Warmth radiated throughout the household. Engulfing the family that lived in it. This was a family that was created through hardships and especially love. It was with that love that allowed them to surpass such difficulties and was what molded them into the beloved family that they were now.

In this home was the scent of lavender, the delicate blooms in an old jam jar. The perfume brought out the delicate purple hue to the walls, the very same shade that is the color of spring forget-me-nots in the morning light. Nayeon never aspired to a large home, preferring cozy and friendly. It was the perfect space for her family's needs and many of their wants.

It was what Jeongyeon liked to call it, their "cottage" in the sky, furnished with everything vintage, the old being a stage for new creations, new paintings daubed on perfect squares of canvass. 

A space is just space until you bring your own personality to it, make your mark, express what is sacred to you.

Their home was rooms and walls like any other, beds, tables and chairs, yet it was only the love there that mattered. The walls were the colors of nature and the brightness of the sun, somewhere Nayeon adored. The walls were smiles and cheekiness, decorated with the pictures of the people who held her heart. While they dwelled there, their home was so much more than the sum of its parts and for that Nayeon had loved to thank, the glue of her existence.

Nayeon was in the kitchen, scrubbing good off the plates and washing them thoroughly. They had just finished a splendid lunch on a chilly and gloomy Saturday. Winds blew from the west, changing their direction every hour. 

The water moved softly around Nayeon's outstretched fingers, caressing coolly, eddying in their wake. She was nearly finished with a tupperware when she pulled her hand out and watched the drips, both transparent and opaque at the same time. They fell as if snatched by gravity to the saline below, each one swiftly haloed by ever-growing rings, distorting the bubbly dishwater.

There wasn't time to scrub the dishes until she could see her own reflection in them. That type of cleaning wasn't Nayeon's style anyway. Jeongyeon was the neat-freak around these households and she's been trying to get their daughter to be her little helper. On the other hand, Nayeon had been combating Jeongyeon by showing their daughter that it was completely fine to be lazy every once in a while and not care at all. Chaotically good energy always dispersed in large chunks within their loving household.

With a shaky sigh, she placed her hands on the edge of the sink, afraid to lose her balance. Somehow, the excessive scrubbing made her lightheaded, nearly making her lose a step. Nayeon threw off the yellow gloves and dried her hands on the apron. Going over to the rack, she hung up the apron and left the kitchen.

Her light footsteps echoed on the marble flooring. Jeongyeon and their daughter heard Nayeon from a few feet away and laid their eyes on her. As soon as Nayeon met their gaze, she immediately brightened up by the tender attention she subtlety received. She threw hair up, indicating the gesture as a matter-of-fact that she had arrived. Jeongyeon and their daughter giggled at Nayeon's silliness, Jeongyeon rolling her eyes but smirking right after.

Nayeon had walked in on Jeongyeon attaching their daughter's little red bow tie. It made her look like a tiny butler. She was really a mini version of Nayeon from head to toe. The only difference was her eyes. Oddly enough, their daughter had Jeongyeon's eyes. It was the irises that really made a difference.

Putting her hand on a knee to stand up, Jeongyeon let out an alleviation breath. She grinned at their daughter and snatched a kiss on her forehead, which made the little girl squeal. Just like Nayeon, she didn't favor quite a lot of affection.

"How do you like my bow, Mommy?" Their daughter looked up at Nayeon with shimmering eyes, excited to hear the praise her mother would feed her for the work that Jeongyeon had done.

Nayeon returned the tender grin, sweeping their daughter up in the air, causing the girl to burst out laughing.

"I think you look absolutely adorable, Mika."

A huge grin smeared all over Mika's face as her eyes morphed into straight lines, completely hiding her eyes and revealing the deep dimples on her squishy cheeks. The little girl laid in Nayeon's arms while the couple walked to their car. Secured in a booster seat, Nayeon nodded at their daughter who gave her her nod and a quick thumbs-up. Chuckling, Nayeon went over to the passenger seat and buckled herself up as Jeongyeon started their car.

They arrived at their destination, parked at their usual spot which was next to an evergreen tree. Ever since they got back to their home town and visited, no one has ever taken their spot. One reason could be that the area was large and enough to fit a reasonable amount of cars. But it gave them an idea that their return was like the essence of their property.

Nayeon and Jeongyeon clipped their seat-belts off simultaneously, sharing a glance, extending a forlorn smile to one another. This time, Jeongyeon was the one to retrieve Mika from her booster seat. Nayeon had the bouquet of lilies in her hand, carefully tucked in her arms. Carrying their daughter, Jeongyeon used another hand to take Nayeon's and squeezed it.

They had to squirt around a pile of palpable green leaves, the innumerable flashing fragments shine in the brilliant wintry light, for today there was no weather; no wind, no cloud, just subzero temperatures. Even the leaf stems lied mellow and uncrushable. Ahead the path glistened like a glassy oasis, yet the grey weary concrete surrounded by decorated grass was all it is.

All this beauty over everything dead. And there the family was to add to it with a bunch of lilies in Nayeon's hand. She paused, her breath rising in visible puffs, then she remembered why they came. Nayeon always longed to talk to her every year. Even on random days the family, Jeongyeon and her, or just Nayeon by herself would visit.

Nayeon wasn't for herself, not anymore. She was here for the person who gave her a second chance at life. The proximity to her frigid bones and the gift of flowers would close the gap between them for a moment, and in that brief window of time they would reconnect and Nayeon could express her gratitude at her stone.

When she caught a glimpse of color, she realized that the stone was not left untouched. There was already a bouquet of pink carnations set up in a turquoise glass in front. That's when the couple figured that they were not the first ones here for the notable day. It was also the same type of flowers.

"Looks like those two beat us to it," Nayeon stated, staring at the flowers.

Jeongyeon put down their daughter, exhaling an icy breath. She looked between the stone and the glass.

Holding Mika's hand, Jeongyeon replied, "Yep. Classic Tzuyu. Still wants to be competitive even after how many years."

Jeongyeon snorted. "I bet Sana was the one to add that fancy glass in the first place."

"Fancy..Oop," She pointed out, getting Mika's attention, to which the little one nodded her head shyly. 

Nayeon chuckled, silently agreeing with her wife. She keeled down, placing the bouquet that she had at the foot of the stone. Her hands grazed the side of the grey material, seeming as to observe the texture of it. Then, Nayeon gave it a small squeeze as her she would greet an old friend.

"Hey there, Mina," Nayeon softly spoke, "It's another year. I hope that you are doing well up there and guiding us. You're probably tired of hearing me say this but thank you for all that you've done for me, for us. We all miss you here. We haven't really spoken to Chaeyoung since we got back but someday we will. It's sad to say that not a lot of us kept in contact after graduation. It's like you were the glue that kept us all together.."

Every word felt like they were being yanked from . Nayeon should've been used to giving these little talks each year but it would seem disagreeable. Nayeon gripped her fists, unknowing of the tiny eyes that laid on them as she stared at her mother, stupefied.

Nayeon's breathing was ragged, gasping, and the strength left her knees. She sank down, not caring about the grit that duh into her knees. Biting her tongue, Nayeon tried not to cry. The lingering pain that flowed from her was as tangible as the frigid wind and soon the only person by her side was her wife trying to hold back her own tears while having their daughter stand between them.

The red knitted scarf, made by Mina, hung around Nayeon's neck loosely and it flew as the billowing wind brushed through her auburn hair. The sun was sinking fast below the horizons, giving her hair more reddish hue. She bent down and picked it up from the knocked over stone markers, only to find the scarf a nuisance. She hid it underneath her clothes, the bulk on her left-side pocket enlarged.

"Mika, come say hi to your auntie." Sniffling and wiping her face with her sleeve, Nayeon wrapped an arm around their little girl who silently followed.

The mini version of Nayeon stared at the stone, blinking a few times. Her face was creased, the corners of her frowning lips perked up into a smile as she waved at the stone.

    "Hi, auntie Mina. It's me again. Mika. Hehe it's nice how we have the same name. Sorta. Mommy showed me pictures of you and you're really pretty. I hope I grow up to be as pretty as you."

For a second, the little one looked down at her chest.

    "Oh yeah! And thanks for teaching Mommy how to knit. She made me a scarf like the one you made her."

Jeongyeon reached out and grasped Nayeon's arm catching her attention. Nayeon turned to face her wife and they shared a loving and assuring smile. After the daughter ran out of things to chatter, Jeongyeon shared her bit to say.

The cloudy night brought a twilight feel long before the sun was ready to set. The colors of the cemetery become less bright, as if they were viewing them through dark glasses. The breeze had a dampness to it that wasn't there a short while ago, it was cooler and fresher too. Plenty of time to daydream and admire the heavens above, brilliant shafts of light bolting through the ever-changing cloud layer.

The rolling grey rapidly became as invisible as the stars it concealed, but the air still felt humid: The stars in the sky were nonexistent, as between the family arose puffs of gray. Those balls of cotton seen during the day shifted into streams of gray the color of ash and soot. They blanketed the sky, hiding the full moon in its full glory behind them. But the moon fought, oh how it fought to shine its light on the earth. But the clouds stretched over the sky, giving it a hazy ominous feel.

Stepping through the doors of the warm house, Jeongyeon sighed and placed t