My cruel professor husband (jikook)

chapter 6. A Heart on the Edge

Jimin's Pov

I sobbed into my arms, unable to contain the pain Hyung's hurtful words had inflicted on me. Never in my darkest dreams had I imagined my life would take such a turn. But then again, if I were truly lucky, my parents would still be here, wouldn't they? Instead, I'm all alone.

I want to run-run far away from this suffocating life. But where could I possibly go? There's no one out there for me. If I stepped out into the world, I'd just be prey for bad people, lost and helpless. That's all I've ever been- helpless. A burden. First to my parents, and now to my husband. Everyone suffers because of me.

Maybe it's better if I weren't here at all. Maybe then their lives would finally be free of me.

I wiped my tears harshly, my fingers trembling as I pushed myself to my feet. My heart pounded with despair, but it felt like the only way to stop the pain. I walked to the washroom, grabbing a blade from the counter.

Gulping hard, I tried to steady my breath, though my hands wouldn't stop shaking. The metallic edge glinted under the dim light, and my vision blurred with fresh tears. "Just one step closer," I whispered, trying to summon the courage.

But as the blade neared my skin, the sound of the doorbell echoed loudly through the house, startling me. The blade clattered to the floor as I stumbled back, clutching my chest. My heart raced, and I took deep, shaky breaths to calm myself.

The world felt disoriented as I moved to the sink, splashing cold water on my face. I stared at my reflection, the redness around my eyes a glaring reminder of my grief. After forcing myself to take a few steady breaths, I wiped my face dry and slowly made my way to the door.

When I opened it, a kind-looking staff member greeted me with a polite smile. "Hello, sir! We're from Flying Pet Care Hospital. Your dog, Bam, has been discharged. He's completely cured now, but please remember to bring him in for monthly checkups. We tried calling your number to update you, but it seemed to be switched off. Bam was so eager to return home that we decided to bring him here directly!"

The staff member gently stroked Bam before handing him to me. His warm, comforting weight settled in my arms, and my tears spilled again-this time for a completely different reason.

The staff said their goodbyes, but I barely managed to mumble a thank-you before closing the door and sank to my knees, clutching Bam tightly in my arms. Tears poured down my face, soaking into his soft fur. His warmth, his gentle presence-it was as if he'd been sent to me by some divine force. Bam had always been my solace, my companion through every storm. No matter how heavy the weight of my pain, he was there, silently carrying some of it for me.

For the past three and a half months, the house had felt unbearably empty without him. When Bam was diagnosed with canine distemper, my heart had shattered. The doctors had caught it early, but they said his recovery would require intense treatment and constant care at the hospital. Though I visited him whenever I could, it wasn't the same as having him beside me. Each visit left me both relieved and heartbroken. I'd walk away with his hopeful eyes burned into my memory, counting down the days until he could come home.

And now, here he was, fully recovered, wagging his tail as if to say, I'm back for you. My chest felt lighter for the first time in months. At least now, I wasn't completely alone.

"Bamiya," I whispered, stroking his fur gently. He tilted his head, as if understanding my emotions. "Let's go and get you some food, yeah?"

Bam barked in agreement, his energy infectious as he bounded around me. I grabbed my wallet and his leash, and together we walked to the nearby convenience store. The night air was cool, but Bam's excitement warmed me. He tugged at the leash, sniffing everything, his joy so pure it brought a small smile to my face despite everything.