Seungwan wakes up.

She feels like it should take longer for reality to set in. She should scramble out of the empty bed, dash through empty rooms, barge into darkened kitchen, living room, hallway, even make a half-hearted sweep of the bathroom.

It should take longer to realize. Longer than this sliver of a moment, the half-second in which she opens her eyes to gaze up at a blank ceiling.

It should creep in slowly, around the edges of sleep, solidifying with every step. First an unplaceable dread, then a fading worry, fading as confusion grows, and then awareness unacknowledged. Fear that is nothing more than bargaining.

But she doesn't get to wait. She doesn't get to hope, not even for a second. Not even for the few steps that would take her out of the bedroom.

She just knows, right away.

Joohyun is gone.

Seungwan wakes up, and Joohyun is gone.