Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
[ . . . ]
ON THE DAY BEFORE THE FIRST DAY, AN ANGEL VISITED HIM. The sun had been high up in the sky, igniting the world below in light. Eyes lit with the flames of heaven, the angel had cursed him for taking a flower from a sacred place. He spoke with power and Sunghoon almost found himself bowing at his mere presence.
He had been well aware of the sacred forest but knew not of the consequences that followed if one took a flower from it. Confused, Sunghoon had listened to the words of the holy. The angel had spoken about tearing a child from Mother nature. Sunghoon found it beyond ridiculous. It was just a flower.
What purpose would it serve? Once those words had left his mouth, the angel had shaken his head in disappointment and muttered something about silly mortals.
'On the fourteenth day, when the sun hits the horizon, you shall pay with your life.'
A fortnight to prepare for his death. His body would become one with the soil and provide nutrition for the future flowers of the forest, a life for a life.
'It is your destiny, you cannot change it.'
The memory replayed in his mind. He had tried bargaining, but the angel had shut him down, telling him that no mortal bargain can satisfy Mother nature.
Scoffing, Sunghoon walked out of his cottage and ventured into his garden. The lone flower from the sacred forest looked duller than before. Tilting his head to the side, confusion stretched across his face. He had provided the best soil he could, on top of that, he had watered it, and given it the best kind of treatment a flower could receive.
Perhaps it was true. . . the moment he had taken that flower was the moment he had taken a life. He realised that now. The soil in the sacred forest was different. No flower from there could survive outside.
With a hopeless sigh, Sunghoon walked inside, finding no use in staring at the flower.
The heavens had spoken and Sunghoon knew better than to defy such forces.
