Goodbye, My Dearest

Bound by an unseen connection, my soul trailed Susan back to our home.

The room was brightly lit. Yuna hid beneath the covers until she heard Susan's voice, then she threw back the quilt and burrowed into Susan's embrace.

"Mom, I had a nightmare again. I'm so scared."

Her eyes were red. The tears on her face were like scattered pearls falling on Susan's arms.

Even in her tears, Yuna appeared so beautiful and pitifully lovely.

No wonder she was so adored.

Susan held her tightly. "Don't be afraid. I'm back. Everything is over. Those bad guys will be caught soon."

"Where's Vivian? I haven't seen her in a few days."

Her voice was soft, and her evasive eyes were full of feigned concern.

She was like a little lamb that cared about her family.

However, this seemingly harmless lamb showed no mercy when wielding a knife.

Yet, she had never killed anyone, though none of the more than thirty stabbings were fatal.

At the mention of me, Susan shifted from feeling heartache for Yuna to anger. "Don't mention her. She'd better die outside."

Yuna concealed her guilty and evasive demeanor, a smug smile emerging on her face when she was hidden in Susan's arms.

The first time I saw her smile like this was six years ago, on my sixteenth birthday.

My dad, Jack, was on a police call that day, and Susan went to attend Yuna's speech contest.

I waited with the cake until the next morning. But Susan still didn't come back.

When they finally returned, I learned that Yuna had performed well in the competition, so Susan took her out to celebrate.

They played till late, so they just stayed in the hotel.

I was angry, but Susan was even angrier.

"I forgot, so what can I do? Yuna is your sister. Why do you have to argue with her so much?

"You're already so old. What's the big deal about missing a birthday? Don't be so selfish."

I cried then, too, and in my sorrow, I threw the cake into the trash can.

Because I felt sad, I went to a nearby bar with my friends to drink that night.

"She doesn't like me? Okay, then I will do everything she doesn't like."

That day, I acted willfully on purpose, but the price was so high that it would take me a lifetime to atone for it.

As I was halfway through my drinks, Jack arrived.

He didn't scold me but held my hand tightly with his warm hand. "Let me see who this is. You even learned to drink?

"I'll take you to celebrate your birthday."

We sat at a street stall under the flickering candlelight, and Jack smiled so warmly and kindly. "Happy birthday to our little princess. May you live a long life.

"Vivian, I hope you can realize your dream in the future and become a policewoman surpassing me.

"I also hope that we can work together to fight crime and contribute to purifying our society."

Unfortunately, his wish did not come to fruition, and he didn't even have time to blow out the candle.

A vehicle suddenly approached us, knocking us down.

A dozen men in black advanced with sticks.

Jack tried desperately to protect me, but in the end, he was beaten to the ground.

I lost consciousness. When I awoke, I was in the hospital, surrounded by police officers.

Jack was nowhere to be found; he was missing.

When he was finally located, he was headless. His body was full of scars.

The murderer remained missing.

At that time, Susan's eyes were bloodshot. She pressed Jack's photo against her chest, screaming in despair, "It's all your fault. Why did you run away?

"Why are you so selfish? Your father lost his life because of your birthday.

"Why wasn't it you who died?"

I knelt on the floor, tears cascading onto the floor.

At that moment, I thought I should die.

I didn't attend Jack's funeral.

Susan wouldn't allow it.

"Get out. You only make me feel sick here."

Back then, Yuna wore the same expression she did now when she looked at me.

She was proudly satisfied.