all around her lips in the process of doing so.

when she finishes i grab wipes out of her bag and clean off her face and hands. "kiyoung, daddy got you a present." i smile and set down the pink, polka-dot covered gift bag. she reaches inside and rips out the parchment paper slowly, and i patiently wait with a smile on my face.