ECHOES IN SILENCE | Yoon Jaehyuk FF |✅

page | 10

-String of hope -

Tears slid silently down his cheeks as Jaehyuk leaned against the cold hospital wall. His heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice, every breath heavier than the last. He should have been relieved, thankful even-she was alive. But she can't remember him. That fact twisted the joy into something painful, like a blessing wrapped in thorns.

Dr. Park came out of Izumi's room, glancing back one more time before closing the door behind him. His face softened when he saw Jaehyuk, clearly reading the anguish painted all over him. He stepped closer and patted Jaehyuk's shoulder. "Mr. Yoon," Dr. Park said gently, "I know this is hard, but give her time. It's only been a day since she woke up. She might remember soon. Don't lose hope."

Jaehyuk nodded slowly, wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand, the weight of Dr. Park's words both comforting and suffocating. "Yeah... I'll wait for her." His voice came out hoarse, barely a whisper, but firm with resolve. He forced a weak smile at Dr. Park, then turned and walked out of the hospital, his heart heavier than when he arrived.

The ride home was quiet, the soft hum of the engine the only sound as the car moved through the dimly lit streets. The familiar sights passed by in a blur, but nothing seemed to register. The house felt even emptier than usual when he stepped inside, the silence almost mocking his pain. He went straight upstairs, the hot shower doing little to wash away the ache in his chest.

Downstairs, dinner was already set when he arrived, the table pristine, the silverware arranged with precision. His father sat at the head of the table, already halfway through his meal, but even his presence did nothing to fill the emptiness in the room. The only sounds were the clink of forks and knives, the quiet scrape of dishes.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, his father spoke. "So... how's her condition now?"

Jaehyuk put down his fork, the food in front of him tasteless, like swallowing sand. He let out a slow breath before answering. "She's stable. She woke up, but... she doesn't remember me."

The pause that followed felt like a lifetime, the weight of his words hanging in the air. His father sighed, setting his utensils down. "Son... I know how much she means to you. But maybe it's time to start thinking about yourself. I don't say this lightly. You've been by her side for years, but now... she doesn't recognize you. You might need to move on, Jaehyuk."

Jaehyuk's fork clattered onto his plate as he stared at his father, disbelief etched on his face. "Move on?" His voice cracked, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. "Dad, I can't just leave her. I've been waiting for her to wake up for so long. I'm not giving up now just because she doesn't remember me. She's still... she's still Izumi. My Izumi. I love her, and I'll wait for her, no matter how long it takes. Even if she never remembers me, I'll wait. Whether it's in this life or the next."

His father's face softened, the lines of concern deepening. "I understand, son. But love... it can't always conquer everything. What if you spend your whole life waiting, and she never remembers? You need to think about your future too."

Jaehyuk stood up, the chair scraping against the floor as he pushed it back. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his knuckles white. "I'm not being rude, but there's no need to worry about me. I can take care of myself, and I'll take care of you too, Dad. But don't ask me to let her go. I can't."

Without waiting for a response, Jaehyuk turned and headed upstairs, his footsteps heavy on the wooden floors. Once in his room, he collapsed onto his bed, the weight of the day finally crashing down on him. His father's words echoed in his mind, relentless and painful, but he refused to believe them. How could he move on when every fiber of his being was tied to Izumi? The thought of living without her, of pretending she never existed in his life, was unbearable.