I jolted awake, screaming. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. My eyes fell on the calendar.

May 24th.

Jieun's birthday.

Fire.

I clutched my head.

Brown eyes reflecting red and gold flames.

“Stop,” I whispered. “Stop.”

A small, dainty hand reaching for me.

“No,” I moaned. “No no no no.”

A little girl engulfed in flames.

“It’s just a nightmare. It’s just a nightmare, it’s not real.”

“It’s too late.”

“No!” I screamed. “Shut up, stop!”

“She’s gone, buddy.”

“Stop! Please, stop!”

“I’m sorry.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I ran out of the dorm. I jumped into the car and drove straight to the house. I stumbled out of the car.

The house was completely burned down.

I closed my eyes. “No no no no no,” I moaned. “No, this isn’t real, this can’t be real, she’s not gone.” I open my eyes.

It’s still burned down. There’s nothing left of Jieun's room except for a circle of ashes in the middle of the room.

Her old room.

A fresh wave of tears blurred my vision. I swear I saw the house as it was in my childhood, whole and complete and not burned to the ground. And I swear I saw a little girl standing