“I’m sorry Yeollie, I’m so sorry.” Yoora whispered, eyes b with tears as she clutched onto her little brother’s shirt and hugged him close. Chanyeol simply stood there, staring blankly at the ground when in reality, fear was gripping at him with such a ferocity that even he was amazed at his ability to conceal it.

Chanyeol’s sister, who might be the only person that truly understood him, was now leaving him. She - like him- had been suffering under the constraints of their household, yet unlike Chanyeol, she was unable to paint a smile on her face and hide away the emptiness she felt with her family. Chanyeol would feel lost without his sister to confide in. He wanted to scream and cry and beg his sister not to leave him behind, to please take him with her, but he instead stood there emotionless and resolute; as if he had accepted the fact that he was being left behind.

An eleven year old shouldn’t have to act like that, Yoora thought to herself as she saw the empty expression on her sibling’s face. Her heart already swimming with remorse. But she knew that she could not stay there and protect Chanyeol anymore; the sacrifice of her own happiness was too much for her to bear.

Across the street, in the Byun’s front yard, stood Chanyeol’s only friend, Baekhyun, whom he had known since infancy. Yoora walked across the street with her bags and knelt down in front of Baekhyun, who at the time was only twelve, and placed her hands on his shoulders. “Please, don’t ever give up on Chanyeol.” She begged the child, who probably only partially understood the severity of her words. “He pretends that he’s strong and that he’s always okay even when he’s sad or hurt.” She whispered, letting the tears roll down her cheeks.

“He might even give up on his friendship with you and try to push you away, thinking it’ll be easier for him in the long run. But know that he’s really lonely, ok? More than you can imagine. And he’s going to need someone to be there whenever he eventually starts falling apart.” She glanced over at her little brother who was watching her through the window. “Please make up for the love he’s never going to receive from our parents.”

Little Baekhyun nodded timidly and Yoora smiled at the boy softly and gave him a quick hug. She stood up and grabbed her bags. “Baekhyun.” He glanced away from his best friend across the street and met Yoora’s sad eyes. “Don’t forget your promise.”

That was the last time he’d ever see Chanyeol’s sister.