﹐ ☓ ᴛɪᴛʟᴇ. ᴡʀᴏɴɢ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ
﹐ ☓ ᴛʀɪɢɢᴇʀ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ. ꜱᴀᴅɴᴇꜱꜱ, ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʙʀᴇᴀᴋ
﹐ ☓ ꜱᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ. ᴍᴀʏ 16'
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The time was 12:35 AM, but to him, it felt like anything but that. Time seemed to be moving faster than usual. Normally, when he had something exciting coming up, time would slow down, dragging on. But now, it felt like time was rushing, urging him to finish everything before he had to leave.

Leave? Where was he going? Why was he going? These were the questions swirling in his mind, especially since his parents had surprisingly allowed him to go. He had expected them to be stricter, to make him plead or beg. He could hardly believe they agreed—letting their 14-year-old son travel to South Korea all on his own.

Maybe they weren't worried because he was going with someone they trusted, someone he trusted too—his birth mother. But that didn't make him feel any better about it.

Perhaps he was overthinking it, or maybe not. He had spent days packing for this trip, yet it still felt like something was missing, something important. He had checked his list over and over again, and everything seemed to be there. So what could it be?

He realized what it was. What he would miss most wasn't in his suitcase—it was time with his family. He had been so wrapped up in preparations that he had barely spent any time with them. Maybe that's why time was speeding by now, as if to rob him of those final moments with them.

He sighed as the rain began to pour outside. It felt like the weather was mocking him. A faint knock echoed through the room, but he didn't hear it at first, lost in thought as he stared at the ceiling. The second knock came louder, pulling him from his reverie. The floorboards creaked as he crossed the room, opening the door just a crack to see who was disturbing him this late.

A small smile tugged at his lips as he looked down at the tiny figure standing there. She was dressed in Star Wars pajamas, clutching a stuffed turtle, her big doe eyes peering up at him. He couldn't help but smile at her cuteness as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

He wondered why she was awake. Maybe a nightmare? Or just feeling lonely? He knelt down to her height. "Hey, what are you doing up?" he asked softly. The little girl immediately wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. He sighed, hugging her back. "Did you have a nightmare?" he asked again, but she shook her head no.

Confused, he looked down at her. "Then let's get you back to bed, okay?" She shook her head once more, clearly wanting something else.

"I want to sleep here," she mumbled, burying her face into the crook of his neck. He sighed, nodding as he took her small hand in his.

She sat quietly in the middle of the bed, waiting patiently for him to return. When he re-entered the room, she smiled at the nightlight in his hands. It was always the same whenever she stayed in his room—her nightlight had to come along, too. He settled beside her, pulling the covers up over her tiny frame and tucking her in securely. Just as he was about to sit back, her small voice called out.

"Are we going somewhere?" she asked, pointing to the suitcases lined up against the wall. He sighed. Sometimes she was too smart for her age. Only seven, yet she already understood that suitcases meant a trip. But this time, she wouldn't be going with him.

"Not us. Just me," he replied softly, watching as confusion clouded her face. He wondered how to explain it, how to tell her without upsetting her, without causing tears. That was the last thing he wanted.

"I'm not going with you?" she asked, her eyes welling up at the thought. He shook his head as the first tears trickled down her cheeks. He quickly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his lap. "Don't cry. I won't be gone long," he said, trying to comfort her, even though he wasn't sure how true that was. In reality, he didn't know how long he would be away or when he'd see his family again. But he didn't want her to worry about that.

He gently wiped her tears as she calmed down. "I don't want you to go," she whispered, her lips quivering. He sighed, rubbing her back in soothing circles. "I know. But I won't be gone long. I'll be right back," he reassured her, though deep down, he knew it wasn't true.

"Do you promise?" she asked, holding out her pinkie. He linked his pinkie with hers, offering a soft smile. "I promise," he said, even though the words weighed heavily on him.

He hated lying to her, the one person who least deserved it. With a deep sigh, he pulled the covers up over her sleeping form. She drifted off peacefully, though the room felt loud with his own restless thoughts. One thought, in particular, wouldn't leave him alone: Why had he lied to her? Why did she believe it? Was it wrong for him to leave his family to chase his dream? Had he made the wrong choice?

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