Polaroids on The Floor

Akashi Kaikiyo Bridge

One summer morning, Kim woke up to get ready for work. As he headed downstairs, he found his younger sister Lia preparing breakfast.

"Lia, I need you to take care of Mom today, alright? I'll be at work," Kim said, his voice carrying the weight of responsibility.

Lia looked up, her eyes showing a mix of concern and determination. "Of course, Kimmy. I'll make sure she's okay."

Kim nodded, appreciating her reliability. "Thank you. I'll be back as soon as I can."

He grabbed his camera and headed out to the company where he worked. When he arrived, his boss greeted him with a broad smile.

"I’ve got an exciting task for you today, Kim," his boss said, handing him a folder. "I want you to photograph the best sceneries here in Kobe. And after that, I have a big project lined up—you’ll be traveling to different cities to make them tourist attractions."

Kim’s eyes widened in surprise. "Another city? So I'll be leaving right after I'm done here?"

His boss nodded. "Yes, but don't worry. It's only for two weeks, and you’ll be well compensated. You've been doing outstanding work since you started here, Kim. We’re all very impressed."

Kim hesitated, thinking about his mother and Lia. "I appreciate the opportunity, but I can’t just leave my family alone. My mom... she needs me."

His boss’s expression softened. "I’ve already made arrangements. Your family’s needs will be taken care of while you're away. I know how much you’ve sacrificed for this job, Kim. Let me help you in return."

Kim felt a wave of gratitude but also a pang of guilt. "Thank you, sir. I just... I don't want to let anyone down, especially not my family."

"You won’t," his boss reassured him. "Just focus on doing what you do best. You've brought so much value to this company, Kim. This is your chance to shine even brighter."

Kim smiled, though his heart felt heavy. "I won’t let you down. I promise."

With that, Kim set out to begin his assignment. He started by capturing images of Kobe’s towering buildings and bustling streets, then moved on to the quaint charm of small restaurants and cafés. His final destination for the day was the iconic Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, hoping to capture its grandeur in the soft glow of the afternoon light.

As Kim framed his shot, he was so absorbed in the beauty of the scene that he didn’t notice what was happening in the background. It wasn’t until a man dressed in black approached him that he realized something was wrong.

"Did you capture it?" the man demanded, his voice low and threatening.

Kim blinked, confused. "Capture what? Who are you?"

Without warning, the man snatched Kim’s camera and slammed it to the ground, shattering it into pieces. Kim watched in shock as the man viciously stomped on the remains.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Kim shouted, his heart racing.

The man reached into his coat and tossed a small bag at Kim’s feet. "Here. Buy a new one. I was in that photo, and I don't give consent to be photographed."

Kim stared at the bag, then back at the man. "This is... a lot of money. What’s going on? Why would you—"

But the man was already walking away, ignoring Kim’s protests.

Shaken, Kim crouched down to pick up the bag. He opened it and saw more cash than he’d ever seen in one place. "This is enough to feed a family for months," he muttered to himself, still in disbelief.