The sun shine through the windows of the hospital, its light casting a warm glow on the cool linoleum floor. Eun-ji's footsteps echoed as she approached the nurse's station, her heart racing with anticipation. She looked at the innocent faced nurse, willing her voice to remain steady as she addressed the nurse " I am here to see Dr. Choi, please" she said. The nurse's expression turned apologetic, her eyes softening as she spoke. "I am sorry, but Dr. Choi is unavailable right now. Would you like to make an appointment for another day?" The nurse's eyes were filled with compassion giving Eun-ji an appologetic smile. As Eun-ji shook her head and took a step back, she tried giving her the appointment offer again but then, in an instant, Eun-ji was racing towards the elevator like a titan. The nurse stood there watching in disbelief as the elevator's doors closed, cutting off Eun-ji from view. All that remained was a faint wave from the woman.
The nurse walked to the elevator and then to the stairway, staring at it with great grief.
As Eun-ji pushed open the door to the doctor's office, she was met with a stern warning from the nurse, who from the looks of it was trying to catch her breath. Eun-ji seemed oblivious to the nurse's words, her mind fixed on something else entirely. The sound of the door slamming open made his brows furrow in confusion, watching as the nurse tried to catch her breath, her eyes wide with panic. Shifting his gaze to the figure at the doorway, summoning her to come in causing the nurse who was trying to explain hang her head low in disappointment. Swooshing away as if she never was present at that place. Closing the door with a click, Eun ji sat on the sofa as if exhausted, whimpering a little.
"What's going on here?" He asked, his voice firm but not unkind "I am here for a session, what else?" She asked smiling at his face. Her declaration made him smirk, standing up from his position, he rummaged through his shelve before sitting opposite her with crossed legs, following all his actions, she sat down comfortably as he read through the old looking file, reporting to her all her missed sessions, the look in her face after he dropped the file on the coffee table made him smile. Placing his chin on his interlocked fingers, he pronounced "why don't we try this again, what are you doing here?" Turning his question into a rhetorical one with a smile, she leaned in "I just wanted to find you, I have a story to share" she clasped her hands together looking at him with anticipation. After staring at his watch for some time, he trained his gaze on her"where were you?" He asked "Busy" she answered immediately his words landed. "Busy...I get that" he said after her short answer making her look into his eyes, something laid in there which she couldn't quite put her hands around it.
MARCH 5, 2016
The anger in the man's voice was palpable, his words cutting through the air like a knife. The woman opposite him sat still, her eyes filling with tears, lips trembling with unspoken emotions. He turned and walked away, his steps heavy with rage. Eun ji watched as he walked towards her seeming flustered about seeing her there but regained himself and patted her head before walking away. Her mom's face was a picture of pain, her body trembling. And that moment, her mom's eyes met with hers making her mom's expression to soften. Her lips curved into a small smile, she stood up, her steps slow and measured. She walked over to Eun ji, reaching out a hand to touch her cheek"go to sleep" she closed off with a kiss to the forehead and headed upstairs.
Waking up to the sound of voices and faces she didn't know, she followed the crowd to a room, her mom's, one of them was covering her mom's face with a white clothe.
PRESENT DAY
"It seems mom died" she smiled and asked"shall I go on?" His gaze met hers and he gave a stiff nod. His expression somber.
MARCH 28, 2016
"My condolences" the doctor said, his voice gentle and sympathetic. "The post mortem report shows no signs of drug intake but, from the looks of it, the empty container of anti depressants suggest that she might have consumed a considerable amount of overdose causing her untimely death" the words, like a blow to the guts for her maternal grandparents, peircing their hearts with grief and disbelief.
The family was in shock, their faces pale" anti depressants?" Her grandpa looked over to his son in-law, the man might seem old but the grip he had on his son in-law's collar was tight, showing a trembling finger towards him after being jerked away, his words pierced the air with accusation but her dad was unyielding, his eyes cold and unreadable. Amid the chaos, Eun ji stood still, her gaze fixed on her mom's portrait and her expression wasn't sad nor did it hold any grief, something else filled her eyes, she was mesmerized but stopped herself from smiling.
APRIL 11, 2014
Walking into the silent living room, she looked around and walked to the kitchen. The smooth, polished surface of the kitchen counter was cool to the touch, a stark contrast to the heat of emotions swirling within her. She ran her fingers over the countertop, tracing the contours of the knife block. A tingle of dread ran down her spine, a warning sign of danger lurking within her own mind. She reached out for the block, her hand trembling as it made contact with the wooden surface.
*******
The door creaked open, and the sound of her father's voice echoed through the house, settling the grocery over the countertop, he called out again"Eun ji! Are you there?" His footsteps drawing nearer as he directed the glass of water to his mouth only to spot a figure behind the counter"Eun ji?" He called, dropping the glass and walking to his daughter but was slapped with a shocking scene.