~One Shots~

Park Chang-min: Origin Story

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Warning: gets a little graphic and sad, but not terribly

Anyway, this is the first chapter and a little origin story on Chang-min. Each main character I introduced before will get an origin story, so stay tuned for those.

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Chang-min limped as he walked the familiar way home. His body ached. The bruises were already becoming black and blue from the now-familiar beatings from the boys at his school. He couldn't even cry. All the tears were gone from his eyes. He swayed from side to side as he walked home, all of his senses numb. He couldn't even feel the pain of the bruises and cuts littering his body. Even his heart had had enough. It had hurt for so long. The pain of losing his brother was so much for him to handle and including the rejection of everyone at his school. The loneliness had carved out a hollowness in his heart. The only thing that kept him going at this point was his parents. His mother was in a worse and worse condition as each day passed. She would lock herself in her room for days on end, only coming out to go to the bathroom or when Chang-min was able to convince her to come and talk to him, though those moments never lasted long. Chang-min was home less and less, seeing as his father had picked up the habit of drinking and was gone every day and he was the only one that had the ability to hold the rest of the house together.

Chang-min worked shifts at multiple jobs into late hours of the night. The beatings at school became more and more frequent. Chang-min grew more and more exhausted. 

He finally saw his home come into view. He sighed in relief. At least he could rest for a bit before working on dinner. He sighed again, but this time an exhausted sigh. He still had so much to do. He had to clean, cook, and he was going to try and get his mother out of her room today. Of course, he assumed his father would be out getting drunk and wouldn't be home until late, and at that time Chang-min had to care for his father and make sure that his father ate and went to bed. Chang-min slowly dragged his body up the front steps of his house and unlocked the door, disposing his shoes at the door and hanging his backpack up. He walked farther into the dark house. The halls were familiar, but they seemed empty. They didn't hold the warm feeling of a home. The house felt cold and lonely. His brother was not there to greet him at the door, and his mother was not in the kitchen making dinner. His father was not asking him about his day. There was no one.

Chang-min stumbled farther into the house. He headed up the stairs to his mother's room to check on her. However, as he reached her room and opened the door, he did not see his mother anywhere in the open space. The curtains, which were usually drawn tightly shut, were open and let sunlight spill into the dark room. Confusion wafted over Chang-min but was soon replaced with burning hope. Was his mother finally getting a little better? Had she already ventured out of her room today? Chang-min left the empty room and went back downstairs, checking every room. He checked the kitchen, living room, even his brother's old room, but didn't find a trace of his mother's presence. He closed the door to his brother's room, pushing away the aching in his heart. He thought about the fact that his mother had ventured out of her room. That was all that mattered at the moment.

Chang-min was confused as he did not find his mother anywhere. He limped back up the stairs and made his way to the bathroom. He was surprised to find a sliver of light spilling out of it and into the darkened hallway, the door open a crack. Chang-min inched forward, but couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling of dread deep within his heart. All of the hope he had felt before had vanished like morning mist on a sunny day.

He pushed open the door and couldn't help but gasp as he saw his mother, lying there, blood flowing out of her cut wrists.

"M-mother?" Chang-min croaked out. This couldn't be true. He couldn't be seeing this. He sunk to the floor and pulled his mother's fragile body into his arms. The blood-stained his shirt and coated his own arms. Then his mother opened her eyes. Chang-min gasped. Hot, salty tears slid down his cheeks.

"C-Chang-min, h-honey..." His mother's voice was weak and she managed a smile. Her face was pale, all of the colors drained from it. Chang-min quickly shushed his mom.

"D-don't talk. You need to save your strength." Even though Chang-min was in a state of shock, he knew he needed to do something. He couldn't just watch her die. Chang-min slowly rested his mother on the tiled bathroom floor and grabbed a towel from the cabinet and ran it under the faucet. His hands shook violently and they were covered with blood. He settled back down next to his mother on the floor and gently grabbed one of her wrists, pressing the warm towel against it. He placed it back down and fumbled for his phone in his back pocket. His mother's breathing was shallow.

Finally, with shaky hands, he dialed the emergency number and pressed the phone to his ear. Everywhere he looked, there was blood. It made Chang-min sick to his stomach. He felt his stomach churn and his heartache. The phone rang and finally, a responder picked up.

"Hello, this is 911, what's your emergency?" (I don't know anything else) A woman's voice came through the phone.

Chang-min's voice shook, sobs fighting to escape his mouth, but he swallowed them and spoke into the phone, "U-u-um, yes, my name is Chang-min P-Park and I-I came home a-and found my mother i-in the b-bathroom with h-her wr-wrists s-s-slit." Just saying the words made a broken sob escape.

"Okay, stay calm. Can you tell me where you live, Chang-min?"

"I-I live at [insert generic address]."

"Okay, can you stay on the line with me, Chang-min?" The woman's voice was soft and comforting. Chang-min swallowed another sob.
"O-okay."

"Is she still breathing?" The woman's voice asked with the same gentle and soft tone.
"Y-yes, she is, b-but barely." Chang-min's voice was no more than a whisper.

"Okay, we're sending emergency responders to your home now. Have y-" Suddenly, the woman's voice cut. The phone had died. Chang-min cursed, dropping the phone from his hand. It clattered to the bathroom floor. Chang-min focused his attention back on his mom. He choked out another sob. He knew she wasn't going to last much longer. He prayed to any higher being above that they would spare his mother's life. That they wouldn't make him suffer any more than he already has. He still needed his mother.

"Ch-Chang-min..." His mother's feeble voice brought him back to the present. He was still resting his hand on the towel atop his mother's wrist. He didn't know anything else he could do.

"S-ssh, don't speak. Save your strength, Mom. Help is on the way." Chang-min fought his voice to stay steady. The tears dripped from his chin. When would they stop? When would this pain stop? Would it ever go away?

"T-they w-won't ge-get here in t-time, h-honey...I-I d-don't have long. But, C-Chang-min, I-I will be w-with your brother. W-we will always w-watch over you. L-live y-your li-life. Be strong, m-my love. Be stronger than I-I ever was...I love you." And then his mother's breathing became still. Chang-min felt the tears pour down his cheeks as he gripped the towel stained in red.

"M-mom? Mom! P-please, don't leave me, too! I-I need you! M-Mom!" Chang-min sobbed gripping onto his mother's arm. But he knew that she was gone. The realization burned his heart. He sobbed. He had lost his brother and now his mother. What more was there for him to lose?

Suddenly, he heard the sirens and the loud footsteps as the emergency responders came into his house. But he was numb to it all. All he could focus on was the fact that his mother was gone. He watched in numb sorrow as they took his mother away. He felt the hole in his heart becoming larger. He lost the only family he had left. He had no friends. He truly was alone now. Chang-min stared ahead at nothing, tears still flowing down his cheeks. He closed his eyes and imagined his mother and brother together. Wherever they were, at least they were with each other. Chang-min would be strong. For both of them, just as his mother had wished. 

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So, that happened... I hope none of you were too sad. The other main characters' origin stories will be coming soon, and some will not be as sad (no guarantee though). 

But! Do not worry, after the origin stories will come the chaotic chapters that I have thought upon.

Anyway, vote, comment, suggest your own concepts for my characters! I hope you enjoy my new story~!