Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
[ his eyes are empty.
that's the first thing the therapist realizes. the second thing he realizes was the his paling skin and dark eye bags. his gentle stare follows the man, watching him walk to the couch in front of him. the therapist thinks back to his own shock when dr. jung informed him about his previous patient's cancelation.
why so soon? ]
KIM SEOKJIN: "[ smiles. ] hello, namjoon! i'm dr. kim and i'll be working with you for the next couple of weeks."
PATIENT #3: "[ smiles back with exhaustion. ] hi."
KIM SEOKJIN: "go ahead and take a seat on the couch. lie down if you would like."
[ his patient does the latter, placing his head on the pillows and staring up at the ceiling. seokjin skims over the paper once more until the words 'depression and anxiety' is engraved into his mind. ]
KIM SEOKJIN: "[ taking off his glasses. ] so, namjoon, how are you feeling right now?"
PATIENT #3 "... i don't really feel anything, doctor... i've just been lying in my bed and staring at the ceiling... [ laughs. ] sometimes, my heart beats so slow that i feel like it's not even there anymore. but- it's not that i don't want to get out of bed... i just can't."
KIM SEOKJIN: "it's okay, namjoon. i understand your frustration... how long have you been having this feeling?"
[ seokjin scribbles down some words before his patient takes a deep breath. ]
PATIENT #3: "just recently, actually... ever since i saw the him dead, the scene wouldn't stop replaying in my head-"
[ the sound of writing stops. ]
PATIENT #3: "every time i close my eyes to sleep, i see his lifeless eyes staring at me; i end up not wanting to sleep at all. and when i'm trying to cook? i can't even stand five feet within the knife in the kitchen. and whenever- it's everything, actually. everything that involves my daily routine reminds me of him; reminds me of his death. i- i can't... i can't do anything without having a panic attack. i just... i think to myself: i would be so much happier if... [ he turns to look at seokjin, who's eyes are desperate. ]"
KIM SEOKJIN: "[ barely a whisper. ] if?"
PATIENT #3: "if i didn't kill jungkook."
[ his eyes are empty.
they're filled with tears. ]
THE THIRD STAGE
[ his heart speeds up.
seokjin's breath becomes heavy when he catches the sight of a box.
he runs to the table and throws the box to the floor. ]
KIM SEOKJIN "WHY? [ he pulls at his hair in frustration. ] WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME? [ he bangs his fists on the table, then stumbling onto the floor and letting out a sob. he bangs his fist on the ground. ] WHY? [ bang. ] WHY? [ bang. ] WHY? [ bang. ]"
[ his breath lowers as the seconds passand he slowly calms down. his body lays on its side while the cold wood of the ground seems to devour him.
there are orange, cylindrical containers that spilled out of the beaten box, pills scattered next to them. he reads the words inscribed on the box:
I'LL NEVER LET YOU FORGET.
seokjin blinks at the words as he begins to feel dizzier and dizzier. between his blinks, the medicines fade away.
all that's left is a toppled chair, his still body on the ground, and a pair of empty eyes staring at the ceiling.
his heart slows down.
so slow that he feels like it's not there anymore. ]
