I arrive home to the smell of chicken
and hum in delight
with the warm air attaching onto
my freezing skin.The day is cold for fall.
It's windy, too.
My jacket kept blowing with the wind
along with my hair
and the leaves.
I can still hear the faint sound of the trees
rustling from outside.
With how beautiful it is,
I can never imagine
being upset today.I slip off my shoes
and hang my coat up.
I walk further into the house,
with the wood creaking a soft green
under my feet.Mama is cooking in the kitchen.
She doesn't seem to notice me
until I shake my bag off my shoulder
and onto one of the dining room chairs."Welcome home, pumpkin."
She always calls me a nickname
depending on the time of the year.
I get reminded of her scarlet voice
that's gotten scratchier than it was before.
And the grape in her voice
that would once relax me
now lightly chizzles my ears."Hello mom!
Do you need any help?"She gives me a faint smile,
and I already know what she's going to say."Would you mind
finishing up the rice and chicken
while I go out?"She's been saying phrases like this
more and more often.
And it hurts me to think
that she can't be fully happy
without being closer to death.But I keep a smile
so she doesn't think
I no longer love her.I keep a smile
so she knows
that I still appreciate her
for putting me to sleep when
the taste of blood
was stuck on my mind."Of course I can."
Mama smiles wider
and walks over to me
to have me in her embrace.
I've grown taller than her over the years
but that doesn't stop her
from seeing me
as her child.The smell of smoke and coffee
fills my nose when she says,
"Thank you, Taehyung.
Your dad will be back in about an hour."I hum
and Mama lets me go
before going to the mudroom
to put on her shoes and a black jacket.
I wish she could stay and have dinner with us
with a real smile on her face
and real laughter.I hope one day
she'll change her mind
and has a voice
that only smells like coffee."Okay. Bye mom! I love you!"
The door is open,
but she turns to smile at me.
The warmth of the house blocks the cold."I love you more, Taehyung!"
Then she leaves,
and I feel the cold air hit me.
YOU ARE READING
I See Colors | Taegi
FanfictionTaehyung has synesthesia, a condition where one sense is paired with another, such as hearing a sound for a shape or seeing a color for a word. Despite his colorful world, he can still see Yoongi, a boy who can only see in shades of grey. Started: A...