A quiet night, broken only by the hooting of an owl.
Jukig slept on the floor near the kitchen.
Light footsteps glided across the cold earthen ground.
A figure passed by him.
The door creaked softly as it opened, moonlight slipping through the narrow crack.
Its pale glare made Jukig shift and turn away—his sleep unbroken.
***
Gentle sunlight slipped into Harlyn’s room like a warm hand, softly waking her.
She slowly opened her eyes, then sat up in bed.
“Haah…~”
A small, sleepy yawn escaped her.
After a satisfying stretch, Harlyn climbed out of bed and padded out of the room.
In the living room, Jukig was snoring in a twisted position.
The blanket had been kicked aside, and the pillow that should have been beneath his head was instead trapped under his arm, nearly being strangled by it.
Harlyn let out a quiet chuckle and headed toward her mother’s room.
She gently—carefully—opened the door.
“Mom, it’s morning—”
Her voice cut off.
The bed was empty.
The wool blanket lay askew, the pillow untouched—bearing no trace of a head.
Her mother was gone.
No… it can’t be…
Harlyn rushed to the bedside.
She threw the blanket aside, flipped the pillow over.
Empty.
What…?
Her breathing grew rapid.
She spun around and ran back into the living room.
“Jukig, Uncle!”
At her frantic cries, Jukig jolted awake.
He pushed himself up, rubbing his eyes.
“What’s wrong, Harlyn?” he asked groggily.
“Mom—Mom’s gone!” she cried, her voice shaking.
“Huh? What did you say?!”
“Help me find her, Uncle!”
Seeing the fear on Harlyn’s face, Jukig immediately sprang to his feet.
***
They ransacked the house, their voices echoing through every corner.
“Meryl!?”
…
“Mom?!”
…
***
Jukig searched the bathroom, then under Meryl’s bed.
Harlyn checked the kitchen cabinets, then crawled beneath the dining table.
In the chaos—
Jukig collided with Harlyn, sending them both stumbling.
“Sorry—!” He quickly steadied her.
“I’m okay!” Harlyn replied at once, already pulling free as she ran off to continue searching.
***
Harlyn’s cries for her mother grew hoarse.
As she rushed through the house again, a gentle breeze brushed past Jukig’s face.
He froze.
Turning slowly—
The door… the door was slightly ajar.
His eyes widened. His gaze lingered there for a moment too long.
“It—it can’t be…” he muttered.
Jukig bolted into the garden.
“Meryl!? Meryl!” he shouted.
Seeing this, Harlyn rushed after him.
She searched frantically.
She tore through the woodshed, splinters biting into her small hands.
She ran to the nearby well and leaned over it, plunging her face toward the darkness—then peered inside.
The water answered her with silence.
A deep, endless abyss.
That silence pulled at her.
Mother… why…?
Why are you hiding from me?
I should have taken better care of you.
I’m sorry…
Jukig stomped his foot in frustration, but the anger couldn’t hide the worry etched across his face.
“How could this happen?! She walked right past me?!”
Harlyn’s head remained lowered into the well’s darkness.
Mother… where are you?
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Then—
A memory surfaced.
Harlyn lifted her head from the water at once, spun around, and ran.
Seeing this, Jukig shouted, “Harlyn! Where are you running to?!”
She didn’t stop.
Didn’t turn back.
Didn’t answer.
Jukig stood there, stunned.
As the sky slowly brightened, the growing light revealed the garden more clearly.
The garden Meryl had poured her time and care into.
Now—
It was withered.
There was no more time.
Jukig frowned, grit his teeth, and ran after Harlyn.
***
They raced along the dirt path, Harlyn leading the way.
Behind her, Jukig kept shouting Meryl’s name—
His voice tearing through the morning air.
***
Birds chirped.
Trees rustled gently in the breeze.
The stream flowed softly over smooth stones.
Everything…
Was strangely silent.
***
They stopped.
Thump—
Jukig fell to his knees on the gravel beside the stream.
“No… no…”
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Before them lay Meryl—motionless by the water’s edge.
Her face was lifeless, yet a faint smile lingered, as though she had managed it just before dying.
Against her chest, a teddy bear was cradled between two hands that had long since gone cold.
It lay there quietly, cherished.
“I’m sorry!” Jukig cried.
He bowed forward, sobbing.
“I should have been better!”
“I’m useless…”
Beside him, Harlyn stood frozen—her face pale, her mind blank.
Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
Her hands clutched at her shirt, twisting and crumpling the fabric over and over.
Slowly, her thoughts drifted away—
Back to when…
***
Harlyn stood before her parents’ room, choking sobs spilling from her throat as tears blurred her vision.
She clutched the teddy bear tightly against her chest.
“My poor Harlyn…”
Meryl’s voice was soft. “Did those bad nightmares come to bother you again?”
Harlyn shook her head lightly, sniffing.
“Dang you stupid nightmares!”
Hale’s shout rang out from behind the door as he pointed accusingly at the ceiling.
“Can’t you leave my daughter alone?!”
Meryl let out a quiet sigh.
“Why don’t you stop grumbling and come out here to comfort our daughter?”
Hale rubbed his face irritably. “Arghh—”
He climbed out of bed and trudged toward Harlyn, still half-asleep.
Meryl stood with her hands on her hips, clearly unimpressed by her husband’s appearance.
Harlyn hurried over to her father.
“Hnngh.”
Hale scooped Harlyn up and tucked her against his side.
“These damn nightmares,” he muttered. “Are they bothering Harlyn again?”
Harlyn nodded, pouting.
“I literally just asked that,” Meryl muttered, puffing out her cheeks beside him.
Hale suddenly grabbed the teddy bear from Harlyn’s arms.
He lifted it up to eye level and began scolding it.
“I created you for one purpose.”
“And you can’t even do that properly?!”
He shook the bear back and forth as he spoke.
Harlyn quickly placed her small hands over her father’s.
“Dad, please don’t scold the teddy bear.”
“It’s not its fault…”
Hale paused—then let out a quiet, defeated chuckle.
“And in the end,” he said softly, “you’re the one protecting it instead, huh?”
He returned the teddy bear.
Harlyn immediately hugged it back to her chest.
“Okay…”
Meryl placed a hand on her husband’s shoulder.
“Put Harlyn to bed. It’s late.”
As if reminded, Hale yawned loudly.
“Yeah… you’re right…”
Soon, the three of them lay together on the small, cramped bed.
“Oh baby dear, don’t cry, I’m here…”
Meryl’s soft singing filled the room—sweet and gentle, like cotton.
Harlyn wrapped her arms around her mother, burying her face against Meryl’s chest.
“You’re safe within my loving arms—”
Meryl gently stroked her daughter’s hair. “And even when—”
Harlyn lifted her head, her small voice joining her mother’s.
“—the sun falls down.”
Meryl smiled.
“I’m still beside you, to guide you.”
Their voices blended together, the melody warm and comforting.
“Guhh…”
A loud snore came from beside them.
Harlyn giggled and looked up at her mother.
“Mom, your singing put Dad to sleep!”
Meryl smiled and kissed Harlyn’s forehead.
“But it can’t lull little Harlyn to sleep?”
Harlyn immediately squeezed her eyes shut.
A forced, tiny snore slipped out.
Meryl giggled softly and pulled her daughter closer.
***
Meryl’s tombstone lay beside Hale’s.
The sunlight shone brightly.
Harlyn stood before them, her eyes lowered.
Beside her, Jukig stood stiffly—his hands clasped in front of his stomach.
Nearby, a woman’s heart-wrenching cries rang out.
“Son, why did you leave me so soon?!”
She clung to her son’s tombstone, sobbing uncontrollably.
…
“Tssk.”
The gravedigger sneered.
Harlyn looked up.
“That Harlyn girl is like a curse.”
“Both father and mother—”
His muttering was cut short by Jukig’s sharp glare.
The man stiffened, then turned away and walked off without another word.
The words lingered.
They pierced straight through Harlyn’s chest.
So it’s my fault?
I’m… a curse…
Jukig knelt down in front of her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t listen to him,” he said quietly.
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
“I’m here.”
Harlyn slowly turned to look at her uncle.
“Let’s go pack our things, Harlyn.”
Jukig took his niece’s hand.
Together, they left the cemetery—
the woman’s grief-stricken cries still echoing behind them.
