Threads of Fate (Catnipz)

A Wave of My Hand

Haerin's gaze lingered on Minji, her expression unreadable, as though she were weighing her next words carefully. Then, in a quiet but firm voice, she said, "I'll go. I'll leave. But only if you tell me your story."

Minji blinked, surprised by the sudden request. "My story?" she repeated, a faint smile playing on her lips. "That's not part of the deal, Haerin."

"It is now," Haerin shot back, crossing her arms as her usual stoic demeanor cracked, revealing a flicker of determination. "You've spent all this time asking me questions, poking at my life, my regrets, my guilt. It's only fair I get to hear yours before I leave everything behind."

Minji tilted her head slightly, studying Haerin with an amused glint in her eyes, though there was a hint of reluctance beneath it. "You're a stubborn one, aren't you?"

"You said I reminded you of someone," Haerin replied, her voice softening. "Maybe telling me will help you let go of her, just like you're asking me to let go of everyone."

Minji's faint smile faltered, replaced by a look of quiet contemplation. She looked away, her eyes scanning the empty streets around them, as though she were searching for something; or perhaps trying to avoid the weight of Haerin's request.

"I don't tell this story often," Minji said finally, her voice quieter than usual, almost as though the words themselves carried too much weight. "Not because I can't, but because it doesn't change anything. My past is... gone. It's dust now."

"But it still matters," Haerin pressed gently. "If it didn't, you wouldn't be carrying it with you."

Minji let out a slow breath, as though releasing some of the tension that had built up in her chest. For a long moment, she said nothing, her face unreadable as she gathered her thoughts. Finally, she spoke, her voice steady but tinged with something deeper; pain, perhaps, or regret.

"I was human once, just like you," Minji began, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "I had a family, friends... a life. But it was a life filled with struggle. I grew up in a small fishing village by the sea. My father was a fisherman, and my mother... she was kind, gentle, but always tired. We didn't have much, but we had each other."

Haerin stayed silent, her eyes locked on Minji, listening intently.

"When I was old enough, I started helping my father with the boats. It was hard work, but it made me feel... useful. Like I had a purpose. I wanted to make things easier for my family. To give them a better life. But the sea... it takes more than it gives."

Minji's voice grew quieter, as though the memories themselves were painful to relive. "One stormy night, my father and I went out to fish. We shouldn't have, we knew the storm was coming, but we needed the money. The waves were... unforgiving. Our boat capsized, and we were thrown into the water. My father... he didn't make it."

Haerin's chest tightened at the raw emotion in Minji's voice, the vulnerability that she rarely showed.

"I managed to grab onto a piece of the wreckage," Minji continued, her gaze distant. "But the storm carried me out to sea. I was alone for days, clinging to that piece of wood, hoping someone would find me. But no one came."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her voice grew colder, as though she were forcing herself to finish the story. "I died out there. Alone. And when I woke up... I wasn't in the afterlife. I was here, stuck between worlds, just like you."

Minji turned to Haerin, her expression unreadable. "I don't know why I stayed. Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was fear. Or maybe I just didn't want to leave everything behind. But staying... it doesn't bring you peace, Haerin. It doesn't fix anything. It just leaves you... empty."