A lovely change with love|2min

chapter 13

Trigger warnings
Child abuse

As the silence stretched out, Seungmin's sobs gradually subsided, replaced by ragged breaths and an occasional shudder. Minho's gaze remained fixed on her, his eyes filled with a deep concern and empathy. He watched as her body relaxed, her tense muscles slowly releasing their hold on her pain.

Seungmin's face, still wet with tears, gradually lost its anguished expression, replaced by a look of exhaustion and vulnerability. Her eyes, red-rimmed and puffy, closed, her lips parted slightly to catch her breath.

As the moments ticked by, Seungmin's breathing slowed, her body relaxing further, until she finally slipped into a fitful sleep, her pain and sorrow temporarily assuaged.

Minho gazed down at Seungmin's peaceful face, her eyelids fluttering closed as slumber finally claimed her. The soft rise and fall of Seungmin's chest, the gentle whisper of her breath, and the relaxed curve of her lips all testified to the depth of her exhaustion. Minho's heart swelled with a mix of emotions - concern, tenderness, and a hint of guilt.

With Dori still nestled in Seungmin's lap, Minho carefully shifted his position, cradling Seungmin's head in the crook of his arm. As he did so, Dori stirred, stretched, and hopped down from Seungmin's lap, padding softly out of the room.

With a gentle reverence, Minho scooped Seungmin up, bridal-style, and carried her to the bed. He laid her down with utmost care, as if Seungmin was a fragile treasure.

As he pulled the blanket up to Seungmin's chin, Minho's voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm so sorry for causing you so much trouble, Seungmin."

With one last look at Seungmin's sleeping form, Minho turned and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click. The silence that followed was a testament to the depth of Seungmin's exhaustion and the weight of Minho's regret.

Minho's hand hovered over the bottle for a moment, the cool glass smooth against his palm. The balcony was quiet, save for the distant hum of the city below, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside him. His eyes traced the label on the bottle, but he wasn't really seeing it. Instead, Seungmin's words echoed in his mind, relentless and unyielding.

"She didn't fall in love with the broken version of you. You deserve to be free."

The phrase twisted in his gut, tugging at something deep inside that he had tried to bury for so long.

"Be gentle on yourself. Take this journey with me."

Minho exhaled sharply, the breath shaky and uneven. The bottle suddenly felt heavier in his hand, as if it carried the weight of all his doubts, his fears, the pain he had tried to numb over and over again. He imagined the burn of alcohol sliding down his throat, dulling everything, but Seungmin's voice was louder than the craving.

He walked into the kitchen, each step measured, almost cautious. The fluorescent lights flickered slightly, casting a cold, almost sterile glow on the countertops.

Minho didn't pause. He pulled open the trash can and, without a second thought, tipped the bottle in. He stood there for a moment, staring at the bottle lying at the bottom of the trash can, a symbol of everything he was trying to leave behind.

The air felt lighter somehow, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, but the knot in his chest remained. He turned away from the kitchen, his movements slower now, as if drained. The journey Seungmin had spoken of stretched out before him, daunting and uncertain, but there was a flicker of hope in the darkness.

Minho walked towards his room, each step echoing in the empty hallway. The bed was unmade, sheets tangled from restless nights, but it looked more inviting than it had in a long time.