Being the oldest, I’ve always been forced to do my best, to show my little sister what’s right and wrong. But everything I did, my parents always found a flaw. It started a long time ago, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. I only thought, “Oh, they’re doing this for me. They’re doing this to help me.” But eventually, it grew worse. I couldn’t stay out with friends, I couldn’t listen to the music I wanted to. I couldn’t do anything. That’s why I left. I wanted the feeling of being free.

“Oppa, why are you leaving?” she asked me. She tugged on the hem of my shirt and looked up at me with tearful eyes. I pulled my shirt away from her and continued to put my clothes into the bag. “Oppa, don’t leave me. I need you...” she begged. I stopped.

“I’m sorry Mikyung. I’m being selfish but I have to do this. I don’t want to live here anymore,” I said. I blinked a few times and then went back to packing. She fell down onto the floor and started to sob. I ignored her, but it wasn’t long before I felt hot tears pricking at my eyes.

“Oppa, don’t leave...” she kept saying.  I knelt down in front of her and put my hands on her shaking shoulders.

“Mikyung-ah, don’t cry. Oppa is sorry for leaving you, but this...this is really important to me.” She shook her head and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

“Don’t leave...”

I sighed and smiled sadly. “I love you. Remember that.” Then I stood up, took my bags, and left the room.