Please, Don't Leave Me (Jaeyong) [Complete]

Epilogue

Joohyun came back from her night shift at the hospital, shivering in the icy snow that was falling thickly from the sky.

She looked up and noticed that the sliding door was open to one of her neighbors' apartments.

It was Taeyong's place. That sweet-sad kid that she'd exchanged a few pleasantries with since she moved in a year ago.

She'd always wondered what had happened to make him so unhappy. He was cute, and he seemed to have a good job and a nice future.

She found herself worrying about him from time to time, and would have gone over to check on him if he'd given her the slightest hint that he wanted a friend. 

She was more than worried now. The wide open door felt like a sign that something was dreadfully wrong.

Joohyun dropped her bags by her front door, and walked a few steps to Taeyong's apartment.

She knocked on the door hesitantly, then turned the handle when nobody answered. She was a little surprised that it turned easily.

"Taeyong-ssi?"

Heart pounding, she made her way shivering into the icy apartment. She almost didn't want to look, but felt like she had to do something.

There was nothing at first.

Just a neat apartment, more decorated and homey than she would have expected for someone who seemed so depressed.

She noticed pictures on the wall, of Taeyong and someone. They looked happy together.

She wondered if he was the cause of all Taeyong's pain.

She headed towards the bedroom, meaning to shut the sliding door if nothing else.

When she turned the corner, she nearly fell to the ground.

"Taeyong-ssi!"

Taeyong was there, in dark room. Laying in his bed, cold and bluish, with hands resting on his unmoving chest.

She panicked for a second before years of training surfaced. Joohyun made her way to the bed and gingerly felt for a pulse, even though she knew already that it was unnecessary.

He was gone.

"Taeyong-ssi... why..."

She felt tears well up in her eyes for this boy that she hardly knew. Then she took a long look at his face.

He didn't seem scared or even sad anymore. That look of abject despair that she had become familiar with had disappeared. It almost looked like he was smiling.

Later, when she described the scene to her other neighbors, she would say that he almost seemed... well, happy.

And she would be right.

Finally he was.