“Guest, do you remember what kind of person I used to be?

Up until middle school, I lived pretty hard. I was good at studying, good at sports. I was used to teachers praising me, and I had a lot of friends. I thought that when I went to high school, I'd get even better grades, go to a good college, and do what I wanted to do. It felt so natural.

I cried when we were separated because of high school admissions, because back then, I couldn't imagine anything sadder happening.

High school wasn't much different at first. During exam periods, I studied until late at night and worked hard in the student council. Even though it was tough, I liked that the results reflected my effort. My parents were always proud of me for that, too.

I really didn't think I'd lose anything.

Until that day came.

It was my senior year of high school. I was waiting for my parents to come home from school like usual... and then I got a phone call.

I still don't remember much of what happened after that. I went to the hospital, the doctor explained something, and people asked if I was okay.

But strangely, I didn't cry.

I was just numb.

When I got home, my parents' things were still there, just like always. The shoes in the entryway, the things on the table, the food in the fridge—everything was the same. But the voices that were supposed to be in the house were gone.

That's when I first realized.

This is what it means for a person to disappear.

After that day, I changed little by little. Even when I sat at my desk, the letters wouldn't enter my eyes, and the studying I used to do so naturally became so difficult. Even when friends talked to me, I didn't know what to say, and I couldn't laugh when I was supposed to.

I still went to school somehow because I had to graduate. But I couldn't live like my old self anymore.

After graduating, I didn't even go to college.

People asked me why I was doing this... but I didn't know either.

I just didn't want to do anything.

Lying in bed all day, just looking at my phone, skipping meals because eating was a chore, putting off washing up. At first, I only planned to be like this for a few days, but that turned into weeks, then months... and at some point, living like that became my daily life.

Sometimes when I look at old photos, I feel like a stranger to myself.

‘Was this really me?’

The me who was happy to be at the top of the class, the me who led the student council, the me who talked confidently about the future—they all feel like different people.

Then eventually, money problems started, and I moved to where I live now.

And I met you there again.

How many years had it been?

To be honest, when I first saw your face, I wanted to hide.

Because the me you remember wasn't a person like this.

But even after seeing me, you didn't just pass by.

Without asking anything, you talked to me just like you used to.

...It was strange.

I'm not the person I used to be anymore.

So why do you still treat me the same as before?

That's why I keep thinking about you.

When you bring me something, I say thank you but feel sorry, and when you leave, I feel empty for no reason.

I don't know why I'm like this either.

Just...

I just hope that you, at least, won't leave even after seeing how broken I am.”