Every time you come closer, It’s harder for me to seek closure.

I try to resist your tempting aura, But caught up in a loop full of growing flowers.

Running from your piercing gaze, Before I could stop and break away.

Wanting to resist this painful hunger, Falling back into stone-cold water.

I just want freedom to find me, If your shield wouldn’t hide me.

Trying to live happily ever after, Despite you roaring like a thunder.

I’m not holding on, Where nothing can be won.

Don’t come back, For I have nothing left.

You already took my all, Just let me breathe in and out.

Every time you come closer, It’s harder for me to seek closure.

I try to resist your tempting aura, But caught up in a loop full of growing flowers.

Running from your piercing gaze, Before I could stop and break away.

Wanting to resist this painful hunger, Falling back into stone cold water.

I just want freedom to find me, If your shield wouldn’t hide me.

Trying to live happily ever after, Despite you roaring like a thunder.

I’m not holding on, Where nothing can be won.

Don’t come back, For I have nothing left.

You already took my all, Just let me breathe in and out.

How do we get there? How do we know? How to be gentler? How do we hope?

For you, my tears are weak, For me, they are a sign of strength.

For you, my tears are pathetic, For me, they are authentic.

For you, my tears are childish, For me, they are my growth.

For you, my tears are cold, For me, they are the warmth I seek.

For you, my tears are ugly, For me, they are as beautiful as me.

For you, my tears are something, For me, they are the power from within.

I had to leave. The only chance for her survival was my absence in her life. Not much of a choice, her safety comes first.

Packing the rest of my stuff into the bag I brought, to leave this place I called home for so long, a soft knock came from the door. "Yuno?" It was nothing more than a whisper, escaping her lips like a stone, falling to the ground of the sea. Heavy. Hard.

I shouldn't have wasted that much time, thinking about how to leave her without much trouble, then maybe, this right now didn't have to be. "What are you doing?" She asked, coming from behind, hugging me tight. Like always. Like I loved it to be.

Careful, not to drown in her comfortable embrace, I entangled myself to continue my work. Bring this all to an end. "I'm leaving." I tried to sound as cold as possible, but her reaction told me, it wasn't cold enough. "Are you with Minsu for the weekend again? I'll go and prepare some snacks." Smiling happily, she made her way upstairs, into the Kitchen.

She always loved to prepare something when I was away for a while, not only for me but for everyone I was with during the time being. My heart ached, for I have to leave her when I don't want to. I could bear my pain but hers? Never.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I continued to pack my bag. If I had to break her into pieces, I had to do it fast. The sooner it was done, the better.

Every time your hand holds mine, It mends the storm inside my mind. Every touch upon my cheek, It'd make me go down and probably weak.

Every time you caress my hair, It felt soft and gentle like a warm breeze of Air. Every touch upon my lips, Gave me goosebumps and a hopeful bliss.

Every time you tenderly stroked my hips, It felt like the world around me slipped. Every touch upon my neck, Is like a chain that threatens to break.

Every time you told me your love, It felt like the darkness came from above. Every touch upon my spine, Would twist my bones into one thin line.

Every time you would say goodbye, I hoped for you to not die from inside. Every touch upon my heart, Made me feel hollow and falling apart.

I hope you are happy, For in the end it’s not me.

Live your life peacefully, For I’d fight to be free.

Taking a deep breath, I raised my hand to knock, but hesitated. Why should I apologize when I wasn't at fault? Why should I grovel and beg for forgiveness for something that wasn't entirely my doing?

But the pressure was relentless. Friends had taken Haneul's side, casting me as the villain in this drama. It didn't matter that I hadn't started the fight or that Haneul's words had cut deeper than any blade. All that mattered was restoring peace, even if it meant swallowing my pride and apologizing for something I hadn't done.

With a resigned sigh, I rapped on the door, the sound reverberating through the silence of the hallway. Seconds stretched into eternity as I waited, anxiety gnawing at my insides. Would She be willing to listen to me?

The door creaked open, revealing Her tense expression. Eyes red-rimmed, evidence of the tears shed in the aftermath of our argument.

»Haneul,« I began, my voice sounding foreign to my own ears. »I'm sorry. I know things got out of hand and I regret any part I played in it.«

Haneul's expression softened slightly, but the hurt still evident in her eyes. »It's not just about this one argument, Yuno.« She said, her voice trembling with emotion. »It's about all the times you've dismissed my feelings, all the times you've made me feel small and insignificant.«

Her words struck me like a blow to the chest. Had I really been so blind to her pain? Had I let my own pride and ego blind me to the hurt I was causing her?

»I..« I faltered, struggling to find the right words. How could I apologize for a pattern of behavior that I hadn't even realized existed? How could I make up for years of neglect and indifference?

Swallowing my pride, I took a step forward, reaching out to grasp Haneul's hand in mine.

»I'm sorry.« I said, the words heavy with sincerity. »I'm sorry for all the times I've hurt you, all the times I've let my own pride get in the way of our relationship. I promise to do better, to listen to you and respect your feelings from now on.«

Haneul's eyes widened in surprise. »Do you mean that?« She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, a sense of determination settling over me. »I do,« I said, squeezing her hand gently. »I'll do whatever it takes to make things right between us, even if it means admitting when I'm wrong.«

A slow smile spread across Haneul's face, lighting up the room like the dawn breaking through the darkness. »Thank you, Yuno.« She said, pulling me into a tight embrace. »For a better future.«

Sometimes, saying sorry isn't about admitting fault, but rather about acknowledging the hurt we had caused.

»If we get caught, we tell them the truth.« I sternly said, making sure that there were no arguments about it. »But we agreed to lie!« How lousy to think she would drop and do as I say. »Look, I know what we agreed on but we never thought about the possible consequences. I'm not risking it. I'm not risking your safety.«

»I can protect myself.« She crossed her arms before her chest. Pretty annoyed with his behavior toward her. »Of course you can.« He scoffed, thinking about the last time she 'protected' herself and almost got killed in the meantime. He wouldn't be this reckless again.

»We shouldn't have gotten married in the first place!« She yelled, not caring about what was coming out of her mouth. Her whole body was lulled into one emotion: frustration.

She wanted to let it out so badly, it didn't occur to her how much she could've hurt him.

She continued her rambling, searching for anything that could alleviate this consuming feeling inside her mind. »Maybe then my life wouldn't have been like it is today. I could've been happy. Everything I've ever wanted, but nothing you could've provided me with.«

If she could spare one look into his eyes, it would've been over. She would know that he was on the verge of breaking, if one put any more pressure on his neck.

»You shouldn't just throw words like that around or someone gets hurt.« Maybe it was his low, almost whisper-like voice, or the fact that she didn't want to listen. She just didn't want to hear his voice. She was too caught up in her own hamster wheel, without knowing how to find the exit.

If she wasn't careful enough, to see what she was doing, her whole life would change, but nothing would be better once the outcome had settled.

She knew he had been having thoughts lately, thoughts that hung heavily over his head. No matter how hard he fought them, they wouldn't flinch a bit. She knew he was doubting himself, his abilities, his attractiveness, everything. He didn't know where it came from either, but once it was clear, it consumed him to no end. Her tantrum of frustration just added fuel to the already boiling fire.

»Maybe someone already got hurt. Didn't thought about that, did you?« She scoffed. »How did I put up with you all this time? I—«

»JUST STOP, OKAY, STOP!« She had never heard him scream at someone, certainly not her. It took her by surprise, leaving them in silence.

Sirens wailed in the distance as she knelt beside him, his breathing shallow and labored. The Scene was chaotic, with paramedics rushing around them, trying to stabilize him. Deep down although, she knew it was too late.

He managed to open his eyes, meeting hers. Barely above a whisper, he spoke, "I'm dying. There's nothing you can do anymore. Just hold me, please."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she gently cradled his head in her arms. "No, no, you're going to be okay. They are here to save you. I will not walk this earth without you." She choked out, voice trembling.

He weakly shook his head, a faint smile crossing his lips. "It's alright," he whispered. "I just want to be in your arms."

In that moment, as the world swirled around them, they held onto each other, finding solace and comfort in the love that had defined they're lives.