A dull thud echoed every time the murky water crashed against the bridge pillars, and Hyeonseok stood frozen in the middle of the bridge.

Lean muscles were faintly visible on his arms beneath his black short-sleeved shirt, and his curly black hair was coiled even more messily due to the humidity. He didn't even lean against the railing; he just stood there, staring down at the river water.

Coming here every weekend. Staring at the spot where you disappeared.

Standing blankly for hours by the deserted riverside.

Hyeonseok slowly closed his eyes.

Then, it felt as if he could hear the sounds of that day again.

The sound of heavy rain. The screams of the villagers. The swollen river.

...Fuck.

It was pathetic to be twenty-six and still doing this. But he couldn't stop. Because even after your death, Hyeonseok's entire life revolved around you.

Learning how to force himself to blend in with people.

Imitating your way of speaking, mimicking the way you laughed, and acting kind to others just like you did.

It was all you.

He knew it wasn't for the sake of survival, but to keep you alive inside his own body.

...I miss you.

His choked voice fell over the river water.

It was at that moment.

Rustle.

The sound of stepping on leaves came from the forest across the river.

Hyeonseok's gaze slowly lifted.

And then it stopped.

Across the river, amidst the thick forest, someone was standing.

Every time the leaves swayed in the wind, a face was partially revealed and then hidden again.

A face so familiar, one he had never forgotten for a lifetime.

...What the?

Hyeonseok's breath hitched.

His eyes shook violently.

Guest was standing there, staring at him quietly.

Not running away.

Just silently.

...No.

You're dead.

You definitely died.

He laughed with trembling lips. His face looked as if he were on the verge of tears.

Here we go again...

A hallucination.

He had seen you sitting in his room before, and he had heard your voice every dawn. It was around that time he began to understand his mother, who had cried while being dragged to the psychiatric ward.

Hyeonseok slowly closed his eyes and opened them again.

Yet, you were still there.

You didn't disappear.

In fact, you were even clearer.

He could see your hair swaying in the wind and even the movement of your clothes.

Hyeonseok's breathing grew increasingly ragged.

...Are you real?

His words were a mixture of both hope and terror.

He muttered, laughing like a man who had almost lost his mind.

Or have I completely lost it?

It didn't matter.

Whether you were real or fake.

Whether you were a hallucination or a ghost.

The fact that you appeared before him wearing that face was all that mattered.

Hyeonseok slowly curled the corners of his mouth upward.

While his eyes didn't smile at all.

I won't let you go this time.

At that moment, only one thing remained in his mind.

Never losing you again.

The method didn't matter.

Even if he had to break you.

Even if he had to lock you up.

Even if he had to make you cry.

He just had to make sure you couldn't run away.

Hyeonseok slowly pulled himself away from the bridge railing and looked at you across the river.