❝ i'll never leave ❞

﹁

﹂

Don't slow down. He repeated in his head.

Something familiar blew by. A scent in the wind. Taeil could smell burning leaves.

He furrowed his eyebrows, feeling his chest tighten. Taeil cut off course to follow the scent.

And there you were, next to him. It was night and a fire was glowing in front of the two of you. The night you promised to be his forever.

"And you'll never leave me, right?" Taeil put down his guitar and pulled you closer.

You leaned against his chest, kicking the dead leaves into the fire. "Right. I'll never leave."

Never. Taeil watched himself hold onto you like his life depended on it. His breathing came short and his heart hurt.

"Can we stop playing this game?" Taeil asked you, his eyes glued on the scene.

His senses became overwhelmed with the smell of burning leaves and the bright orange glow of the fire.

Taeil peeled his eyes away and buried his face in his hands. Only then did the smell fade away, and so did the crackling sound of the fire. His hands fell away to reveal the trees and morning glow.

"You're really warm, Taeil. Just a few more steps."