Threads of Fate (Catnipz)

One Step at a Time

Haerin felt a strange warmth in her chest as she glanced over at Minji, her hand still loosely clasped in hers. It was a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time, the sensation of not being entirely alone. Despite everything; despite the confusion, the tension between them, there was a part of Haerin that wanted to show Minji the people who mattered to her, to show her the life she still felt bound to, even if it was slipping away.

"I have someone to show you," Haerin said quietly, her voice carrying a weight she couldn't quite explain.

Minji glanced at her, curious but silent as Haerin led her through the night-lit streets. The house wasn't far, nestled in the corner of a quiet residential area, but for Haerin, it felt like a lifetime away from where she had just been. As they stepped inside, the soft hum of the world outside seemed to fade, leaving them in the quiet darkness of the home.

Without a word, Haerin guided Minji up the stairs, her footsteps light but determined. She stopped in front of a bedroom door, taking a breath before pushing it open.

Inside, the room was dimly lit by the soft glow of a nightlight, casting shadows across the walls. A girl lay on the bed, her hair spread out like a halo around her head, her features soft and peaceful as she slept. Haerin's heart tightened in her chest as she looked at her, the girl who had saved her, the one she had promised so many things to.

"That's her," Haerin said, her voice barely above a whisper, pointing to the girl on the bed. "Danielle. My girlfriend."

Minji observed the scene carefully, her eyes narrowing as she studied Haerin's face, the stillness in her expression. "She's... beautiful," Minji remarked softly. "But Haerin... Why don't you look at her the way someone in love would?"

Haerin froze, the question hanging in the air like a weight. She could feel Minji's eyes on her, the reaper's gaze piercing through the layers of her thoughts, searching for the truth. Haerin had known this question would come, but it didn't make it any easier to answer.

Haerin looked at Danielle again, the girl who had once been her lifeline, the one who had pulled her from the darkest parts of her life. Her chest tightened as she thought about how much she owed Danielle, how much she could never repay.

"It's... complicated," Haerin murmured, taking a step closer to Danielle's bed, her voice faltering as she spoke. "Danielle saved my life once. I was... I was depressed, and she pulled me out. I've owed her ever since. I couldn't let her down. She's the reason I'm still here."

Minji didn't say anything right away, but Haerin could feel the weight of her gaze, the unspoken judgment that hung between them. After a long moment, Minji spoke again, her voice soft but firm.

"Being indebted to someone doesn't mean lying to them about love, Haerin," Minji said, her words like a gentle rebuke. "You can't give someone your life without giving them your heart too, especially when you know they deserve both."

Haerin clenched her fists at her sides, feeling the pressure of Minji's words bearing down on her. She wasn't ready to admit it, not to Minji, and certainly not to herself. But deep down, she knew Minji was right.

"Why does it feel like I'm the only one who can't be honest with her?" Haerin whispered, almost to herself. She took a slow breath, her gaze still fixed on Danielle's peaceful face. "I don't know how to love her. I don't know how to give her what she deserves. But I can't... I can't leave her, either. Not after everything she's done for me."

Minji took a step closer, her presence warm yet distant, like the coolness of a shadow. She didn't reach out, but Haerin could feel her standing beside her, as if silently offering her a quiet understanding.