The following afternoon, at the doctor's office.
"Miss Lee, I'm afraid I have some difficult news to share with you. After reviewing your test results, it appears that you have leukemia. Unfortunately, the cancer is already in its last stage. I wish there were an easier way to say this, but based on the progression of the disease, we estimate you have less than a year to live."
"Doc, w-what do you mean…?" Shuri stammered, her mind struggling to process the devastating news.
She had less than a year to live?
The doctor's words echoed in her mind, but she couldn't bring herself to fully grasp their meaning. It was as if her thoughts had come to a standstill, unable to comprehend the reality of what she had just been told.
Seeing that Shuri was too shocked for words, the doctor sighed. "Miss Lee, I understand how difficult it must be to process. Please rest assured that we'll give you the best treatment possible, and as we await the detailed medical report, you should return home and discuss it with your family…"
"My family…" Shuri murmured, completely blocking off what the doctor had to say.
How was she going to tell Noran and Karlene that she was going to die?
She was still in disbelief. How could a simple check-up reveal something as serious as cancer? She hadn't realized that her occasional headaches, nosebleeds, and fatigue could be signs of cancer. How could these seemingly minor symptoms point to cancer?
The doctor gave her medication to ease her pain and manage her symptoms. He asked her to return in a few days to receive a more detailed report.
With her mind still in a daze, Shuri eventually left the hospital and began to walk aimlessly. She only stopped when she realized she reached the subway station. She sat down on an empty seat and just stared at the stream of people bustling by.
"How should I tell them…?" Shuri muttered, a lump forming in her throat as she tried to hold back her tears.
More than death, she was afraid of the sadness she would bring to her loved ones. For the first time, she was relieved that Noran had flown overseas this morning, and he would be away for a few days. His absence would allow her to delay breaking the news to him.
As Shuri continued to agonize, her eyes wandered aimlessly across the station until they fell upon a large poster advertisement adorning the metro wall.
The vibrant colors and bold letters grabbed her attention, pulling her in despite her swirling emotions. The poster advertised "Come to Fushin and Visit the Guardian Forest" in elegant writing, showing a lush, enchanted forest full of life.
"The Guardian Forest…" Shuri murmured, suddenly remembering her mother once told her she met fairies in the Guardian Forest.
There was a myth surrounding the Guardian Forest of Fushin – a Divine Tree lay at the depth of the forest and fairies dwelled in it. The Divine Tree would blossom just once every spring and only at night, and legends have it that if one were to wish under the Divine Tree's flowers, their wish would come true.
However, the Guardian Forest was a mysterious place, where electronic devices, compasses, constellations, and even the rising sun couldn't be used to navigate in many areas.
Despite so, countless ventured into the Guardian Forest despite not knowing if they would make it back, and most of them had gone missing. There was no evidence of anyone reaching the fabled Divine Tree.
"I met fairies in the Guardian Forest, and they granted me my wishes. That's how I got to marry your father and gave birth to two beautiful daughters." Her mother once told them this supposedly fairytale-like story during their childhood.
Unlike Karlene, Shuri didn't doubt her mother's story. She believed her mother must have wished for a happy family, as her parents were the most loving couple, and they remained a happy family until her parents tragically passed away in a car accident.
"Mum, do you think I can meet those fairies too?" Shuri quietly asked, feeling the burning desire to visit the Guardian Forest and find the Divine Tree to make her wish.
Shuri was only thirty. She wanted to grow old together with her husband and sister and couldn't bear the thought of leaving her loved ones behind and causing them grief.
Having experienced the devastating loss of someone dear, she didn't want Noran to endure the same pain or Karlene to suffer through it again.
Her train of thought was disrupted by her phone vibrating. It was a call from Karlene. Shuri took a deep breath to compose herself. She couldn't let Karlene sense her current low spirits.
After calming down, Shuri picked up her phone.
"Shuri, where are you?" Karlene was quick to ask.
"I…I'm heading over now." Realizing she had lost track of time, Shuri looked at the clock at the station. It was 4 p.m., and she had spent a full hour in the station, drowned in her own emotions.
There was an unexpected silence on the other end.
"Hello? Karlene?"
"…I think you shouldn't come to the café today," Karlene finally answered.
"Why? Did something happen?" Shuri was surprised by Karlene's suddenly preventing her from going over to their café, which had never happened.
"There's…" Karlene hesitated before replying. "There's someone you shouldn't meet waiting for you here."
"Someone I shouldn't meet waiting for me?" Shuri was confused. "Who?"
There was a small pause from the other end before Karlene sighed. "Sophia Carter, Noran's ex fiancée."