A MAN TO HEAL

chapter twenty eight

POV Suki

After endless greetings to all the neighbors, I finally make it inside my parents cottage

Immediately the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies greets me

I smile as I pass by the big piano in the living room where my father used to teach me and all the kids in the neighborhood how to play

It feels a bit nostalgic

I missed my childhood here

" Wanna rest first Suki-ah? Dinner is almost ready " my mom tells me

I smile at her

" I think I'm gonna rest a little, I'm not very hungry, Yerim insisted to take me to the fast food on our way "

" What? You did not just say that did you?  " This one replies, flabbergasted

I laugh , amused

My mother pats my shoulder with a smile, I can see how happy she is to have us already bickering in the house, but adult version

I make it to my old bedroom

I can't even remember the last time I put a foot inside of here

I moved to LA when I was seventeen, and I never really came back here as a stay

But my room didn't change at all, the same pink color in the wall, probably just retouched

I wasn't a poster type of girl, so my walls are neat, but the shelves are overloaded with school competition trophies, all kind of certificate, photo frames and a music box that my mom offered me when I was six, it helped me sleep at night

It's tinker bell inside the glass dome, moving her magic wand, the glittery dust are flowing around her as she's turning in circle as the melody of claire de lune by Claude Debussy is playing on loop , the small figurine becomes fluorescent at night and I think that gift made me wanna become a fairy even more

The first thing I do is to take a shower

The almost seven hours from LA to here were no jokes and I'm starting to feel the exhaustion even more now that I can see a bed

I change into a comfortable set and text Alessio to let him know that I arrived, ready to jump in my full size bed when I get a video call from Kailah

" Hey ! " I say, rubbing my eyes, literally so tired

" Girl, where are you? I saw that you almost got killed in the news then when I came to see you, you weren't there " she says

I smile slightly as I shake my head

She is the queen of exaggeration and drama

" I'm in Berkeley right now "

" What? And you didn't even tell us " she says, outraged

I laugh softly this time

" Aren't you super busy with your equestrian club and all your competitions? "

" I'm never too busy for my friends...who almost got killed in the street "

I laugh again

" You're overacting, it wasn't like that "

" This motherfucker puts his hands on you "

" Things like that happen almost every day in Los Angeles "

" It wasn't a reason "

" I'm fine, I promise, it's been days now, I'm just fine "

I can see her walking and her bob cut is bouncing at very step she takes