67

“It’s this way.” Jyeon leads me along the corridor of the house's second floor, and I pretend I have no clue as to where I am going. It’s not high on my priority list of things to do ever again in my life, but it was the perfect escape route. So glad to have this excuse of seeing our old room while mother and Yoonha sit downstairs and let this past hour sink in. I thought mother would never let go of my hand and stop hugging me. It was weirding me out how emotionally overwrought she was, how affectionate.

I’m tense all over and emotionally drained as though they both sucked all my energy out. Yoonha was oddly pensive and quiet and sat by my side, holding my hand without saying a whole lot. Like he couldn’t formulate words other than I’m sorry, which I didn’t understand at all. Maybe guilt that he believed I was dead and stopped looking. I don’t know.

“There’s no point touring most of the house as mother