Sticky End

one

Two feet above the ground.

Lights flickering from up the old wooden ceiling, with the ceiling fan unstable. Pair of eyes slowly dimming, lips starts to turn purple.

A body that gracefully sways in Chopin’s Prelude Op.28 No.4 that was kept on repeat. It swayed, swayed, and kept on swaying. Impeccable, breathtaking, it was a sight to see.

Soft curly brown locks flowed with the winter breeze. Dimmed eyes locked upon the open window, chapped lips that left a grin.

It was a sticky end for them.

But no one ever asked if it was the same for the graceful person that danced. His body danced happily. A happiness that no one else was capable to fathom

The joy of realizing he was free, free to dance into the beautiful piano song without anyone bothering him.  No one to look at him with distasteful stares, no one to hold him back.

In the midst of dancing, he rekindles a fire from the ashes. His chapped purple lips grin a little bit more.

Nineteen years ago, he was nine. It was the year for glee and unmeasured joyfulness for being a child. He was undeniably happy, he had everything he wanted. Just who would have thought that the happiness he felt could be taken away from him?

            He was eleven, when things started to fall apart. From his family drastically being sucked up by poverty and getting drowned in debt, up to losing them. His dad died due to a sickness, while his only brother Sehun who was seven that time, was needed to be left in Korea for their mother couldn’t afford taking him with them to China.

            ‘Will I get to see you this summer?’ Sehun asked his older brother as he painfully cried. Luhan put down the luggage he was carrying and went towards to embrace him. It made Sehun cry harder. ‘I promise you we’ll see each other, okay? Stop crying like a wimp’ he joked, Sehun nodded as he lightly hits his brother’s back ‘I promise to be a good boy until then’ Sehun said.

            ‘That’s better, good job... Don’t cause trouble for auntie and uncle, alright?’ Luhan said as he rubbed circles onto his brother’s back, and Sehun did his best to stop himself from crying more.

They interlocked their pinkies and promised to each other, a heart warming scene to look at. But it was a sad view, they were too young to experience distraught, but being too young did not keep all unfortunate things from happening to them.

            After two years, Luhan had grown accustomed to the hard life he was living. Without their father, his mother needed to become the bread winner. Two years they counted, it has been two years since he died without the proper burial. With lack of money they had to surrender his body to a science university for educational purposes. In those two years they have given up on his body, and were left with silent prayers from their hearts. Two years also stands for how long they haven’t seen his younger brother Sehun, but fortunately they knew that he was doing well for he was able to exchange letters with Luhan.

            ‘I’ve been doing well in school, hyung’ Sehun’s penmanship was neat, even though for a nine year old... Luhan thought every time he read his younger brother’s letters.

            ‘Tomorrow we’ll be having an event at school, it’s called ‘Family Day’, I won’t be participating’ He wondered what expression he used when he was writing it down. Was he sad? Was he disappointed? Did he cry?

            ‘I’ve grew fond of classical music, hyung. It reminds me of our dad. It’s very relaxing... you should try listening too’ Luhan trusted his brother’s words that much that when he read the letter he immediately rented records of classical music... From Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart up to Yimura. He wanted to listen to them, and imagine that he was with his younger brother.

            ‘What did you like most, hyung? I loved Chopin’s Prelude Op.28 No.4 the music just speaks to me... it feels like it’s luring me in to a deep slumber’ He soon learned to love the song even more than the first time he heard it. Its sad tone reminds him of the life they were living in. Maybe Sehun felt the same too? If so, why doesn’t he complain? Luhan thought deeply. He pitied him, for a ten year old to speak in such a mature way... Just what could Sehun be feeling inside?

            The exchanges of letters continued, not one he thought of throwing away. Neatly, organized he kept them in one shoe box until it became two up until its number grew. Then the thought passes through his mind... Does he keep his letters as well? Curiousness ate him and as if greed took over him, Luhan wanted to know more of his brother. He selfishly looked for his brother more. His words in the letters were not enough anymore for him. Just when can they meet again?