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The morning was clear

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The morning was clear. The sky stretched endlessly above, soft and pale, almost untouched by clouds. A gentle breeze swept through the cemetery, carrying the quiet rustling of leaves across the grass. Somewhere in the distance, birds sang their delicate songs, filling the silence with a melody that felt both peaceful and lonely.

Jeena's steps were slow, deliberate, as she made her way toward the grave she hadn't visited in too long. Guilt pressed against her chest—not because she had forgotten, but because time had moved too fast, pulling her along with it.

When she reached the headstone, she knelt down, running her fingers gently over the smooth surface. It was cool beneath her touch, grounding her in the moment.

"Hey, Mom..."

Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant, as if testing whether the words would still come as easily as they used to.

She exhaled slowly, letting the weight in her chest settle.

"Sorry it took me so long to come back. It feels like it's been forever, doesn't it?"

A small smile tugged at her lips, but it was laced with a quiet ache.

"I have a lot to tell you."

She carefully placed the flowers she had brought, arranging them on the soft earth. The petals stood out against the ground, fragile but full of life.

"I'm doing okay. I really am," she said, her voice gentle, as if trying to convince herself as well. "Life has been... different. Better, since I moved in with Sunghoon. At first, I was scared I wouldn't belong, that I'd always feel like a guest, but... I don't. They treat me like family."

Her fingers absently traced patterns in the grass beside her.

"They worry when I come home late. They make sure I eat properly. They—" she let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head, "—they go out of their way to make me feel comfortable, like I belong there. Like I matter."

She fell silent for a moment, her eyes flickering toward the sky.

"It feels like home, Mom."

The words were simple, but they carried a weight she wasn't sure how to put into anything more.

"And school..." she let out a breath, "School has been alright. It was hard at first, being the new girl. Everything felt unfamiliar—the people, the hallways, even the lessons felt like a mountain I had to climb." A soft chuckle escaped her. "But I got through it. And now, things feel easier."

A warmth bloomed in her chest as she thought about what was just around the corner.

"I'm graduating soon."

The words came out softer than she expected, almost as if she was afraid to say them out loud.

She tilted her head up, closing her eyes for a moment. She could almost see it—the sea of caps, the flashing cameras, the proud smiles. Hers, too.

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