Echos of Us | Markhyuck

ten

Mark,

I don't know how much time I have left, so I need to say everything now. I wish I could've been stronger, stayed healthier, and been by your side like I promised. I've dreamed about all the things we could've done together-the trips, the laughter, the life we were supposed to have. But life had other plans.

I regret not telling you sooner, not letting you share this burden with me. You deserved to know the truth, but I was afraid of what it would do to you... to us. Now, I see how wrong I was. I should've let you in.

I love you, Mark. You've always been my home, my safe place. If this is the end, I need you to know that loving you was the best part of my life.

Don't forget me, okay? But don't let the sadness of this take away all the good we had. Carry that with you.

Forever yours,

Haechan

-

Haechan's breaths were shallow, his voice even weaker than before. Mark sat beside him, holding his hand gently, as if he were afraid that letting go would mean losing him completely. The reality of Haechan's condition had finally hit with full force-there was no more time for hope or denial.

Mark's eyes were red from crying, though he tried to stay composed. He wanted to be strong for Haechan, but the ache in his chest was unbearable. He couldn't imagine a world without him. Yet, as he sat there, watching Haechan's frail body struggle for each breath, he knew the time was coming.

"I'm sorry," Haechan whispered, his voice barely audible.

Mark shook his head, tears slipping down his cheeks. "You don't have to be sorry for anything."

"I should've told you earlier," Haechan continued, his eyes filled with regret. "I didn't want you to see me like this... weak."

"Hey," Mark said softly, squeezing Haechan's hand. "You've never been weak. You were trying to protect me. I get it now, but I wish you hadn't done it alone."

Haechan's eyes glistened as he looked up at Mark, searching his face as if he were memorizing every detail. "I didn't want to hurt you."

Mark let out a shaky breath, his heart aching. "You could never hurt me, Haechan. I just... I wish I had been here sooner."

They sat in silence for a while, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on them. The room was filled with the soft hum of medical equipment and the quiet rustle of the wind outside the window. Mark wanted to say so much, but he didn't know where to start.

"I'm scared, Mark," Haechan admitted, his voice trembling. "I don't want to leave you."

Mark's chest tightened as he fought back more tears. "I don't want you to go, either," he whispered. "But I'll always carry you with me. You'll always be a part of me, no matter what."

Haechan nodded, tears slipping down his own cheeks now. "Promise me... promise me you'll keep living. Even after..."

Mark pressed his forehead against Haechan's, closing his eyes as he whispered, "I promise."

-

Outside the room, their friends gathered quietly. Doyoung, Kun, and Renjun had come to offer their support, but they respected the privacy Mark and Haechan needed in these final moments.

Doyoung stood by the doorway, his arms crossed tightly over his chest as he fought to hold back his own tears. He had known both Mark and Haechan for years, and watching them go through this was breaking his heart.

"He's so strong," Renjun whispered, his voice barely above a breath. "But it's killing him inside."

Kun, standing beside him, nodded solemnly. "This kind of love, it's rare. Losing it will tear him apart."

Doyoung sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. "We just need to be there for him when it happens. He'll need us more than ever."

The three of them had taken turns visiting Haechan, helping with the care he needed and providing emotional support for both him and Mark. It was a heavy burden, but they wouldn't have been anywhere else.

Inside the room, Mark and Haechan continued to hold onto each other, their hands intertwined. Haechan's breathing was labored, each breath coming slower than the last. Mark stroked his hair gently, his heart breaking as he watched the person he loved slip away.

"I'm going to miss you," Mark whispered, his voice cracking.

Haechan looked up at him, his eyes soft and full of love. "I'll always be with you."

Mark smiled sadly, brushing a tear from Haechan's cheek. "I know. But it's not the same."

Haechan's lips quirked into a faint smile. "You'll be okay, Mark. You're strong."

"I'm only strong because of you," Mark said softly, his voice filled with emotion. "I don't know what I'm going to do without you."

"You'll figure it out," Haechan whispered. "You always do."

Mark kissed Haechan's forehead, holding him close as the tears streamed down his face. "I love you, Haechan. More than anything."

"I love you too, Mark," Haechan whispered, his voice barely audible now. "Always."

Their friends still stood outside, their presence a quiet reminder that Mark wasn't alone, even in his darkest moment. Doyoung , Kun, and Renjun exchanged glances, knowing the hardest part was still to come.

All they could do now was wait and be there when Mark would need them most.

The finality of the moment was settling in. Mark and Haechan's love had always felt eternal, but the reality of life and death was something neither of them could escape. In the end, all that remained was the love they had shared-and that, they knew, would never truly fade.