Red String | VMIN

57

Tae empty's out his sand filled pockets before throwing them to wash. His heart is still beating pretty fast from yesterday. The things Jimin said to him made him realize he's not alone. He's got Jimin and the boys, always.

A few weeks have past since then.
Tae walks into the hospital. The dark room feels bright from these white walls, despite the fact that's it's 11:30. The constant beeping and machine noises have become white noise to Tae. He saw how quickly his mother lost her color. Becoming nothing more than a mere shell of what his mother was.
Was he really going to lose her? He's been playing their last conversation over and over. He sits there wishing, praying, he had more time with his mother. Thoughts fill his head, too many too fast.
Tae took a deep breath.
He pulled up the same old chair he's been using for the past months.

"Mom."
Tae slowly rubs her hand.
Jimin walks into the room, about to approach Tae when he suddenly hears,
"Remember the time where we went trick or treating when I was 9 and you let my wear that god awful pink dress? The patterns of the dress didn't look nice at all but I wanted to be a pink princess. You stood by as the other mothers whispered in your ear, "arent you afraid what it might lead to?" "What if he continues?" "And what will you do if he turns gay?"
You smiles and laughed and said, "Taehyung is simply Taehyung. What ever he was, will be, it will always be Taehyung. I hope he continues to do this as long as he's happy."

At first I didn't understand what any of it meant until my first winter middle school dance. I asked you if I could ask out Dylan to the dance. You nodded and said it's fine. Obviously he said no and I ended up staying at home with you. But you see that was my favorite part.
Because I came home crying, feeling like I was wasn't good enough to love. But you embraced me in your soft arms and told its it was ok. We made cookies and sang Christmas songs all through the night."

Tae sniffs loudly and wipes off the tears that are slowly starting to form.
"Remember when I brought home my first girlfriend and you kind of just sat there confused. And I didn't know why you were confused because I thought that you expected that from me. A nice girl from a good family. But you told me it wasn't me and we got into our first major argument. God was I an idiot. I was so fixated on the idea you would reject your son because he was gay that I didn't even give you the chance to except me."
Jimin is silently crying.
He walks out of the room to compose himself.

"Oh mom, how I wish you could see my face when I'm with Jimin. I'm sorry I couldn't introduce you to him sooner. I just wanted to make sure he was perfect enough for you. And my god is Jimin perfect. Mom, I love him so much. But I love you much more, just don't tell him I said that."
Tae says in a hush tone as he leans over to his mom. Tae slowly pulls away.
"Mom, I know these past few years have been extremely difficult on you. I'm sorry I wasn't able to realize it sooner. I wish you didn't have to go through all of his alone. If I could some how absorb all your pain and take it all I would! In a blink of an eye I would take your place."
Tae looks down at his mothers cold hands. The color and the warmth are drained and being replaced with IV fluids.

"I know it's selfish of me to make you stay, but if you can, please fight. Fight with everything you have. But if you can't, I get it. Just know, it's ok."
Tae shakes, holding back his tears.
"I'm not alone mom. I have Jimin, Yoongi, Jin, Namjoon, and the rest of the boys here to protect me."
This battle that Tae has been having within himself for weeks has come to an end. There is no more fighting going on and Tae is awfully tired.
"I just want to let you know that it's fine, you know. I understand I've always asked too much from you and I always do. Even now at your weakest I still try."
Tae finally cries. He doesn't over do it but his body won't stop shaking.
Tae blinks for his vision is beginning to blur from the tears.
Tae inhales deeply.

He exhales and looks down at the floor.
"Mom. I love you. So what I've been trying to say from the beginning is, I think it's time I let you—."
Tae is suddenly cut of by the machines loud noise. Tae immediately looks up to see the machine flatlining. Tae's eyes grow wide as he hops out his seat.
"Mom.. mom!"
Tae looks down to his mother.
Doctors with white coats come rushing in all at once. Tae tries to grab hold of his mothers hand before a nurse pushes him to the side. The loud ringing of the machine is still playing.
"MOM! Mom! Hey let me go! I need to speak to- MOM."
Tae watches his mother get pulled behind two double doors. Two nurses block his path.
Tae stands there alone in the hallway.

Motionless and afraid.
Tears continue to fall but no facial features are being shown.
Tae shuts down. Cold and alone.

__________________

Tae's whole world is about to come crashing down. Things are about to get ugly.

- awful writer 💌