(II)
It felt like something was stuck in my chest.
I had finally gotten what I wanted—
So why did it still feel like something was off?
The next day
Ahwon carried on with her day as if nothing had happened.
On the outside, nothing seemed different.
But only on the outside.
That morning, Ahwon finally realized—
Her body wasn’t what it used to be.
“You don’t look so good today, Ahwon.”
“Huh? Oh… do I?”
“Yes, you really do.”
“I’ll be fine, team lead. Hehe. Thanks for your concern.”
And once again, Ahwon brushed it off.
Once again, she masked her pain in front of everyone.
The days became more painful, more unbearable.
And then, a sudden call from the hospital.
—
“Hello? Is this Ms. Gil Ahwon?”
“Yes, speaking.”
“We need you to come in, as soon as possible.”
“Come in?”
“Yes, there’s something urgent we need to discuss.”
“Okay. Can I schedule for 1 p.m. tomorrow?”
“Yes, I’ve booked you for then. See you soon.”
“Thank you.”
—
Ahwon could sense it instinctively.
Her story might not end well after all.
Now there was less than an hour left until the appointment.
And Ahwon… was nervous.
Bad things always happened in her life.
Always.
‘It’ll probably be bad news again… Just like always.’
“Ms. Gil Ahwon, please come in.”
“…Yes.”
Unlike other days,
Ahwon’s voice wasn’t its usual cheerful tone that masked the pain.
“Were you in less pain yesterday?”
“…Yes.”
A reflex.
A practiced lie.
“You always lie when you come here, don’t you?”
The doctor’s words struck like a scalpel to an open wound.
“Lie…?”
“Yes. If you keep lying like that, don’t come back.
You don’t have to act tough here—not in a place meant to heal you.”
His words, though stern, felt like a balm for her tired soul.
“…Honestly, it hurt. A lot.”
“I’m glad you said that.
Please keep being honest, from now on.”
The doctor gave a small, warm smile.
“So… why did you ask me to come today?”
Ahwon, a little anxious but trying to stay brave, looked him in the eye.
And then, the doctor’s tone grew serious.
“We’ve found a treatment for your condition.”
“…What?”
Ahwon couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.
“Sroke” had never had a cure. Not in decades.
She’d been told again and again: there would never be one.
Only management. Only survival.
“But there’s a catch.”
Suddenly, Ahwon was on full alert.
“This treatment hasn’t been tested in Korea.
It’s only been trialed abroad—
and the side effects are severe.
The drug itself is extremely toxic.
But it works.
It can cure you.”
Her heart, which had fluttered with hope, now began to sink.
“Because of the risks, we’ll only proceed if you want to.”
Ahwon fell silent.
She had already come to terms with her death.
Then why was she hesitating?
Why… did it suddenly feel like she wanted to live?
Pull yourself together, Gil Ahwon.
“I know it’s not an easy decision.
Take the week to think it over and come back at this same time next week.”
“…Thank you.”
Ahwon stepped out of the consultation room, her mind spinning.
Keep living this empty life?
Or finally… let it end?
She wanted to run. So she did.
She ran like mad from the hospital.
Through the streets.
Through the crowds.
And then—she found someone.
Her ideal type.
Someone she’d never met before.
“Excuse me… I know we’ve never met,
but should I just die?”
—
(To be continued)