"hello uncle," she replied.

     "if you're in the mall, buy some crab and corn soup and your medi-"

     "oh," she heard a dead line. she tried to call, no credit.

     soo kyu wandered to the nearest quick store, breath ragged. it's just the cold. yeah. the cold.

     thin fingers wound around her neck, distress. she tried breathing, suffocating. her hands felt the pavement, knees begging. blood churned out of her, fire burning.

     the pavement felt nice, cold.

     "is she —"

     "— are you al —"

     "— your uncle is ca —"

     "—kyu! wake —"

     "— blood? it's wh —"