part 28 ( the edge of despair)

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Chapter 29: The Edge of Despair

Jisoo sat in the middle of her cold, empty apartment, staring blankly at the walls. It had been days since she had heard the news about Taehyung and Jennie. Days that felt like years. The numbness she had tried to create with alcohol had faded, leaving behind a suffocating void that consumed her every thought.

She hadn’t slept. She hadn’t eaten. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Taehyung’s face—his smile, his touch, the warmth of his presence. But now all of that was gone. All she had left was the crushing realization that she was utterly and completely alone.

Jisoo’s mind spiraled into darkness. She replayed every mistake, every decision that had led her here. The lies, the manipulation, the desperate attempts to keep Taehyung by her side. It had all been for nothing. She had lost him anyway, and now, nothing mattered.

Her thoughts grew darker and darker, each one more suffocating than the last. What was the point of living in this endless agony? What was the point of waking up every day when the only thing she had ever truly wanted was gone?

She stood up slowly, her legs shaky and weak from days of neglect. The apartment felt like a prison, and she needed to escape. She needed to get out, to be somewhere—anywhere—that wasn’t here.

With numb, robotic movements, Jisoo grabbed her coat and stumbled out the door. She didn’t know where she was going, and she didn’t care. The city outside was cold, with a bitter wind that bit at her skin, but she barely noticed. Her mind was too consumed by the darkness, pulling her deeper into despair with every step.

She walked aimlessly, her thoughts growing heavier, more dangerous. The streets were crowded, but she felt invisible. The world moved around her, but she was separate from it, a ghost haunting her own life. She wandered until she found herself on a bridge, the lights of the city reflecting off the water below. The rushing sound of the river was soothing, almost inviting.

Jisoo stared down at the water, her mind foggy, her heart numb

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Jisoo stared down at the water, her mind foggy, her heart numb. The cold wind whipped through her hair, but she didn’t feel it. She didn’t feel anything anymore. The thoughts in her head grew louder, darker, until they drowned out everything else.

Without thinking, she climbed onto the edge of the bridge, her feet teetering on the narrow ledge. The river below looked so peaceful, so final. A way out of the endless pain. Her mind screamed at her to jump, to end it all and escape the torment that had consumed her life.

But just as she was about to let go, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back from the edge. The sudden force broke her trance, and she gasped, her body trembling as she was yanked back onto solid ground.

Are you insane? What the hell are you doing?” A voice shouted, rough and panicked.

Jisoo turned to see a man standing in front of her, his eyes wide with shock and fear

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Jisoo turned to see a man standing in front of her, his eyes wide with shock and fear. He was tall, with dark hair that fell messily across his forehead, and his grip on her arms was firm but not painful. His presence was jarring, like a splash of cold water, waking her from the darkness that had clouded her mind.

Let me go,” she whispered weakly, her voice breaking. “Just let me go…”

“Not a chance,” the man snapped, his grip tightening as he pulled her away from the ledge. “I’m not going to stand here and let you do this.”

Jisoo’s knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. The weight of everything—Taehyung, Jennie, her shattered life—came crashing down on her all at once, and she couldn’t hold it in any longer.

The man knelt beside her, his expression softening as he watched her break down. He didn’t say anything, just stayed by her side as she cried, her body shaking with the force of her sobs. After what felt like hours, Jisoo’s tears finally subsided, leaving her exhausted and drained.

“Why… why did you stop me?” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “I don’t want to be here anymore. I don’t want to feel this pain…”

The man looked at her, his eyes filled with empathy. “Because no matter how bad things are, giving up isn’t the answer. Trust me, I’ve been there. I know how it feels to want to escape, but this isn’t the way.”

Jisoo looked up at him, her vision blurry with tears. “You don’t understand… I’ve lost everything. I have nothing left.”

“I may not know what you’re going through,” he replied softly, “but I know that life can surprise you. Sometimes, when you think you’ve hit rock bottom, there’s still a way up. You just have to give it a chance.”

Jisoo shook her head, her voice cracking as she spoke. “I don’t know how… I don’t know how to keep going…”

The man sighed, his expression thoughtful. “One step at a time. One day at a time. It won’t be easy, but you don’t have to do it alone.”

Jisoo looked at him, confusion and gratitude warring in her eyes. “Why… why are you helping me?”

Because no one should go through this alone,” he replied gently. “My name is Hae-in, by the way.”

Jisoo…” she murmured, barely able to say her own name through the tears.

Hae-in nodded, standing up and offering her his hand. “Come on, Jisoo. Let’s get you out of the cold. You need some rest.”

Jisoo hesitated for a moment before taking his hand, allowing him to help her to her feet. Her body felt heavy, drained of all energy, but there was a small part of her that clung to his words. Maybe he was right. Maybe there was a way out of this darkness, even if she couldn’t see it yet.

Hae-in led her to a nearby café, where he ordered them both hot tea. They sat in silence, the warmth of the tea slowly bringing some life back into Jisoo’s cold, numb fingers. She stared into her cup, trying to process everything that had just happened.

I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t shown up,” Jisoo whispered after a long silence. “I’m… I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”

You don’t have to apologize,” Hae-in replied, his voice gentle. “I’m just glad I was there. And for what it’s worth, I think you’re stronger than you realize.”

Jisoo looked at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty. She didn’t feel strong. She felt broken, shattered into a million pieces. But there was something in Hae-in’s voice, something that made her want to believe him.

“I don’t know how to fix this,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know how to fix myself.”

Hae-in leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady and calm. “You don’t have to have all the answers right now. Just take it one step at a time. And if you need someone to talk to… well, I’m here.”

Jisoo nodded slowly, her heart heavy but a little less suffocating than before. She didn’t know what the future held, didn’t know how she would face the days ahead. But for the first time in what felt like forever, she didn’t feel completely alone.

As they sat in the warmth of the café, Jisoo realized that maybe, just maybe, there was a way to find herself again. It wouldn’t be easy, and it would take time, but with Hae-in’s unexpected kindness, she found the strength to take that first step forward.

And though she didn’t know it yet, this chance encounter with Hae-in would change her life in ways she could never have imagined.

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