HYYH The Notes Chronologically

Hoseok, 12 May, Year 22

I opened the emergency exit door and rushed down the staircase. My heart felt like it was going to explode. I swore I glimpsed the clear face of my mother in the hospital hallway. When I looked back, people from the opened elevator doors distorted my vision. I pushed through the people and followed where I'd seen my mother leaving through the emergency exit. Without rest and with an anxious heart, I ran down the stairs two at a time.

"Mom!" My mother ceased her walking. She turned around. I ran down another flight. Her face became visible. It was then that I lost my balance and my center of gravity fell forward. I closed my eyes, but a person's hand reached out and held onto my arm. When I looked back at my savior, Jimin stared at me with a shocked expression. Before I could thank him, I turned my head.

There was a woman with a surprised face. A young boy stood next to her with wide, unblinking eyes. The woman wasn't my mother. I remained at the top of the staircase staring at her blankly.

I didn't remember how I got out of that situation. I didn't ask how Jimin had managed to catch my fall either. My mind couldn't focus on such trivial details. The woman wasn't my mother, and somewhere deep down I knew that from the start. It's been more than 10 years since she left me alone in that theme park. She'd be older now. If I met her, I wouldn't recognize her by now. I could barely even remember how she looked all those years ago.

When I glanced behind me, Jimin was following me quietly. Back in high school, Jimin told me that he had stayed in the hospital after being in the emergency room. I thought about how he looked at me, unsure of how to respond to the inquiry of whether he wanted to leave the hospital. Was Jimin trapped the same way I was, incapable of both holding on and letting go of old memories? I took a step toward him.

"Jimin-ah. Let's get out of here."