Falling Blossoms

“If you want me to leave quickly, give me a child.”

There was no love in his eyes; only a cold demand masquerading as indifference.
Eunha lowered her gaze, her eyes hollow and unfocused.

“All right. I’ll try.”

She knew she could never bear a child again, but she gave him the answer he wanted anyway.
She had imagined their wedding countless times.
With every step forward, with every moment she drew closer to him, she had foolishly believed that it would mark the beginning of everything.

“Even if you hate this, smile. Do you want everyone to see how forced this marriage is?”

His devoid-of-warmth voice made the ending clear before it had even begun.

“You too, Taeyang. Try smiling a little.”

Flowers naturally fall.
Still, she had once wished that their love would not be the thing that ended it all.

“Congratulations on becoming my wife.”

At last, they became husband and wife.
Eunha smiled brighter than ever before.
Not out of sadness, but out of fragile, desperate joy.
A single lily-of-the-valley petal fell.

“Get out! We’re going to make a child.”

Eunha’s gaze shattered into pieces.
He got out of the car first, and she quietly watched his back.
She closed her eyes slowly, then opened them again.
She would never be able to have a child again.
Never.
Forcing a smile, she mirrored his.