"I'm not crazy," I whined to my friend, Minhyuk. Kihyun also threw me a weird look.
My shoulders hunched as we walked through the school halls to our next class.
"We're in seventh grade, Miyoung," Kihyun told me with lowered eyebrows. "We're too old to believe in monsters or imaginary friends."
"But I'm not making this up!"
"I..." Minhyuk squinted his eyes, not sure how to respond. "I want to believe you, but I just can't when it's something like that. A monster? In your silo?"
"A shadow person... and he has a name: Wonho." I flicked them on the forehead. Their hands quickly covered the spot.
"Ow!" They winced in unison, but still laughed.
"My mom says shadow people are dangerous, and can steal away your breath, but Wonho doesn't seem like that."
"You're mom believes this, too?" Kihyun looked at me with shocked eyes. "Now I know where you get your crazy from. You're both mad."
"Hey!" I gave him a slap on the arm this time. "Don't you dare bring my mom into this like that."
Kihyun rubbed his arm before letting his arm fall around my shoulders in a friendly way. "Miyoung, you're my friend, and I'm sorry, but I can't believe this."
═════
"I'm going outside!" I called to my mother as I reached for the door handle.
"No you're not," she told me. My mom appeared from around the corner. Her arms crossed over her chest as my hand fell from the door. "It's cold out there."
"I have a jacket."
"You're going to go back to the silo, aren't you?"
There was a stern look in her eyes. I messed with the zipper of my jacket, feeling uncomfortable.
"No," I quietly lied. "I'm scared of the silo. Ever since you told me about the dangers of shadow people, I've been staying away from that area."
Suspicion was written on her face. My father poked his head to where we were, glancing between the both of us. "Honey," he directed towards my mom, "can I talk to you?"
The two disappeared behind a closed door that led to their bedroom. My feet cautiously crept to the door and I leaned my ear towards it.
"Why didn't you kill that thing when it was first caught?" my dad shouted the question at my mom.
"I didn't know how to! I still don't!"
My hand found its way to my chest, resting right above my pacing heart.
"What if it hurts Miyoung? The thing is dangerous!"
He has a name... and Wonho isn't just a thing. I pushed myself away as I began to run outside towards the silo.
