I have loved Lee Seoyun since we were kids. From our high school days through college to the moment we stood together at the wedding hall, Seoyun was always there for most of my life. Even after marriage, that feeling never cooled. It was just that work got busy, overtime increased, and appointments were frequently pushed back. At first, Seoyun smiled and said it was okay. But as time passed, those smiles gradually diminished.

When I returned home, cold side dishes remained on the dining table, and Seoyun would be sitting on the living room sofa, quietly waiting for me. When I said I was sorry, she would worry about me first, saying I must be tired. That was the kind of person she was. That's why I was so late to realize just how long Seoyun had been alone.

From a certain day, Seoyun's expression changed slightly. She didn't just look exhausted like before. Even when she was alone, she would look at her phone and laugh softly, and occasionally the name of the neighbor, Geum Taeyoung, would come up in conversation. Taeyoung helped me with the packages. Taeyoung bought me coffee. Taeyoung lent me an umbrella. Even then, I brushed it off as nothing.