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“What are you doing?” Jihoon whispered in her ear.

“Nothing,” Miyoung replied, releasing him so he could walk around the bench. “Talking to the sun.”

“What does it say?” He sat and swung an arm around her shoulders.

“Nothing much. Just hello.”

“Not very talkative, huh?”

“It doesn’t need to be,” Miyoung said. “The sun and I have a good relationship.” She set her head against his shoulder. Her own personal sun, plucked out of the sky.

“You finally got to come to the Han River. Is it everything you thought it would be?” he asked. “Full of magic and unicorns?”

Miyoung snorted out a laugh. “Unicorns don’t exist.”

“I’ve learned never to discount the existence of anything.” Jihoon winked. “And you didn’t answer my question.”

Miyoung grinned as she glanced toward their friends. Somin was yelling curses as Junu chased her on the bike.

“It’s definitely nothing like I imagined,” she mused.

“And?”

“It’s perfect.” She smiled as the sound of laughter lifted in the air around her.

She linked her hand with Jihoon’s.

She didn’t know how long she had in this world. A hundred days, a hundred months, or a hundred years.

In this moment, as she watched her friends and held on to Jihoon, she was happy. And she would keep finding her happiness in each moment, until she had no more moments to spend.

EPILOGUE

THE FOREST WASdark despite the full moon. The branches now held so much foliage that it created a barrier between the earth and sky. The moonlight no longer hurt her, but still, Miyoung was grateful for the protection.

She’d avoided the woods after losing her mother. But she’d missed her safe haven. The memories this place held were both comfort and pain. And now, as she picked her way over twisting roots and through reaching branches, she breathed in deeply. The scent of dirt and wood calmed her nerves.

She loosened her grip on the flowers she carried. She didn’t want to break their delicate stems. Was it useless to bring such a token? Yena had hated flowers; she said they made a mess when they died. But her mother couldn’t voice her disapproval of such a gift. Not anymore.

Miyoung swiped at her eyes, stinging with tears.

As she approached the maehwa tree that commemorated her mother, she blinked, wondering if her tear-filled vision was playing tricks on her.

She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again. But it was still there. A darkXburned into the tree, still smoking from the ugly brand.

“Miyoung-ah.”

She whipped around at the whisper. It had sounded so close, like someone spoke into her ear.

The forest behind her was empty. The shadows of tree branches twisting ominously.

“You are not free.”

She spun toward the maehwa tree and stepped back in surprise. The branches reached out, like sharp wooden hands. Grasping at her. She tried to run, but her feet sank into the ground. Roots rose to twist around her legs. Squeezing so hard they cut off her circulation.

The branches took her into their cruel embrace. They bit into her arms. Rough bark rubbing at her skin.

It’s a dream,Miyoung told herself.This isn’t real. You have to wake up.