Two Negatives Make a Positive.✅️ KTH

1.It's Only You.

"WATCH OUT!"

Her parents' faces—lifeless, smeared with blood—staring into nothingness.

* * * * *

Sri jolted upright, her chest heaving as cold sweat clung to her skin. The haunting echoes of the crash still rang in her ears, a phantom sound from the nightmare that had just yanked her out of sleep. The quiet ticking of the clock on her bedside table was the only noise that filled the room, apart from her own labored breathing. She glanced at it—it was 6 a.m.

"Another nightmare..." she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. She wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead with a shaky hand, her heart still pounding.

It had been ten years since that horrific day, but the memories were as vivid as ever. Sri was only ten when the accident happened, an age too tender to endure such trauma. Even now, at 20, the weight of that day clung to her like a shadow she couldn't shake. How many nights had she woken up like this, gasping for air, her heart aching with regret?

If only I could go back in time, she thought bitterly. If only I had stopped them from fighting...

Her fingers brushed against her soft cheeks, now damp with tears she hadn't even realized she was shedding. An involuntary sob escaped her lips, and she hugged herself tightly, as if trying to hold the broken pieces of her heart together. The room felt colder than it should have, or maybe it was just her shivering body, wracked with the weight of loneliness.

She stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, lost in her grief. No one was there to comfort her, to wrap her in a warm embrace and whisper, "It's okay." No one was there to promise her that the future would be brighter. She was alone.

But she had learned to survive. Over the years, she had become her own source of strength. She had taught herself to cope with the harsh realities of life, to find solace in her own company. She had learned to whisper promises of a better tomorrow to herself, even when the world seemed unbearably dark.

After a while, she took a deep breath and wiped her tears, composing herself. She couldn't afford to fall apart—not today.

It was her first day at work.

Sri stood and moved to the small mirror in her room. She chose a light green outfit, the soft hue complementing her serene beauty. As she brushed her hair, she decided on a simple messy bun, letting a few strands fall loose to frame her face naturally. Makeup had never been her thing, and today was no exception. She liked herself as she was, unadorned and authentic.

Before leaving, she knelt in front of a small altar she had set up in her room. It was adorned with pictures of her late parents, smiling faces that now existed only in her memories. She lit a small incense stick, closed her eyes, and whispered a prayer.

"I'll make you proud," she murmured, her voice steady but soft.

With that, she picked up her bag, straightened her shoulders, and stepped out of the house. The cool morning air greeted her, carrying with it the promise of a new beginning.

---...-...-...---

The city of Daegu buzzed with a liveliness that felt more chaotic than usual. The streets were jammed with traffic, and the sidewalks teemed with people, their chatter and footsteps blending into a symphony of city life. Perhaps it was the rush of a busy Monday morning, or maybe it was the rare warmth of the sun drawing people out to bask in its glow.