Prologue

The sound of my footsteps echoed against the stone pathway, accompanied only by the quiet hum of the ocean in the distance. The resort stood ahead, a secluded retreat far from the noise of the city. The scent of salt and warm sand lingered in the air, but I barely noticed. My grip on the handle of my suitcase tightened. 

I wasn't here for leisure. I was here because I needed to be somewhere—**anywhere**—that wasn't home. 

Somewhere far from the whispers. The pitying glances. The suffocating weight of what had been left behind. 

The wedding. 

I could still see it in my mind—rows of guests, the floral arrangements, the soft glow of chandeliers overhead. I had stood at the altar, hands clasped, heart steady. **She's just running late.** That was what I had told myself. 

But as the minutes stretched, so did the silence. 

The whispers began—soft at first, then louder, each one chipping away at the certainty I had held onto. Hajun, standing beside me, shifted uncomfortably. Even the priest looked uncertain now. 

Then, her parents arrived. 

Their faces were pale, their eyes filled with regret. My father didn't say a word, my mother barely breathing beside him. The weight of the moment pressed down on all of us. 

They handed me an envelope—**her** letter. 

My fingers trembled slightly as I unfolded the paper, my eyes scanning the words she had left behind. 

*"Kei, I'm sorry. I know this is unforgivable, but I can't go through with this. I got cold feet, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized—I'm not ready. I'm not ready to be a wife, to commit to a life I'm uncertain of. I want to excel in my career, to chase my own dreams before settling down. I know you wanted me to be the kind of woman who stays by your side, but I can't be that person yet. Maybe I never could. Please don't hate me."* 

The paper crumpled slightly in my grip. 

* Not ready? *

The weight in my chest deepened. The way she wrote it, as if I had been the one forcing her into a life she didn't want—as if everything we had meant nothing. 

My mother reached out to me, her voice soft. "Kei—" 

I turned away before she could finish. I didn't need to hear anything else. 

Now, standing in front of the resort, I exhaled slowly, shoving the memory back where it belonged. It was over. There was no point in dwelling on something that had already fallen apart. 

The entrance doors slid open, a rush of cool air brushing against my face. 

No expectations. No apologies. Just silence. 

For now, that was enough. 

--- 

The sky is overcast, a blanket of gray stretching endlessly above me. A gentle breeze stirs the cemetery air, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and blooming flowers.

I kneel before the gravestone, my fingers tracing the carved letters with familiar reverence. A soft smile tugs at my lips, though it doesn't quite reach my eyes. The ache inside me has dulled over time, but it never truly fades.

"I came to see you again," I murmured, brushing a stray leaf off the stone. "I still miss you… every day."

The words slip out naturally, as if he's still here to listen. Maybe, in some way, he is.

I close my eyes, letting the silence settle around me. And in that stillness, I hear it again—his voice, warm and steady, lingering in the depths of my memory.

"Miya… promise me something."

The hospital room had been bathed in the golden light of the setting sun that day. His hand was weak in mine, but his grip was steady. His smile, though tired, never wavered.

"Don't let this keep you from being happy. Don't let my absence chain you to the past."

My fingers curl slightly against the cold stone.

"Move forward. Find happiness again. Even if I can't be there to see it."

A breath catches in my throat. Even now, I can still feel the warmth of his hand, the quiet strength in his touch.

"I… I don't know if I can," I whisper, my voice barely louder than the wind. "But I'll try."

Above me, the clouds shift, parting just enough for a sliver of sunlight to break through. The soft glow lands on the grave, casting a quiet warmth over the name engraved there.

I let out a slow breath, steadying myself. Rising to my feet, I arrange a fresh bouquet of white lilies at the base of the stone

As I turn to leave, a single tear escapes, trailing down my cheek.

Moving forward won't be easy.