Frozen Memories➔ps.ff

Chapter 40

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The morning light filtered through the windows of Sarang's apartment, casting a warm glow on her as she moved through her routine. But today felt different. The weight that had hung over her for so long, that nagging uncertainty about Sunghoon, was finally starting to lift. 

Her mother had told her everything she needed to know—the truth about Sunghoon's struggles, his sacrifices, and the reasons behind his distance. Sarang hadn't realized how much she'd needed to hear it until now. It wasn't that he had chosen to walk away from their friendship—he had been drowning, trying to save both of them from the harsh reality he couldn't bear to share.

As Sarang finished her duties at the office, checking up on her patients, she found herself eagerly anticipating the next step. She had no surgeries lined up for the day, which was a relief. The only thing she needed to do was find Sunghoon, talk to him, and hear his side of the story. 

She owed him an apology—no, more than that. She needed to hear his truth, to understand the pain he'd been carrying for all these years.

Her heart pounded as she made her way through the hospital halls, the familiar sights around her seeming distant today. The weight of what she was about to do pressed heavily on her chest. She could already feel her anxiety creeping up, but at the same time, there was a sense of determination—finally, she was going to face the truth. 

And she wasn't going to shy away from it. At least not today.

When Sarang arrived at his room, her nerves were starting to settle. She took a deep breath before turning the doorknob and pushing the door open. 

But the moment she stepped inside, her stomach dropped. 

The room was empty. 

The bed, neatly made, looked untouched, as if Sunghoon had never been there.

She blinked in confusion, her heart sinking. 

She checked the room number again, certain that she hadn't made a mistake. 

It was the right room. 

But where was he? Had he been discharged without anyone telling her? 

She felt a wave of panic wash over her. She was certain she'd missed him by mere minutes.

As she stood there, frozen in place, a nurse passed by. Sarang hesitated for a moment before speaking up, her voice tinged with worry. 

"Excuse me, where's the patient who was in this room?"

The nurse looked at her kindly. "Oh, he left earlier this morning. He was discharged to rehabilitate at home. His family decided it was best to continue his recovery there."

Sarang's heart clenched with regret. So he was gone. He'd left. She had missed her chance to speak with him. The words she'd been preparing, the apology she wanted to give, seemed to slip away. She had no idea how to find him now.

Absently, Sarang started walking down the hallway, her mind reeling. Her thoughts were muddled, and she didn't even register where she was going until she nearly bumped into Jisung.

"Sarang," Jisung greeted her casually, his expression unreadable.

Sarang quickly composed herself, offering a stiff smile. "Jisung," she responded, trying to sound normal, but her mind was still elsewhere. 

She wasn't really focused on him, too lost in her own thoughts.

Jisung tilted his head slightly, noticing her distracted demeanor. "You look a little out of sorts. Everything alright?"