Winter's breath swept through the streets, carrying with it a chill that seemed to reach deep into my bones. The world outside was cold and gray, but beneath the surface, something was stirring—a quiet promise of change.
Areum and I were closer now, bound by shared silences and tentative smiles, but the path ahead wasn't without its shadows.
At school, whispers persisted. Not everyone understood our quiet friendship, and rumors began to swirl like the winter wind. Some called her strange. Some said I was weird for standing by her.
It hurt, more than I wanted to admit.
One afternoon, as I walked home through the frosty air, Mum called me from the porch.
"Haejin, your father wants to speak with you," she said gently.
Inside, Dad sat by the small heater, his cough softer but still there. His eyes held a tired kindness.
"I know things haven't been easy lately," he said, his voice steady but fragile. "But I'm proud of you. For standing up, for caring."
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"We're all changing, son," he continued. "Like the seasons. Sometimes it's cold and hard. But spring always comes."
That night, I sat by the window, watching the snow fall silently.
I thought of Areum, her quiet strength, and of my family—our struggles, hopes, and dreams.
The winds of change were blowing, and I was ready to face them