The first snow ✗ eunseok

✗ 1

"Tonight i'll send you a firefly to somewhere near your window"

The winter breeze knifed through her her layers, the chilly air nipping her skin as she trudged her way back to home. The source of light being from the street lamps traced her exhausted figure and she navigated tiredly through the dusky streets.

It was past 11:00 pm where her shift as a neurosurgery intern ended, it was beyond tiresome. Exhaustion etched deep lines on her face, her eyes heavy with the weight of countless hours spent scrubbing in.

Running errands for higher comittee at the hospital, nursing at emergency ward, demand of getting good grades at medical university, maintaining home. The routine was gruesome, leaving her drained, and wondering how much long she could sustain this breakneck pace. Her petite self sagged under the weight of responsibility, her dull eyes dulled by the relentless pressure.

Huffing, jiwon hugged her jacket tightly around her, it's warmth a meager shield against the chill. Her gaze shifted upward, entranced by the moon's silvery glow casting an ethernal spotlight on the deserted empty road ahead.

But the eerie silence was shattered by a faint sound- a low, painful moan- drifting from the adjacent street. Her eyes snapped towards the noise, and her heart skipped a beat as she spotted a figure crumpled on their knees.

Despite her instincts as a neurosurgeon and a nursery caregiver, jiwon's feet seemed rooted to the spot, hesitation momentarily paralysis.

Stop!

Jiwon was no insane, her instincts screamed caution. A man, injured and alone at this forsaken hour- it was a precarious combination. Her rational mind whispered warnings.

But she was a soon to become doctor.

her medical training and compassion propelled her forward. She had sworn an oath to help those in need, regardless of the hour or circumstances. Helping people in need became her top most priority and responsibility ever since she selected this path.

Jiwon approached the stranger, her other hand quickly fishing out her phone and cautiously sending her live location to her family with an emergency call to the hospital.

"Hey" she spoke cautiously, kneeling down at the certain safe distance to which the unknown bleeding man quickly glanced up at her.

"Shit you're not okay"

Blood drained from his pale face as his eyelids dropped, his chest falling in shallow breaths.
"Run away.. before they come"
He managed out meakly, his face twisted in agony.

"Who?" Jiwon couldn't process anything, her actions acting upon before her brain could proceed. she checked his airway breathing concluding it being highly unstable and circulation
(ABCs) before moving on to a more thorough examination. She suspected a possible concussion or subdural hematoma, given the victim's loss of blood.

She wondered if he'd require emergency surgery to relieve intracranial pressure.

"Please leave me, they can't find you. You have to get out of here"
Jiwon shook her head, confusion etched on her face.

"I don't understand what you're trying to say, you need Medical attention, and fast. I've already called the hospital. The ambulance should be here by any minute now"

The man's eyes widened in alarm, his grip on her hand tightening making her unease.
"No! You shouldn't have" his voice laced with terror making her breath hitch, her eyes raking over the surroundings.

Leaving the damn area
As tempting it sounds, she couldn't. He was her patient right now, and he was her responsibility at the given moment.

She gently prised her hands off his grasp
"you're profusely bleeding, you need help"
as gentle and comforting she attempted to sound off, it couldn't belittle the dread growing in her limb.

"Are you able to walk? The main road isn't that far away"
She could feel it in her guts that something was terribly wrong, and she needed to get her and him out of this apprehensive dusky streets. Thankfully the main road, where the bus stop is located isn't that far away.