~~ • ~~

I had no idea how long I'd been asleep.

My body still felt heavy from several days of non-stop work. Through the haze of lingering sleep, a series of noises began to seep into my consciousness.

*Clang.

The sound of pots knocking together.

*Scrape.

The small table dragging across the floor.

*Ziiip.

A backpack zipper being yanked open.

This was followed by the thud of dropping books, the frantic rustling of pages, and the repetitive rattling of a drawer being yanked open and slammed shut.

I slowly opened my eyes.

The cramped room was a complete mess.

Yuna was pacing back and forth in a frantic hurry. She rifled through her bag, checked the shelves, and darted over to another corner.

Her movements were restless.

Her eyes were brimming with tears, and her breathing was slightly ragged.

"Yuna, what are you looking for?"

Yuna's head snapped toward me.

"A picture of my mom."

I slowly pushed myself up into a sitting position.

"Where did you put it last?"

"I can't remember. I usually keep it in my bag."

I dragged myself out of the futon and joined the search.

"Did you check everything in your bag? Between the pages of your books?"

"I did."

"But I still can't find it."

I opened her bag and went through it again, item by item. Textbooks, pencil case, summer homework sheets.

Nothing.

I checked the small shelf near the television, then rifled through the desk drawers.

Still nothing.

"Try to think," I said gently. "Could you have left it at school?"

"No way. I'm sure I didn't leave it there."

I paused for a second, wracking my brain.

"When did you first realize it was missing?"

"I don't know..." she muttered softly.

"I only just realized it now."

"When was the last time you saw it, then?"

Yuna fell silent for a few seconds.

"Last week."

She lifted her head slightly.

"I lent it to you back then, Papa, didn't I?"

I furrowed my brow, trying to recall.

Then, I gave a slow nod.

"Yeah. You're right."

The memory came rushing back. Yuna had shown me that small photograph—a picture of a young woman holding a much younger Yuna.

"Didn't I give it back to you right after?"

"I don't remember..."

Her voice dropped to a near whisper.

"That's why I'm looking for it now."

I went back to checking the bookshelf, digging through the pockets of the jackets hanging on the wall, and even rifling through the pockets of my unwashed pants.

Still nothing.

The cramped room was growing messier by the second, but the photograph was nowhere to be found.

I let out a soft sigh and sat back down on the floor.

"Yuna."

She was still standing, her eyes desperately sweeping the room as if the photo might miraculously materialize out of thin air.

"Sit down for a second."

"But, Papa... my mom's picture..."

"Sit."

I said it with a much firmer tone this time.

Yuna froze.

Slowly, she walked over and sat on the floor in front of me.

Her hands gripped the hem of her shirt tightly.

She hung her head.

Her short hair fell forward, obscuring most of her face, but I could still see a few stray tears dropping onto the backs of her hands.

The room suddenly plunged into silence.

Only the rhythmic whir of the old fan oscillating in the corner filled the heavy quiet between us.

_

"We've looked everywhere, and it's nowhere to be found."

I looked at Yuna, whose head was still hung low.

"It's just a photo."

Her head snapped up.

"What?"

Her tear-filled eyes went wide.

"Did you say... just a photo?"

I let out a soft sigh.

"Yeah, it really is just a photo. But I know it's important to you because of the memories attached to it."

"If you know it's important, why did you say it's 'just a photo'?"

Her voice trembled.

Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Even if it's just a memory... once it's gone, what else are we supposed to do?"

"Mom..."

The word slipped out softly, little more than a whisper.

I closed my eyes for a second.

"Let it go, Yuna. Your mother is still alive. You can still go see her."

Yuna looked up at me.

"But, Papa... Mom is really busy. I don't want to bother her."

I furrowed my brow.

"You don't want to bother her?"

Without thinking, the words simply spilled from my mouth.

"Or are you just scared she'll yell at you?"

Yuna's expression shifted.

"I-I never said that..."

She clenched her fists.

"Mom isn't a bad person! She's always cared about me."

I fell silent for a moment, but for some reason, my mind was still a mess. Maybe it was because I had just woken up. Maybe I just wasn't thinking straight yet.

"If your mother really cares so much, why did you end up living here with me?" I asked.

"Why aren't you just living with her?"

Yuna shot to her feet.

"I told you, Mom isn't a bad person!"

Her voice rose.

Her small frame trembled.

The tears fell even harder now.

"I'm the one who chose to live here!"

I froze.

It was only then that I realized my words had crossed a line.

I averted my gaze, reached into my pocket, and pulled out a cigarette.

I flicked the lighter.

I took a slow drag.

A thin trail of smoke slipped past my lips, hanging in the stifling air of the cramped apartment.

Slowly, my mind began to settle.

My thoughts started to clear.

"I was the one who asked her," Yuna continued, her voice dropping softer.

"I was the one who wanted to live with you, Papa."

She lowered her head again.

"I didn't want to be a bother to Mom."

Her voice was barely audible.

"And when I met you... I chose you."

She took a short breath.

"Because I know... I was always just causing trouble for Mom."

My chest tightened at her words.

"Yuna."

"Sit down."

I stood up, grabbed a glass of water, and walked back over to her.

"Sit."

My voice was flat this time, but firm.

Slowly, Yuna sat back down.

"Drink."

She took the glass with both hands.

She took a slow sip.

After setting the glass down on the table, she hung her head once more.

"Mom isn't a bad person..."

Her voice trembled again.

"She never forgot to make me breakfast."

She drew a short breath.

"She always woke me up early in the morning."

More tears spilled from her eyes.

"She never forgot about me."

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

"I'm telling you... Mom isn't a bad person."

I gave a slow nod.

"Yeah."

Suddenly, Yuna shuffled closer on her knees.

She buried herself into my lap, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist, her face hidden.

"Mom isn't a bad person..."

She broke down sobbing once more.

"Yeah."

I slowly raised my hand and stroked her short hair.

Gently.

Slowly.

Without saying another word.

A few minutes passed.

Her crying began to subside, though she remained clinging to me in the exact same position.

"Yuna..."

"Mm?"

Her voice was still hoarse.

"I'll figure something out."

She lifted her face slightly.

"You're going to see your mother."

Her eyes went wide.

"When?"

Then, she quickly shook her head.

"Is that even possible? I don't want to bother Mom..."

"I told you."

I looked her in the eyes.

"I'll figure something out."

I took a slow breath.

"Today, or maybe tomorrow. By the end of the week at the latest."

I held out my pinky.

"I promise."

Yuna stared at me for a few seconds.

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Slowly, her gloomy expression began to melt away.

The corners of her mouth curled up just a little.

She rested her head back against my lap.

This time, her embrace felt lighter.

Calmer.

___.