In The Dark

Prologue

Life isn't always harsh and full of lies. But it also isn't always amazing and satisfying in ways no one could ever possibly imagine. And here, it's never an equal balance of both. Everything is either good or it's meant to go downhill.

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Ren Chapelle wrote this last sentence in her journal and closed it:

I wish Zach would treat me like his girl.

Her boyfriend, Zach, was, in her opinion, an amazing guy. He'd graduated four years before her and was constantly busy. When he did make time for her, she sometimes felt suffocated. He'd call her every chance he got and made sure she had everything she needed. Even with her moving out of her parents' home in a couple of years, she hoped the calls wouldn't stop. Maybe he would even come to visit her more often.

Their relationship had its ups and downs, like any other, but they always managed to work through their problems. She knew that Zach was not perfect, but she loved him anyway. She could imagine spending the rest of her life with him, raising a family and growing old together. Sometimes she even pictured the wedding, the white dress, and the big, happy family they would create.

Ren's mind wandered as she joined her family in the kitchen for breakfast. School was going great for her. She'd decided to take all of her core classes before her senior year, so she was stuck with elective courses. Outdoor education wasn't was one of her favorite classes. It wasn't about fixing cars, but it got her mind off of actual work.

Her father wanted her to work in his car shop whenever she didn't have to go to school. She loved helping him out, but why would she ruin her free time with fixing cars? She never wanted to admit it, but it was the highlight of her weekend. Especially when know-it-all men came through and wondered why she was there and not out shopping with her friends they thought she had.

"Yeobo, I really want what's best for Ren. Her wanting to move out right before college is a pretty dumb idea."

"Her wanting to move out at all is a blessing. More room, less complaining."

"Jung Byung-jae, I won't stand for it!"

"Then sit. She's already made up her mind. She and Ryder planned to move in together the second she graduates."

"And you're not at all worried about her moving in a with a boy?"

"This is America. Children have to learn the hard way sometimes."

Ryder was Ren's best friend. How they met in high school was always hilarious to her. When they'd made the decision to move in together, Zach tried his hardest to convince her it wasn't the right decision. She couldn't blame him. Ren had sort of know there was something going on between them since she'd met Ryder. She hadn't seen Ryder since the second half of his senior year. He hadn't even mentioned where he'd run off to when he finally came back.

"What about Byung-chul?"

"What about him?"

Ren walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Her parents stopped talking, causing the room to lapse into silence. Byung-jae looked up from his newspaper at his daughter.

"Eomma. Appa." Ren reached for a glass of orange juice. "What's going on?"

"Nothing..." Byung-jae said.

"Eomma doesn't want you to move out," Byung-chul said.

Ren shrugged and grabbed a plate. It didn't matter what her mother wanted from her, she was going to move out. She didn't want to stay with her parents forever.