|| The High Tide || {Sunki}

{ 15 }

--------------------------------

"The pain of parting is nothing compared to the joy of meeting again."

- Charles Dickens

--------------------------------

[Age 29]

--------------------------------

Hello again, Ni-Ki.

It's been a while, hasn't it?

I'm sorry I haven't had time to write to you recently... It's just that with both of our parents passing, I've been really busy sorting things out and having time to adjust.

My parents passed just after my birthday, and I really lost my way for a while. Then, as soon as I was starting to feel back to my normal self, your parents passed as well. Now, I'm lost again.

I've had an apprentice painting under me for a while now. His name's Jisung. As a matter of fact, he's Hyunjin's brother. But he's doing military service right now, so he had Jisung passed to me for the time being. I've had him for a couple months now, and let me tell you, he's made great progress.

Since I've been busy with both our parents, I haven't had time to buy our beach house yet. I have enough money, but just not enough time since I've been busy recently. Once I finish cleaning your old house, I'll have to finally buy it.

The beach house I've had my eye on is far from our houses, so I wouldn't have time to drive back and forth everyday for the studio. I decided to leave it to Jisung and Hyunjin, and they can take it over after I leave.

Speaking of houses, neither of our parents sold the ones we grew up in. I still live there now, but it's just so lonely without anyone here with me. Sometimes, I go over to your house-which is in the process of being cleaned-and I just feel... strange... being so close to the room you grew up in.

I know it sounds silly, but when I open the door to your old bedroom, I expect you to still be there, lying on your bed or throwing a baseball up and down in your hand. But instead, I'm met with dust and the tired air of a lonely unused room, along with myself having a few more wrinkles than I did when I was younger. Even so, my mind returns to the days nine years ago when we would stay up all night talking or messing around.

Speaking of, it's been almost a decade since we've been apart. I don't know whether to celebrate that I'm going to be closer to you soon, or to mourn that you've been gone. But on the other hand, I'm so close to achieving our dream together! Even though you're not here with me, you were in my heart throughout the entire journey.

Your photos are still on the walls. At my house, your family's old one, and my own studio, though I will have to take those down when Hyunjin and Jisung take over. I'll take the ones in the studio and move them to the new beach house, where we can finally live there together, just like we always dreamed of doing.

I always kept some in every room where I paint because it gives me comfort. I even painted some old memories of ours, like when we first smoked under the bleachers, or went on the Ferris Wheel together. Crazily enough, I still remember every detail of your face and body. I probably know yours better than my own, by this point.

I can't wait to see you again.

Will you still look the same as I remember?

I yearn to hold you in my arms again, to feel your warmth and comfort, to kiss your lips, and see that beautiful smile of yours that I admire oh so much.

Please take care of our parents until I can see them again. And tell them that I love and miss them, too.

It won't be much longer until we're reunited, my love.

Your endless lover,
Sunoo

--------------------------------