~🎬~
The world around her was eerily still, as if the air itself held its breath. Suhyun sat in the backseat of the car, her small fingers gripping the edge of her seatbelt. It was a scene she had lived a hundred times over in her dreams, the same highway, the same faint buzz of the radio playing a soft melody, and the same comforting presence of her parents in the front seats. Everything felt normal. But Suhyun knew better.
Her mother turned around with a warm smile, her voice soft. "We'll be home soon, sweetheart."
That smile. It always felt like a knife twisting in her chest because she knew what came next. Suhyun wanted to scream, to tell them to stop the car, to turn around, but her voice was trapped in her throat. Her father's hands stayed steady on the wheel, the car gliding smoothly along the road, unaware of the tragedy that awaited.
And then, the screech.
Tires skidding, her mother's face contorted in fear, the world flipping upside down in a cacophony of metal and shattered glass. Suhyun's body jerked violently, thrown against the seatbelt as the car spun out of control. She could hear her mother scream, the sound blending with her own cries, her heart pounding against her ribs like it wanted to escape—
Suhyun jolted awake, gasping for breath as if she had just been drowning. Her heart raced, her body drenched in cold sweat. She blinked rapidly, trying to shake the images from her head, but the echo of the nightmare clung to her, sharp and suffocating.
Her room was dark and quiet, the only sound the faint rustling of leaves from outside her window. The familiar setting should've calmed her down, but her chest still ached, her breaths coming in shallow bursts.
She ran a trembling hand through her hair, pushing the strands away from her damp forehead. "It's just a dream," she muttered under her breath, her voice shaky. "Just a dream..."
But it wasn't. Not really. The accident wasn't a nightmare. It had happened. And no matter how many years had passed, it haunted her—night after night.
Taking a deep breath, Suhyun glanced at her bedside clock: 5:07 AM. Way too early to be awake. But there was no way she was going back to sleep after that.
Throwing off the covers, she hugged her knees and looked out into the early morning darkness. The city was still asleep, peaceful, unaware of the storm raging inside her.
No matter how hard she tried to bury the memories, they always found a way to resurface. And today... today was one of those days where the weight of it all felt too heavy to carry.
~⌛~
A few hours had passed since Suhyun's nightmare, and the early morning light slowly crept into her room, casting soft shadows on the walls. She sat on the edge of her bed, wrapped in a blanket, still feeling the lingering heaviness of her dream. Her head throbbed slightly, and her stomach felt unsettled.
As she hugged her knees close, lost in her thoughts, she heard a soft knock on her bedroom door.
"Suhyun? Are you awake?" Aunt Jieun's voice floated in, warm and gentle.
"Yeah, I'm awake," Suhyun replied, forcing a cheerfulness into her voice that she didn't quite feel. She hoped it would be enough to keep her aunt from worrying.
The door creaked open, and Aunt Jieun poked her head in, her expression shifting from curiosity to concern as she took in the sight of Suhyun. "Sweetheart, you look pale. Are you feeling okay?"
Suhyun tried to smile, but it faltered. "I'm fine! Just a little tired, I guess."
Aunt Jieun stepped inside, her brow furrowing as she walked over to the bed. She placed the back of her hand against Suhyun's forehead. "You're warm. Are you sure you're not sick?"
"I'm just a little under the weather, I think," Suhyun said, hoping to brush it off. "I'll be fine after some breakfast."
"Hmm," Aunt Jieun murmured, unconvinced. She crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing playfully. "I remember a time when I tried to convince you that eating all the greens would make you feel better, but you always found a way to sneak them out."
Suhyun giggled weakly, the memory bringing a small flicker of warmth to her chest. "That was years ago, Auntie!"
"Still, you have to be careful. You know how important school is, but your health comes first." Aunt Jieun moved to sit beside her, concern etched on her face. "Why don't you stay home today? Just for today. It's okay to take a break if you're not feeling your best."
Suhyun opened her mouth to protest, but the thought of sitting in class, feeling like this, suddenly felt daunting. "But I don't want to miss anything important..."
"Trust me, your teachers will understand if you're not well. I'll take care of you, and we can binge-watch those K-Dramas you love," Aunt Jieun offered, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Suhyun couldn't help but smile at the idea of a cozy day filled with her favorite snacks and shows. "Okay, maybe just today," she relented, her voice softening.
"Good choice!" Aunt Jieun clapped her hands, a look of relief washing over her. "Now, let me grab you some tea. You just relax, and I'll make sure you have everything you need."
As Aunt Jieun stood up to leave, Suhyun felt a wave of gratitude. She may not have the best start to her day, but at least she had her aunt by her side, ready to take care of her. And she had no intention of telling Jieun about the nightmare, She doesn't want Jieun to worry much. That's what happened last time...
With a sigh, Suhyun settled back into her blankets, allowing the warmth of comfort to envelop her, thankful that for today, she could take a break from everything.
~🎬~
Trauma cuz why not? *cackles like a witch*
Last chapter's answer:
A piano
Today's riddle:
What is black when clean, but
white when dirty?
YOU ARE READING
Winter Falls || Lee Know ✓
Fanfiction"Ugh! I hate her!" "I hate him with all my heart!" Lee Minho and Kim Suhyun are two rivals whom worlds are really apart, they can't be more different - He is the troublemaker of the school, cold and distant to everyone, except his friends. While she...
