Dog Days

Prologue: Summer Farewell

The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the serene landscape of Camp Evergreen. Children's laughter echoed through the trees, blending with the distant bird calls and the soft, rhythmic sound of the lake gently meeting the shore. It was the final evening of summer camp, when the day's fun started to fade and the reality of saying goodbye tomorrow began to sink in.

Sim Jaeyun, or Jake as everyone called him, sat by the campfire, his usual playful grin replaced by a thoughtful expression. Across from him sat Park Ha-Yun—Hannah, to her friends. Her eyes, usually bright with curiosity, were downcast as she traced circles in the dirt with a stick. The crackling of the fire filled the silence between them, a silence heavy with unspoken words.

They had spent every waking moment together that summer, forming a friendship that felt like it had always existed. But now, as the sun set on their final day at camp, the reality of what was to come weighed on them both.

Jake glanced at Hannah, wanting to say something to make her smile, something to erase the sadness in her eyes. But the words got stuck in his throat.

"I'll miss this place," Hannah finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And... I'll miss you."

Jake felt his heart tighten. He knew she was leaving, moving halfway across the world to New York City. The idea of Camp Evergreen without her felt impossible, like trying to imagine the night sky without stars.

"I'll miss you too," he managed to reply.

The fire crackled again, sending sparks up into the darkening sky. They both looked at each other. For a moment, it felt like time had frozen, like they could hold onto this moment forever.

They couldn't have known that this summer, this camp, and these memories would be the foundation of something much bigger—something that would bring them back to each other in ways they never expected.

The fire burned low, and the night grew quiet, the camp in a peaceful stillness. They sat side by side, unaware of the paths their lives would soon take, and the summer days that would come back to them once again.