𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙞 𝙄𝙄 𝙃𝙮𝙪𝙣𝙝𝙤

Epilogue

4th of July

Minho,

If you are reading this, it means I am no longer by your side, taken by the silent, unrelenting bloom within my chest. As I write this, tears blur the ink, and my heart aches with the weight of the words I've never been able to say. There are truths that remain buried deep within us, too painful to voice, too precious to risk. But now, as the end approaches, I must release these words into the world, hoping they find their way to you.

I have loved you for as long as I can remember. From the day we met as children, when your kindness and bravery saved me from the cruelty of others, my heart was yours. As we grew, so did my love—silent, deep, and all-consuming. You were my anchor, my joy, my reason. But this love, beautiful and true, became a curse I couldn't escape.

The Hanahaki Disease—this cruel, poetic fate—has taken hold of me, feeding on the love I've harbored for you in secret. Each petal I coughed up was a silent scream, a piece of my soul breaking away. These flowers, as lovely as they are lethal, have stolen my breath, leaving me with little time. I have fought to hide this from you, to spare you the pain, but now I see that the truth must be known.

In my room, you will find a crown woven from the flowers that have been killing me. I crafted it with hands trembling from both love and fear. It is my final gift to you, a tangible piece of my heart. When you see it, please do not mourn my suffering, but remember the love that filled every moment of my life. My love for you was my greatest joy and my deepest sorrow.

I wanted to tell you, to confess everything, but fear held me back. Fear of rejection, of losing you, of changing the bond we shared. But now, as I face the end, I understand that love should never be hidden. It should be shouted from the rooftops, embraced with open arms, no matter the cost.

Remember me not for the disease that claimed me, but for the love that defined my existence. Wear the crown and know that every petal, every leaf, is a piece of my soul, eternally intertwined with yours. My love for you is unending, Minho. It will live on in the memories we shared, in the laughter, in the quiet moments of companionship.

As I fade away, my love for you remains. I'll love you forever, even from the beyond.

Yours always, Hyunjin

P.S. Forgive me for not being braver, for not telling you sooner. I hope you find happiness, and I hope that, in some small way, I brought joy to your life. Please, remember the best of us