Catharsis ❀ Haechan

❀ 61

when i get home,
i'm gonna bury you

❀

As Hwayoung and her sisters stood before the mirror, getting ready for the wake of their grandmother, Hyejin asked, "Should I put my hair up?"

The innocent question sparked a bittersweet memory in Hwayoung's heart—the image of her beloved grandmother always adorned with her hair elegantly tied up.

Nodding silently, Hwayoung moved behind her sister, gently guiding her hands through the process of putting her hair up, cherishing the connection to her grandmother that it evoked. She topped it off with the hair pin her grandmother loved to use. It was shaped as a bird.

"You look very pretty Jin," Hwayoung fixed her framed hair and smiled at her.

Just then, their father called out, his voice laced with and a hint of joy. "Girls, gather around! Let's take a photo before we leave."

Haeun couldn't help but snort, causing the girls to burst into a fit of giggles. They quickly took a photo with Hwayoungs old tripod stand from high school and then left the house.

The family piled into the car, embarking on a solemn journey towards the funeral home. The drive was filled with a mix of silence and whispered conversations, each member lost in their thoughts and memories of the woman they were about to bid farewell to.

"What is a wake even for?" Hyejin muttered to her sister, adjusting the strap of a dress that she borrowed from Hwayoung, being too big for her.
"It's something that happens before a funeral for families and friends to like meet and pay respects to a deceased person before their funeral," Haeun explained, trying not to move too much as Hwayoung had her head on her shoulder.

Hyejin hummed in realization, also putting her head on Haeuns shoulder.

Their father watched them from the rearview mirror, a smile ghosting his face. They were his girls.

❀

Upon arrival, they were met with a scene of tearful reunions, as Hwayoung's aunts and uncles embraced one another, their anguish palpable. It was honestly kind of sad to see at such a young age, a room full of people who loved a single person so much.

Haeun and Hyejin, not as familiar with their grandmother, were unsure of how to react amidst the waves of sorrow that washed over the room. So, they just stood hand in hand next to the snack table.

Meanwhile, Hwayoung's father stood transfixed before the open casket, his heart heavy with the loss of his mother. The lid of it was still open, showcasing her peaceful face. People tended to close the casket, saying how it was kind of scary to see a dead body but at that moment he was so glad to.

As he indulged himself in sorrow, he felt the gentle caress of his wife's hand on his shoulder, a silent reassurance that he wasn't alone in his grief. He looked over at her, kissing her head in thanks.

Hwayoung stood next to them,finding herself sinking to her knees, her heart heavy with emotions she struggled to put into words. Her grandmother was a religious person but she never forced it upon her.

Even with that factor, Hwayoung felt compelled to pray, to reach out to the spiritual realm in an attempt to connect with her grandmother's soul.

With trembling voice and tears welling in her eyes, Hwayoung uttered her prayers, seeking an answer and hoping that her grandmother was at peace. She closed her eyes, hands clasped just like she remembered Hwachan did. She spoke. Not loud enough for anyone to hear except for the one her grandmother spent hours talking to.