In a Split Second || BTS

Epilogue

The sunset is bright, warming my dark head of hair as I walk down a series of newly-paved roads, waving to everyone I see.

"Hello!" Aurora calls out from across the street. A bag of groceries rests on one arm, and the other limb holds the hand of her four-year-old son. Her caramel hair is pulled back into a tight bun, mirroring my style, and her husband offers me a friendly smile from beside her. "How was work?"

"Perfect!" I reply, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "The studio gained a few new members today – two sisters that traveled all the way from Dorchester and a boy from the west side of our town."

Aurora shakes her head proudly. "I'm so happy that your dance studio is gaining recognition." Her son tugs on her hand and whines quietly, demanding the woman's attention. "I would stay and chat for longer, but we have to hurry home – Asher is hungry."

"That's all right – Mi-Kyung is waiting for me anyways."

With a parting wave, we separate, and I continue down the street. My pristine white home enters my view as I round the corner, and my practical flats echo against the sidewalk that has been recently stained with fresh chalk drawings. It seems Mi-Kyung has been busy in my absence. I smile and tuck a strand of dark hair behind my ear before unlocking the door and letting myself in.

"Hello?" I say, knocking on the wall. The living room is lit up with lamps and laughter that ceases abruptly. Then, heavy and unstable footsteps pound against the creaky flooring, and a bundle of blue fabric comes waddling into the room.

"Mommy!" the toddler shouts jovially, falling flat on her face when she tries to take another step forward.

"Oh, sweetie!" I chuckle, quick to swoop her up into my arms. Unaffected by the fall, she grins up at me and coos when I rub my nose against hers. Her black pigtails are messy from a day of activity, and her lips are rimmed with some sort of red fruit – likely her favorite: strawberries. "It looks like someone had fun today. Did you miss your mommy?"

"Yes!" she yells right in my ear as she throws her arms around my neck.

Mrs. Bryant emerges from around the corner, as lively as ever even though she is edging into her mid-eighties. "Good evening, Cherisse, my dear. The little tyke was delightful, as always."

I begin to bounce Mi-Kyung in my arms as she becomes restless. "Did you give her medicine?"

"Medicine? Bleh!" the child states, her tone full of conviction.

"I did," Mrs. Bryant assures me, chuckling in amusement.

"Mrs. Bryant..." Mi-Kyung's voice trails off, and her full lower lip pouts as she realizes she has been betrayed. Mrs. Bryant must have snuck the medicine into her food somehow.

"You have a cold, Mi-Kyung," I remind her, "and you have to take medicine until you are better."

She wrinkles her nose in distaste. "No! No more medicine!" She wiggles in my arms until I let her down, and then waddles around the house to release her newfound energy.

The door clicks again as the home welcomes a new visitor. A familiar, deep voice calls out, "I'm home!" and Min-Kyung stops in her tracks, nearly falling on her bottom.

"Daddy!" she hollers, collapsing into the man's arms as he crouches down beside her, smiling brightly.

"How is my little flower, hmm?" he asks in Korean, bopping her nose with his forefinger.

"Bad!" she exclaims, shaking her head woefully. The little girl has grown up in a multilingual household just as I did, speaking both Korean and English easily. "Mum made me take medicine."