The Way I Loved You

A Night Stroll

"Hyunwoo ssi, would you like to go on a walk with me? I want to stretch my legs and the hospital room is boring."

After the whirlwind day she'd just gone through, Haein was exhausted. All she wanted was to get some fresh air and escape from the four walls of this room that felt like they were starting to close in on her. And now that the rest of her family had finally left for the night, she wanted to spend some time talking to Hyunwoo, really talking to him.

"Are you sure? It's getting chilly outside because winter is coming, what if you catch a cold?" His mind was already churning out a hundred and one possibilities. Haein's immune system was compromised right now, would exposing her to the cold air be a wise idea?

"I feel suffocated here. I'm just sitting here doing nothing, I want to go outside." She protested, her lips pursed into a pout that she knew Hyunwoo could never resist.

Just as she expected, he sighed heavily, ready to give in to her if it would make her happy. "Fine. But you needed to bundle up properly, okay? And we're coming back in thirty minutes."

"Deal." Haein beamed, already climbing out of bed before he could finish his sentence.

He couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm, extending his arm for her to hold onto. The doctor had advised her to minimise physical activity since her motor skills might be affected by the brain swelling, but he reckoned that a short walk wouldn't hurt. It wasn't as if Haein would listen to him anyway, she would probably throw a fit and sneak out when he was asleep. It was better if he was there to watch her and catch her if she fell.

"Hyunwoo, do you think it's wrong that I still haven't forgiven my parents after everything?" She asked softly, staring off into the distance.

He wasn't surprised at her confession, but took a moment to ponder before he responded. "No."

"Really?" Surprised, she turned to look at him.

"Mhm." He nodded in affirmation. "They were the main reasons why you were so miserable throughout your life. I don't know if I have the right to say this, but honestly, I haven't forgiven them for the way they treated you either."

Coming from a family with loving parents, he knew exactly what was wrong with Haein's family. They deprived Haein of love and affection, manipulating her into believing that she was at fault for everything, and constantly accused her of having a rotten personality. He didn't know if he would have survived in such a household, yet Haein had held on somehow, and had stayed in the family even though she had the resources to leave if she wanted to and start a new life.

"I just feel like they've let me down my entire life. They were the people who were supposed to love me, yet they didn't, or at least they didn't show it. They made it so hard to live with myself after the accident and there was one point of time... I didn't want to be here anymore." She said softly.

Hyunwoo's hand searched for hers, his fingers intertwining with hers as if there was still a chance that she would evaporate into thin air. "I'm glad you're still here with me."

"Me too. It would've been the biggest regret of my life if I hadn't lived to meet you. You are the greatest gift that life has ever given me." She declared.

His eyes welled up with tears despite her nonchalant tone. "I know I haven't been a good husband lately, or ex-husband for that matter, but I promise to do my best to love you and support you with whatever time we have left. You will never feel alone again until your last breath as long as I am by your side."

"The fact that you're saying all that right now even after everything I put you through makes you the best husband I could ever have." She cupped his cheek tenderly, her heart swelling with love.