"...What did you say?" She turned back to look at Aunt Li. "My dad... he's back?"
"Yes," Aunt Li lowered her voice. "I saw him go upstairs. He looked awful."
Her expression was a wry smile, a look of neighborly concern that was equal parts genuine and gossipy.
The gift box in Jin Heon's hand suddenly felt heavy.
"Got it," she said, trying her best to sound as normal as possible. "Thank you, Aunt Li."
"Be safe," Aunt Li cautioned before she left.
Without looking back, Jin Heon walked straight toward the entrance of the apartment building.
It was a red-brick apartment building from the 70s. The gaps between the exterior bricks were filled with dried moss and grime, the fire escape had rusted to a dark brown, and it seemed one of the lights in the hallway had been broken for as long as Jin Heon could remember.
There were 48 steps from the first floor to the third. She'd counted them in elementary school, and then again in middle school.
