Ahreum sat on a bench in the park, her eyes fixed on the joyful scene before her. Families strolled by, hand in hand, laughter filling the air. Children played, their carefree spirits dancing in the sunlight. Couples leaned into each other, basking in the warmth of love. It was a tableau of happiness, a snapshot of lives intertwined.

As she watched, a pang of longing gripped Ahreum's heart. She yearned for the simple pleasures that seemed so elusive to her—a hand to hold, a smile to share, a love that would weather the storms of life. But she was condemned to the outskirts of this tableau, forever relegated to the role of a solitary observer.

Her gaze shifted to the ring on her finger, a stark reminder of the deadly disease that coursed through her veins. It was a silent enemy, gradually devouring her strength and stealing her vitality. The weight of her mortality pressed heavily upon her, each passing day a reminder of the fleeting nature of life.

Ahreum had never been one to seek sympathy or pity, but in the depths of her solitude, a wave of bitterness washed over her. She resented the unfairness of it all—the way life seemed to bestow happiness upon others while denying her even a glimmer of light. It felt as though she had been cast aside by the universe, left to navigate the lonely corridors of existence.

In the twilight of her days, Ahreum confronted the harsh reality of her circumstances. The disease had drained her finances, leaving her unable to afford the medical care she desperately needed. She had become a prisoner of her own illness, trapped within a crumbling body that held no promise of reprieve.

Her once formidable spirit began to wane, eclipsed by the shadow of her impending fate. She grappled with a profound sense of isolation, yearning for a connection that eluded her grasp. The walls around her grew higher, her heart retreating deeper into the fortress of solitude she had constructed.

As the seasons changed, Ahreum found solace in the company of her memories. She revisited the chapters of her life, the moments of triumph and heartache that had shaped her journey. She dwelled on the friendships she had forged, the lo