Broken Paths || Wen JunHui

Chapter 60: A New Beginning

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Months had passed since the chaos of the hospital, the danger, the fear, and the heartache. In the time since, Da-Rae had made decisions that felt like they were paving the way for something better—for both of them. She had dropped the charges against Jun, her initial anger and fear slowly dissolving in the face of his fragile humanity. It wasn't easy, but she had come to realize that he wasn't a monster. He was someone who needed help. He wasn't someone she could simply cast aside.

She had reached out to his family, hesitant at first but determined to find a way for them to understand what had happened. His parents, though initially shocked, had reacted with a mix of relief and gratitude when they learned that Jun was getting better. They had been unaware of the extent of his struggles and were deeply invested in his recovery now. They were focused solely on his healing—no longer as a member of the family in a crisis, but as a son, a brother who deserved the chance to find peace.

Jun's recovery hadn't been swift, nor had it been without setbacks. It wasn't an overnight transformation. But he had started attending regular therapy sessions, with a new, experienced therapist whom Da-Rae had found for him—someone who could help him more effectively than she ever could. She'd made sure he saw someone else, even though she had considered offering him the comfort of her guidance. It was for the best, and Jun had agreed. Despite his lingering feelings for her, he had begun to make noticeable progress. The obsessive thoughts, the outbursts, the erratic behaviours that had once dominated his life were becoming less frequent. He wasn't "cured," not by any means, but he was a different person than the man Da-Rae had met over a year ago—the man whose eyes had gleamed with an unsettling intensity.

Jun was quieter now. His fixation, while still present in some form, was more contained. Da-Rae could see him trying, could feel the effort he was putting in, even in the moments where he seemed distant or lost in thought. She hadn't expected a perfect recovery, but she had come to appreciate these small victories. He was improving, and that was enough.

She had made the decision to stay with him, not out of obligation, but out of a genuine desire to see him through this. She wasn't his savior, and she had made peace with that. He needed professional help, and that was something she couldn't provide on her own. But she had promised herself that she wouldn't abandon him—not when she could see that he was trying so hard.

Now, as she sat next to him, watching as he stared out the window, there was a calm in him that hadn't existed before. His shoulders were less tense, his hands less restless. He was still Jun, of course—the same man who had once made her heart race with fear—but now there was a gentleness in his gaze when he looked at her.

It had been a long road, but this version of Jun was the person she had met that first day of therapy—the one who had been so lost, so consumed by his own mind that he couldn't see the way forward. The man who had stood at the edge, needing someone to believe in him, someone who could help him find his way back.

Her feelings toward him had evolved too. What had once been uncertainty and fear had now become a deep sense of care—one born from seeing the complexity of his struggle, and the fragile strength he had shown. She wasn't sure what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, she felt hopeful. Not just for Jun's recovery, but for her own healing as well. She had learned so much over the months, about him, about herself, and about the kind of person she wanted to be.

The therapy sessions had become a part of their routine, and though Jun still struggled with the weight of his past, Da-Rae could see the shift in him. He was more aware of his actions, more in control of his emotions. He had begun to open up during his sessions, and while he had not completely let go of his past, the walls around him were beginning to crumble slowly.

Da-Rae had learned that sometimes, you had to let go of your expectations. People didn't heal on a timeline; they healed on their own terms. Jun was no longer the same man he had been months ago. He wasn't perfect—he never would be—but he was better.

And that was enough.

She stood up from the chair, walking over to him. "How are you feeling today?" she asked gently, her hand resting on his shoulder.

Jun turned toward her, and for a moment, their eyes met, and in that gaze, Da-Rae saw a quiet sincerity that was new.

"I'm okay," he said softly. "Better."

Da-Rae smiled, feeling a warmth spread in her chest. She had made a promise to herself to make sure Jun got the help he needed, and now she could see that it was paying off. He wasn't the man he had been when he first entered her life, but he was healing. And for her, that was enough.

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