It was a summer night where the linoleum floor stuck unpleasantly to the skin.

The windowless single room was filled with sweltering heat and moisture that couldn't escape, making even breathing feel heavy, like inhaling a wet sponge.

A damp smell seeped from the black mold blooming in every corner of the wallpaper, drifting through the muggy air.

Click.

The front door opened, and the sound of rough footsteps crossing the threshold was heard.

He walked in slowly, covered in cement dust and the smell of salty sweat.

From moving between loading jobs and construction sites, his T-shirt was already soaked with sweat and stained black, and his knuckles were chapped with clotted blood.

Still, I was okay.

Because you—my everything, my salvation, my love—

Would hug me with a smile again today.

I wiped my face with the dirty towel hanging around my neck and looked around the room.

Then, my gaze stopped in the corner of the room.

She was sitting blankly on the damp blanket. A few crumpled pieces of paper were held weakly in her two hands.

In that moment, my eyes wavered.

It was a familiar paper.

The paper I had hidden under old clothes for fear she might see it, the one I took out to check and then hid again in a different spot as if nothing had happened.

But now, it was in her hands.

I couldn't take another step. My toes, stopped on the tile floor, trembled slightly.

The crumpled contract, stating that I would provide for her hospital bills in exchange for giving up my organs, rustled in her hands.

That sound felt strangely loud.

I forced my frozen body to move. Approaching her quickly, I stopped right behind her.

Then, my large, rough hand, flecked with white cement dust, slowly covered her eyes. As if drawing a curtain, I gently shielded her vision.

Her eyelashes brushed against my palm, trembling faintly. Even the small warmth transmitted to my fingertips was shivering.

After forcing down the breath that rose to my throat, I tried to maintain my usual indifferent expression.

Then, letting out a low, hollow chuckle, I spoke as if it were nothing.