The Bucket List | Park Jimin editing

02; You

I opened my eyes and I am welcomed by the sound of my own breathing in sync with the ticking of the clock. I can't help, but compare the clock to a ticking bomb.

The bomb is my life and if it explodes, I die. Pretty simple way of thinking.

I turned to look at my window after my "staring at the ceiling" session. The sky looked like a strange kind of gray that gave me a nauseous feeling. By the color of the sky, I anticipated a storm coming. Before I knew it the eerie silent room was filled with the sound of the steady pace of the pitter-pattering of the rain. I closed my eyes to ease the pain of my throbbing head.

The rain was gentle.

I was expecting a storm, not the soft cries of the clouds.

I've had people tell me that the clouds cry for the kind people who died tragically and that lightning was the flash of God's camera. They also told me that clouds would cry for those who did not have anyone to mourn for their death.

It was a month ago when my hospital companion told me that.

"Listen to me young lady," a man in his late 40's leaned closer and spoke in a hushed voice. "Do you know why there's rain?"

Naturally, I nodded, "Yes I do. I've read about it and studied the cycle of precipitation in school."

He shot me a playful glare and made a horrible scratching sound from the back of his throat, "It's not that, you idiot. Not everything in life is composed of science, so don't rely on that kind of stuff. Science has no miracles, they only depend on facts, but life is not about facts. Life is unpredictable, cruel, but forgiving. There are people who are going to die alone, Ms. Eunji. No one will cry for their death. So the high above made the clouds cry for them instead."

He paused and looked sadly into my eyes, "I hope you aren't going to die alone. Like me."

If a man like him was going to die alone then I am definitely going down the same path.

"Do you believe in time traveling?"

The sound of thunder rumbled and a rush of emotions washed over me. The familiar voice felt like cold rain tickling my warm shoulders. I turned my head to see him, the Stray, standing beside my window wet and pale, but still, he somehow looked brighter than the sun that hid behind the mourning clouds. He smiled and waved at me.

How have I not noticed him by my window?

"You came back," I lamely said.

He cracked a weak smile, "Of course I did. Taehyung would kill me if I didn't."

I sat up and attempted to lean forward but my sad reality doesn't fail to remind me that I can't do anything. I'm useless. I cursed at my lifeless legs for being so useless, I must have looked so pitiful since Stray's expression hardened. His smile soon falling into a small frown that was barely noticeable. He flinched every time I moved making me feel this overwhelming sadness inside of me.

"Do you mind if I hop inside of your room?"

I shook my head, "Of course not."

He laughed and prepared himself to jump over to my side.

"Here, take this," I handed him my blanket.

He stood there, never moving from his spot while eyeing the blanket in my hand. From standing, the boy caused a small puddle to form around his feet as his glasses started to fog up from the heat of the room. I waited for him to accept the blanket to dry himself.

"Thanks."

"You never told me your name," I reminded him as he tried to dry himself as much as possible.