Threads of Fate (Catnipz)

Another Difficult Decision

She watched herself; her past self, move through the village, her hands carrying a basket of freshly caught fish. Her clothes were simple, her hair tied back in a loose braid. The version of her in this memory looked... content. At peace. She handed the basket to an older fisherman, smiling warmly as they exchanged a few words Haerin couldn't quite make out.

The memory shifted, flickering like an old film reel, and her past self was now kneeling by the shore, helping to untangle a young boy's fishing net. The boy's laughter echoed faintly, his gratitude evident in the way he clutched the fixed net to his chest. Haerin felt a strange pang in her chest, an echo of the kindness she had once given so freely.

And then she saw her.

Minji.

The familiarity of her face struck Haerin like a wave crashing against the shore. In the memory, Minji looked younger, her features softer but still carrying that quiet strength Haerin had come to recognize. She wore a plain dress, her dark hair loose and windswept. Minji approached her past self, holding a bundle of herbs, a shy smile tugging at her lips.

Haerin's breath hitched as she watched the two interact. She couldn't hear their words, but she could see the warmth in Minji's eyes, the way her past self seemed to light up in her presence. They stood close, their conversation growing animated as Minji's hands gestured toward the sea, and Haerin's past self laughed softly.

The memory blurred again, shifting to a scene of the two sitting on a rocky outcrop overlooking the ocean. The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Minji was pointing to the horizon, speaking with passion, her voice carried away by the wind. Her past self was listening intently, her expression soft, her gaze never leaving Minji.

A sudden ache bloomed in Haerin's chest. She didn't need to hear the words to understand the connection between them. It was in the way Minji's eyes lingered, the way her past self's hand brushed against Minji's as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Haerin's breath caught as the memory shifted once more, the golden hues of the setting sun replaced by a darker, stormier sky. She stood on the shore now, her past self watching Minji in the distance. Minji was on a small wooden boat, her silhouette illuminated by the faint light of a lantern. She was setting out for the sea, her figure strong and determined, as if nothing could stand in her way.

In the memory, Haerin's past self stood by the shoreline, waving at Minji with a warm, almost playful smile. The wind tousled her hair as she called out words that Haerin couldn't hear, though she could feel the sentiment behind them; words of encouragement, of care. Minji turned back for a brief moment, raising her hand in return, her smile soft but filled with resolve. And then, she disappeared into the horizon.

The scene flickered, the storm clouds rolling in fast. The once-calm waves turned violent, crashing against the rocks with unrelenting force. Haerin's past self was still standing on the shore, her smile replaced by an expression of worry as she searched the horizon, waiting for the boat to return. The hours stretched on, and with each passing moment, the anxiety in her eyes grew.

The memory shifted again, days having passed now. Her past self sat by the shore, her knees pulled to her chest, her eyes fixed on the sea as if willing Minji to come back. But there was nothing; no boat, no sign of Minji. Just the endless expanse of water that swallowed everything whole.

Haerin's heart ached as the realization hit her like a tidal wave. Her past self had waited, had mourned, just as Minji said. And Minji... Minji never returned.

The realization struck Haerin like a thunderclap, the memory unfolding with a sharp clarity that she hadn't expected. She was the one Minji had been talking about; the girl on the shore, waiting for her to return. Her past self had loved Minji, more than anyone. And Minji had waited for her, had mourned her. Haerin's heart ached as the pieces of her past life finally fell into place.

She was the reason Minji stayed. She had been the love that Minji had never let go of, the person who had meant everything to her. And yet, in this new life, Haerin hadn't even remembered it. She hadn't remembered the love, the connection, the bond that had tied them together through time.

Her hands trembled as the weight of the truth settled on her. She had been the one to leave Minji behind, just as Minji had once left her. But this time, Haerin was the one who would go.

It was as if everything in her life had been leading up to this moment, the choices, the burdens, the people she tried to protect. But now she understood, now it made sense. It wasn't just about Hanni. It wasn't just about staying and saving the people she loved.

Minji had stayed for her. For the love they had shared in another life.

And Haerin? Haerin had to let go.

The room around her blurred as she reached out to the fading memory of her past self, standing alone on that beach.

Haerin turned to the man in the suit, her voice a quiet plea. "Can I see Minji?"

The man's eyes narrowed slightly, and he raised an eyebrow, as though he hadn't expected such a request. "Minji?" he questioned, his tone detached. "Who is Minji?"

Without hesitation, Haerin answered, her voice firm despite the uncertainty swirling inside her. "Minji is my grim reaper."

The man chuckled softly, the sound hollow and cold. "Ah, your grim reaper," he mused, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface of the desk. "You want to see her? Well, it's not that simple. If you want to reunite with her, you'll have to take the same path she did."

Haerin frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

The man's eyes twinkled with an almost cruel amusement. "To see her again... to be with her... you would have to become a grim reaper too."

The words hit Haerin like a cold wind. "Become... a grim reaper?" Her heart skipped a beat, and she stepped back, the weight of what was being asked sinking in.

"Yes," the man replied, his voice carrying a finality that felt impossible to ignore. "To cross the boundary, to stand by her side, you would need to let go of your past life entirely, just as she did. You would have to become a guide for others, just like Minji. Only then can you see her again."

Haerin's mind raced, the idea of becoming something she had always feared overwhelming her. Becoming like Minji? A grim reaper? It was a fate she had never imagined for herself, but the thought of being with Minji again, of being able to stand by her side in some way, tugged at her heart.

The man's gaze softened slightly, as if sensing the turmoil within her. "It's a path not many choose, but it is a choice nonetheless. What will you do, Haerin?"

Haerin's voice wavered as she asked, "Is there really no end to a grim reaper's job?"

The man in the suit paused, his expression unreadable as he regarded her question. His fingers rested gently on the desk, and for a brief moment, the room felt heavy with the weight of his silence.

"No," he answered finally, his tone matter-of-fact. "Once you step into that role, there's no returning to a life you once knew. A grim reaper's task is never-ending. There will always be souls to guide, always souls to lead to the afterlife. You'll witness the cycles of life and death, over and over again, and each soul will need your touch, your guidance. It's a path of endless duty."

Haerin's heart sank at the thought. The idea of losing herself to an eternity of such responsibility weighed heavily on her chest. She had seen how it had taken its toll on Minji, how she had become distant, isolated from the world she once knew. Was this truly the only way she could be with her?

"But..." Haerin began, her voice quiet and uncertain, "Would I ever see anyone again? My sister? Minji? Would they stay... stuck in their own lives, while I remain here?"

The man's gaze softened, just for a moment, but his answer remained unyielding. "You will see them, in fleeting moments. But they will continue on with their lives, and you will watch from the shadows. You will never truly be a part of their world again. You will always be a guide, a guardian for others, while they live and move on without you."