Dreambound Shadows

Chapter 9: Echoes of a Forgotten Home

Aera stood in front of the house, a place so familiar it felt as though she had never left. The two-story building, with its weathered bricks and ivy-covered walls, appeared unchanged, a silent sentinel guarding the memories she had left behind. The sight of it stirred something deep within her—a mixture of longing, nostalgia, and a bittersweet ache.

It had been a year and a half since she last stood here, yet time seemed to have forgotten this place. The house, the garden, the air—everything was the same. A gust of wind rustled through the trees, catching Aera’s long hair and the hem of her midi skirt, causing them to flutter softly. She closed her eyes, feeling the gentle breeze on her face. The familiarity of it all was both comforting and unsettling, as though the house itself had been waiting for her return.

Taking a deep breath, Aera pushed open the iron gate, its familiar creak a sound that tugged at her heartstrings. She stepped into the lawn, the soft grass beneath her feet a comforting reminder of all the moments she had spent here. The air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers, just as it had been the last time she walked these grounds.

As she reached the main door, Aera found herself rooted to the spot. Her heart pounded in her chest as a thousand thoughts raced through her mind. What would she find inside? Would the house be filled with warmth, or had the echoes of her departure left it cold and empty? She was so lost in thought that she didn’t notice the sound of children’s voices until they echoed through the house, pulling her back to the present.

Aera’s breath caught in her throat as she recognized those voices. The high-pitched and full of life voices. They belonged to the children she knew so well, the children she had left behind. Without realizing it, her hand had already reached for the doorbell. She hesitated for a moment, her finger hovering over the button, before finally pressing it. The sound of the bell echoed through the house. For a moment, all was still, and then she heard footsteps—small, hurried footsteps—approaching the door.

The door creaked open, revealing a boy standing in the doorway. He was around ten years old, with tousled hair and wide eyes that seemed to grow even wider, filled with surprise and disbelief as they took in the sight of her. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, time seeming to stand still but then recognition dawned on his face, and his voice, filled with surprise and joy, called out the word she had longed to hear. “Mom?”

Aera’s heart swelled as she smiled at him, a bright, radiant smile that lit up her entire face, her eyes brimming with tears she refused to shed. “Hello, Jun,” she said softly, her voice trembling.

Jun stared at her for a moment longer, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. Aera crouched down, opening her arms wide to welcome him into her embrace. Then without hesitation, Jun dashed forward, throwing his arms around her. Aera held him close, her arms wrapped tightly around him, the warmth of his small body against hers filling her with a sense of completeness she hadn’t felt in so long.

Jun, the first child she had with Jimin, pulled back slightly, looking up at her with tear-filled eyes. “Is it really you, Mom?” he asked, his small hands clutching at her dress as if needing confirmation that she was truly there.

“Yes, sweetheart,” Aera murmured, her hand gently caressing his head. “It’s really me.”

Jun’s face lit up with joy, and without another word, he grabbed her hand, his small fingers wrapping tightly around hers. “Come inside, Mom. Come see the others.” He led her into the house, his steps quick and eager.

As the warmth of the living room greeted her, Aera’s eyes immediately fell on the two other children inside. A boy of about six years old sat on the floor, staring at her. His expression a mix of confusion and curiosity, while a little girl with soft curls, barely three, lay asleep on the couch, her tiny chest rising and falling with each peaceful breath.