ECHOES IN SILENCE | Yoon Jaehyuk FF |✅

page | 04

A subtle change

Time at  Evening-

Jae arrived home at exactly seven o'clock, his routine finely tuned to the rhythm of the life he now led. Work had been draining, the hours long and the demands relentless, but none of it mattered as much as the quiet moments he spent with Zumi. She was his sanctuary, even in her silence, and he needed to be near her more than anything else.

After a quick shower, he pulled on a comfortable pair of gray sweatpants and a loose white t-shirt, the fabric soft against his skin, bringing a small measure of comfort. His steps were quiet as he made his way to Zumi’s room, a place that had become both a haven and a heartache.

Pausing outside her door, Jae hesitated, his hand hovering just above the wood. He took a deep breath before knocking gently, the sound barely a whisper in the stillness. It was a habit he couldn’t break, this tiny gesture of respect for her, as if one day she might actually answer. The hope lingered in him, stubborn and unyielding, refusing to die even as the days dragged on.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside, greeted by the familiar, comforting scent of lavender—her favorite. The room was softly lit, the dim glow of a bedside lamp casting warm hues across the walls, making the space feel cozy and intimate. Zumi lay still in her bed, her face peaceful, as if she were simply sleeping and might wake at any moment.

Jae walked over to her side, his movements slow and deliberate. He sat down carefully on the edge of the bed, his presence a practiced routine, as if not to disturb the fragile peace in the room. He took her hand in his, the warmth of her skin a small but vital connection between them. Her hand, though unmoving, was a lifeline for him, a way to channel all the emotions he kept bottled up inside.

For a moment, he simply sat there, saying nothing, allowing the silence to wrap around them like a blanket. It was a silence filled with unspoken words, shared between two souls who understood each other without needing to speak. His thumb brushed over the back of her hand in slow, rhythmic strokes, a silent conversation that only they could understand.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he smiled softly. “Oh, I almost forgot, Zumi. Just a moment,” he said, his voice gentle as if not to break the delicate atmosphere.

He reluctantly let go of her hand and stood up, leaving the room briefly. When he returned, he carried a guitar, the polished wood gleaming faintly in the dim light. It was the same guitar he had used to play her favorite songs, back when she would sing along with him, her voice a melody that still echoed in his memories.

Jae sat down again, adjusting the guitar on his lap. He strummed a few chords to tune it, the notes resonating softly in the room. “This is for you, Zumi,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. His fingers moved over the strings, and soon, the familiar melody of “Say You Won’t Let Go by James arthur. ” filled the air, each note laced with the weight of his love and longing.

As he played, memories flooded his mind—moments of laughter, of shared dreams, of a future they had once planned together. The music became a bridge to those memories, a way to relive them, even if only in his mind. He closed his eyes, letting the song carry him away, lost in the bittersweet harmony of what was and what could have been.

Time seemed to slip away as he played, the minutes blurring into a seamless stream of sound and emotion. It wasn’t until he heard a soft knock on the door that he realized how long he had been playing. He stopped, his fingers stilling on the strings, and turned to see who it was.

The door creaked open, revealing Miss Lee, Zumi’s new caretaker. Her presence was gentle, almost motherly, as she stepped into the room, her expression a blend of professionalism and empathy.