It was on one of those nights during winter in Seoul where no matter how much you hugged yourself, the cold would inevitably get to you. The light tinge from the moon behind the clouds seemed to torment anyone who was unfortunate enough to still be out. If you were one of them, the unbearably cold wind would slash at every inch of uncovered skin it could find.

It was during one of these nights that a little boy sat in front of the emergency ward desk of the hospital, swinging his legs back and forth whilst tapping his fingers on the arm of his chair. Ignorant he was of the patients going in and out, he only found solace in asking every passing-by nurse,

“Where is umma and appa? Are they done yet?”
The distinctness between the experienced and inexperienced was easily understood as some would naively respond with,

Who’s your umma and appa, son? When did you last see them?

before being corrected by an experienced one,

What are you doing?! That’s Doctor Lee’s son.

The shock horror on their faces was priceless as they quickly bowed whilst apologizing, as they only would for their elders, before telling him quickly that his parents were still with patients. This was usually followed by them suddenly finding something urgent to do, and running off. How smug it made the little boy feel. How far his father’s influence extended made his smile that little bit bigger.
Impatiently patting his jacket flat, he thought back to their promise,

“Since your birthday’s really special, we’ll all have a feast together, how about it Hong Ki?” Umma asked

“You’re turning 10 this month, that’s cause for celebration,” Appa smiled.

The little boy stared at the clock, 1 hour and 32 minutes since they were supposed to finish their shift. Sighing, Hong Ki relaxed in his seat. It was only to be expected of the head doctor and his wife.
 Just as he was about to nap, a figure caught his eye. Turning around, just as the automatic doors slid open, a cold gush of wind hit his face.

Little bits of snow sat in clumps all over the tiny person who just walked in. The thing that had made him turn around was not the fact that she was a patient, no, there were millions of those going in and out. It was a simple matter of her presence that made him shiver.

Looking at her, she had a simple light pink singlet and striped pajama pants. Yet she was seemingly unaffected by the snow. A shiver ran up the little boy’s spine as he looked at her.

Isn’t she cold?! He thought.

Her dark black hair was blown in every which way from the murderous wind, and the snow was beginning to melt on her from the warm heat of the hospital. Looking her up and down carefully, he noticed that bruises were beginning to form on her pale white skin, and her feet were covered in red scratches.  Her lip was cut and dried up blood ran from the tip of the cut down to her chin. Whilst a gash in her head bloodied the other half of her face. Her dark puffy eyes were proof that she had been crying. Yet her eyes were hollow, expressionless.

Why in that little moment of time did no nurse or doctors take a second look at her? Taking it upon himself, he jumped up and ran to the little figure standing in the doorway.

“Are you cold?” he asked.
…No response.
“Who did this to you?” he asked again
… No response.

Finally, her expressionless eyes flicked to him, and her tiny mouth opened to say almost inaudible words. Before she could finish, her eyes closed as she fell forward onto him.

A moment of silence.

…A little boy’s yell for help echoed through the halls of the hospital that night.