Namjoon: 17 December Year 21

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I Must Survive
Part 7

I understood why Dad wanted to try and walk by himself. It was an attempt to keep his pride and dignity as the man of the house. He wanted to be able to at least walk independently. But we couldn't afford such luxuries in the face of poverty.

Dignity, pride, a sense of justice...it all just led to a greater burden with more money spent.

I took a deep breath and opened my eyes again. Taehyung stared at me.

I handed him the key. I was going to go see my father.

---

When we got back from the hospital, we took the bus. The sun had already set. The large snowflakes had gathered together, creating snowdrifts.

The bus crawled along. The ride to the hospital and back home was twice as long due to the snowfall. I had to carry Dad home on my back. No one was there to hold an umbrella over us, so my hair was sopping wet and my hands were numb as I held Dad up.

We rested under a zelkova tree past the road on the embankment. I caught my breath and looked out at the town resting peacefully below us. With snow blanketed over the houses and streets, the town appeared tranquil.

Yellow light shone from within warm houses. The smell of steamed rice and stew shapened my appetite.

When we entered the alley after crossing the bridge, dogs started barking. Although we'd been living in the village for a few months now, the dogs still barked at me as if I were a stranger.

Mom sprang up to her feet when I stumbled through the front door.

"He needs outpatient treatment for at least three more days," I told her.

I put Dad to bed and went outside. The snow wasn't going to let up any time soon.

The dogs were still barking.

"Why do you hate me so much? Let me at least know why!" I yelled out to the dogs.

I heard about Taehyung's accident the next day.

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