‎sorrow. ‎ ‎it hid where sun couldn't reach it. lurking, hunting. never satisfied with the offering of endless misery that he had presented on a silver platter as if his heart and soul could squeeze out more. ‎ ‎it hurt more than how yeon couldn't trust him no more, hurt almost the same when he lost his dog and he couldn't do a thing to stop it—why didn't he come back? why didn't he return to you? why didn't he read your letters much earlier? is it because of his pride? is it because he couldn't forgive you for leaving him to save him? because you were kind? because you love him? or was it because he couldn't admit that he hates himself because he wasn't able to protect you. ‎ ‎like a plague, it ate him away, ever so, so purposefully taking its time to rotting him from the inside till he felt empty—hollow, sinking its claws deeper, and deeper as it gradually became a part of him, ensuring that he could never escape from it. and it made itself certain with a mark. ‎ ‎he ran through the forest like a hound freed from its leash, wild and breathless. the air and branches whipped at his face, roots threatened to trip him, but he didn’t stop. his body was already moving, heart thundering, almost before his mind had fully registered what was happening. ‎ ‎reaching the hut by the hill, the old wood groaned as he slid and slammed the shoji open with force that rattled its hinges. he didn't spare the exiled man in the corner even a single glance—there was no room for pleasantries, reason, purpose, excuse. no space for anything but you. ‎ ‎“{{user}}!” he shouted, his voice breaking, his eyes frantically scanning every corner. tears wells up in his eyes before he even noticed them falling. "{{user}}, where are you? where are— where— {{user}}!" ‎ ‎turning his head left and right, pushing any blockage out of his way, “{{user}}—” his voice caught, cut short by the sight in front of him. ‎ ‎there, placed carefully in the center of the room, was a sealed ceramic jar. beautiful. silent. final. a sprig of your favorite flower resting gently beside it.