“I think that’s a good idea.” Minju’s face crumples as she falls into her mother’s open arms. “We will have a more leisurely Hangawi next year. I promise.”
People shouldn’t make promises they can’t keep.
I told Ethan I’d see him in five minutes. That turned out to be a complete lie. No one knows what future awaits them. They don’t know what choices they will make when thrown into impossible situations. They don’t know who they are capable of becoming. No one knows that five minutes could become forever.
People shouldn’t make promises at all.
“I know you will do everything in your power to come home. And I will pray for your safe return with all my heart.” She leans back and cups Minju’s cheek. “You are an extraordinary person, daughter. Your intellect has always astounded me, but it is your big, courageous heart that will help save the worlds. I know it.”
Minju nods, biting her wobbling lip to hold her tears at bay. “I love you, Mother.”
“I love you too.” Mrs. Ha pulls her into a hard, fast hug and pushes her away. “Now go.”
Captain Seo and I bow to the older female, but she gives us a chiding look before hugging each of us in turn. “You girls take care of each other.”
“We will, Mrs. Ha.” The captain bows again, then follows Minju out of the restaurant. Mr. Ha waits outside with his hands clasped behind his back, facing the ocean across the street.
“I should join them ...” I trail off when Mrs. Ha looks at me with heartfelt concern.
“I see such pain and sorrow in your eyes.” She clutches my cold hands in her warm ones. “Whatever happened—and no matter what happens in the future—you cannot exist without living. You must live, child.”
I turn away from her kind face, my throat working to swallow. The warmth and wisdom of Mrs. Ha’s words remind me of my mother.
“If you can’t do it for yourself, then do it for your friends.” Sorrow tinges her soft laugh. “I’m asking for selfish reasons. My daughter believes in you. She needs you, Sunny.”
“But ...” I meet her gaze. “I’m so afraid.”
“That just means you are not a fool.” She gives my hands a squeeze and gently releases them. “I don’t know what role you are meant to play in all this, but remember you don’t need to be perfect. Just live to the fullest and strive to do better. That is all any of us can do. And that isenough.”
I stare wide eyed at Mrs. Ha, her words converging with my mother’s in my head.
No one is perfect, and you are no exception, daughter. But I love you, imperfections and all. I only ask that you always try to do better. Learn from your mistakes and grow. That is all any of us can do.
My eyelashes flutter as I suck in a heaving breath, and I can see clearly for the first time in days. Maybe for the first time in over a century.
Life isn’t black and white. No one is all good or all bad. We falter. We make mistakes. We disappoint ourselves and one another. Yet everyone has a choice—not to be perfect, but to choose to do better.
Goodness isn’t an immutable state of being. It’s about every choice we make, countless times in our lives. One good choice doesn’t make you a good person. And one bad choice doesn’t make you a bad person. Neither are we the sum of our choices.Because who the hell is keeping score anyway?The worst thing we can do is to give up—to stop caring—when we have the choice to do better.
“I can do better.” For Ethan. For Draco. For my friends. Most of all, I will do better for myself, because I am not a lost cause. I amnota monster. No matter what happened, I deserve a chance to do better. “Or I sure as hell will try.”
“Language, child.” Mrs. Ha scrunches her nose, exactly like her daughter, but her eyes sparkle with pride. “But that’s the spirit.”
“Thank you.” I bow low from my waist. My entire body tingles, like life is circulating through my veins, awakening from a forced slumber.
“Go, before I’m tempted to snatch my daughter.” The older female lightly nudges me toward the door. “Live, Sunny.”
I press my lips together and nod. Closing the restaurant door behind me, I exhale shakily and swipe my forearm across my eyes. Then I jog across the street and catch up with Captain Seo and Minju. Mr. Ha is already at the edge of the water. My friends must have lingered behind, waiting for me to join them.
“Hey.” I can’t quite meet their eyes, feeling ridiculously shy for some reason. “I, uh, I’m coming with you.”
“I know,” Minju chirps with a little hop. Next to her, the captain slumps ever so slightly, relief in the lines of her body.
“How could you possibly know that?” I grumble, nonplussed. “I literally decided like a minute ago.”
“I can see it on your face.” The historian smiles guilelessly.
“See what on my face?” I press my hands against my cheeks.
