sorry | lee minho

peach

he woke up with a bright smile. he got dressed and smiled again at his reflection. it was the boy's birthday. he was officially seven years old. to him, it was the year where he was considered a full fledged adult. that was what his father told him. 

being seven was a great responsibility and if he managed to properly attain that responsibility he was considered an adult. being seven meant he could finally spend some time with his mother and father. being seven meant, he no longer had to be alone with his caretaker at his dull, empty and quiet house. 

being seven meant that he could smile more.

he headed downstairs expecting a huge birthday cake in the shape of a car and balloons and presents to litter his living room. empty. his living room was empty.

he thought to himself, maybe his parents were planning a surprised birthday party. maybe they were hiding behind the countertop with presents. he headed to the countertop in the kitchen. empty. there were no presents. there were no balloons. there was no cake. it was empty. 

he wondered where his parents were. he sat down on the couch trying to think of ways his parents were trying to surprise him. he didnt let his spirits falter. after all, it was his seven birthday. 

just then, he saw his parents rushing down the staircase with heaps of luggages. his heart fell. he stood up and ran to his parents and smiled. he didnt want to show his sad face. it was his birthday after all. 

"honey, can you not block the way? " his mother gently stroked his head and grabbed her purse.

he bit his lip. "where are the both of you going?" he managed to ask. 

"we have a business trip honey. we won't be back until next two weeks. " his father answered him while wearing his tie. 

"but-but its my birthday. you promised me. you promised me that i wont have to be alone on my birthday. you said i no longer had to be alone on my birthday. " tears started falling from the poor boy's face. his mask that he had put on disappeared, revealing tears that didnt stop. 

his parents gasped and hugged him. he pushed them away however. "we are so so sorry honey. we totally forgot it was your birthday. what do you want as a present? we will fly it over. you can ask the care taker to buy you cake! " his mother tried to cheer him up. 

"i want the both of you to stay. i dont want you to leave me again. dont leave please.." the boy cried. he was hurt. he was sad.

"you said. you promised me that you would celebrate my birthday with me. you said that when i turned seven i wouldnt be alone. im seven now arnt i? so why are the both of you leaving again?" the boy sobbed. he rubbed his tears and mucus on his sleeves while looking up at his parents. 

"we cant stay with you darling. this is an important trip." his father calmly explained to the boy but the boy refused the answer.

"NO! YOU CAN'T LEAVE." he raised his voice and ran to his parents. he let all his tears flow out. his mother held back her tears as she tried to walk to the door. 

" we are so sorry. we are so incredibly sorry. we love you so much. we promise to be back to celebrate your birthday alright. wait for us then darling." his parents assured him but he shook his head. he was stubborn. he held on to his mother's dress and continued bawling his eyes out. 

"don't leave please. mom, dad don't go" he cried even louder, begging his parents to stay. 

"we have to darling. we promise we will be back. we are so sorry, minho" the door closed right infront of the boy's eyes. he fell to the ground. tears ran down his little red cheeks uncontrollably. he sat there in silence and agony. he was seven now. but it wasnt the feeling he wanted to feel when he was seven.

he was sad, hurt and angry. we wanted to scream but held back and continued crying his heart out. that was the last he ever heard of his parents. those were the last words he ever heard them say, 

we are so sorry.

minho woke up from his dream. he stood up and his heart was beating rapidly. tears were falling down his cheeks and he hugged himself. 

"don't leave me again" he whispered softly as he closed his eyes to go back to sleep.