Butterfly

Nine

My dad left a day early.

I threw up several times the next morning.

Things just weren't going right.

The tutor decided to postpone our lessons for some reason.

"I don't think you should be working this hard right now. Let's continue when you're stronger."

That's what she told me when she left.

I put Hobi's drawings on the wall across from my bed.

I woke up to them first thing every morning.

A sun, a flower, me with hair, him without.

He liked to draw me the sky.

"Was it cold outside?"

"No, I think spring is finally coming!"

I smiled at the thought of flowers blooming before I coughed.

"What does it look like?"

He picked up his pencil and sketched spring on a paper.

"The grass is more green, the sun is bright, and there are butterflies in the fields!"

I squinted my eyes, trying to remember.

"I don't think I've ever actually seen a butterfly outside."

"You haven't?"

I shook my head.

"Maybe when I was little..."

He sat up a little straighter on the hospital bed.

And held up his right hand.

"I, Jung Hoseok, Will take my dear friend, Kim Mina, to see the wild butterflies before the season is over."

I giggled, ignoring the shooting pain in my chest.

Okay, Hobi, Take me to see the butterflies. I'll get better so we can go.

I promise.