In the middle were a single couch and a television set that kept changing channels constantly. Next to the couch was a lone coffee table with books covered in dust stacked on top of one another. It had been six months since she moved to the apartment, yet she still hadn’t managed to unpack her belongings. She found no reason to. 

 

On the couch, Yoona sat, her fingers pressing the buttons on the remote until they were on the verge of being broken. Her dead, gloomy eyes were lifeless as the couch she was sitting on. 

 

The sound of police sirens and car engines flooded her apartment through the closed windows. formed a crude tightness around the corners, but gently returned to normal as she brushed the noises off her mind. 

 

Soon, a heavy knocking was heard, making Yoona flinch from the couch. The television was playing the afternoon news, giving a story about a suicide that happened in the mountains by a girl who was abandoned by her parents because of the death of her brother.

 

Hesitantly, she raised herself off of her couch bed and carefully stepped to the door. She expected it to be one of those annoying neighbors who make a big deal about introducing themselves to their new tenants, or the landlady who was concerned that her new tenant might have died. Yoona grabbed the handle and opened it to see an empty hallway. She called aloud for anyone but no one answered. 

 

As soon as she was about to close the door, her eyes caught notice of a single flyer on her doorstep. She picked it up.

 

“Pizza, Pizza, Pizza! We make the most delicious pizza you’ll ever have, and we deliver 24/7! Just call us, and we’ll answer!”

 

She had just recently developed a habit where she would stay up until the late hours of night. The stomach would cry out for fuel, and she would go to sleep not being able to fulfill her own body’s wishes. It felt like this flyer was a divine intervention. “This will be useful later.”

 

---

 

“Yuri, we have another delivery!”

 

“Hold up, let me get ready!” Yuri replied shouting back. Dressed in a white hoodie and a pair of denim jeans, she grabbed the boxes of pizza in one hand and the bike helmet on the other. A single pony tail graced the edges of her hair as a slight breeze swept through the restaurant. “You know, most parents get worried for their child when they’re working this late.”

 

“True, but most parents also kick their kids out when they’re this old,” Yuri’s father said. “Besides, this is a family business. I cook and your mom handles the customers inside, while you handle the deliveries.”

 

“I’m still amazed every day by how we can manage to run this small little dinghole.” Yuri stated as she gazed around the restaurant. “At first I thought the business would be a stupid idea, but I never realized so many people ate this late.”

 

“We feed on their need, and they need our pizza.” Her dad smirked as Yuri made her way out the door. 

 

-

 

“Hmm, not one of the usuals, I see,” Yuri thought as she stared at the address her father passed her for her final delivery of the night. Her fingers slightly trembled in fear for her safety, but breathing in, she gathered her courage and stepped in through the shattered glass doors of the rusty and damaged apartment building. Once inside, the humid air was heavy with a pungent smell, clogging Yuri’s tiny nostrils. Holding the pizza boxes in one hand, she covered her nose with her sleeves with the other and pressed the elevator button.

 

A baseball cap covered half of her face and her shirt’s hood placed over the cap covered the rest of her head. It was Yuri’s tactic in handling new addresses: look like a guy, and no one will think of harrassing you.

 

Once the bells rang, she exited the elevator and walked over to the apartment door. The metal plaque read ‘B-8’.

 

She gave two knocks on the door and waited patiently. Soon the door opened wide.

 

“Hi, I have a delivery for-” Yuri said, but soon, her voice trailed off as her eyes began to admire the customer before her. Her customer was a stunning youth of twenty two, dressed in a pair of midnight black sweat pants and a white tight fit shirt that emphasized her killer curves. A pair of round, breathtaking eyes looked towards Yuri as the soft, pale hands flew forward to retrieve the boxes of food in front of her.

 

“I-Im Yoona?” Yuri said to confirm the delivery.

 

“Yes?” her customer asked. “I believe I ordered other things as well?”

 

“Huh? Oh yeah, sorry.” Yuri said stuttering as she handed the girl the plastic bag of soda. “Um- So that’s two boxes of cheese pizza, and a family sized Coca-Cola. That’ll be twenty five dollars, ma’am.”

 

“Here” Yoona said as she passed on three ten dollars bills to Yuri. “Keep the change.” Yuri could see that her customer’s eyes were as lifeless as the wood that they were both standing on. She couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for her.

 

After Yuri received her payment, the door closed shut and she made her way back. Down the flight of stairs, she couldn’t help but wonder if she should’ve said anything, if it was alright for her to leave the poor girl like that by herself. 

 

“Wait, why should I even care?” Yuri said as she let out a deep sigh. It was only going to pile more stress on her, and she already has enough on her plate as it is. Outside, she slid her earphones on and played her favorite tune as the scooter engine whirred into gear.

 

-

 

Much to Yuri’s surprise, Yoona became a regular, always the same order every other day and always the same amount of tens.

 

“How are you doing today?” Yuri said as she delivered the same number of pizzas and the same family sized coke as always. She no longer felt the need to mask her face anymore. Yoona reached for her gray Velcro wallet inside of a jacket hanging near the door. Yuri would always try and initiate conversations and every time she would fail. Her curiosity got worse and worse with each trial. 

 

“Hey, the weather’s getting cold.”

 

“Yeah, whatever,” Yoona said, handing the same three ten dollar bills. “Here’s the money, keep the change.” Then the door closed shut without another word.

 

The same instance went on for next three months: two boxes of pizzas, a two liter bottle of coke, thirty dollars with no change, and a delivery as silent as the grave. Regular customers were not uncommon at the pizzeria restaurant, none compared to Yoona. And Yuri was constantly aching to find out why.

 

“Ms. Im!” she said as she placed her hand on the door before Yoona was about to shut it. “Um... D-during winter, w-we offer a special discount for regulars to come and eat at the restaurant. W-we have a full menu as well, other than cheese pizza.”

 

Yoona’s face exerted no sign of interest; just as stern and lifeless as usual. Yuri expected her to close the door shut in front of her face without a single word, so she tried to continue the conversation with anything that came into the top of her head. It was an awkward conversation, a very awkward one indeed, but a conversation nonetheless.

 

“Um… Did I mention, you get a thirty percent discount if you bring a friend?” Yuri said, praying that she was going to get at least a sign of answers out of her guest. However, she noticed that Yoona’s eyes got even darker with the mention of “bring a friend”. She finally had some sense of what might be wrong.

 

“Is that all?” Yoona uttered under her breath.

 

“Yes,” Yuri replied with her face looking toward the floor.

“Thank you… Yuri.”

 

With that, door swung forward until it closed with a thud. Yuri could hear the distant echo of footsteps walking towards the living room.

 

How did she know my name? Yuri wondered, until she looked down and remembered that she was wearing a nametag on her blue t shirt. She made her way towards the front door and to her scooter bike. Even though, she might not know what was going on with her new friend, she was satisfied that at least Yoona knew her name. For some strange reason, she felt like she could lift the entire world on her shoulders now. 

 

Smiling in bliss, she kicked the scooter into gear as the wheels sped through the downtown streets of Seoul.

 

-

 

Yoona collapsed onto the floor in front of the door with her back against it and let out a heavy sigh.

 

Thoughts of Yuri began filling her once empty mind and her heart seemed to flutter in joy, as though a cage of butterflies were being set free inside her emotions. But there was also the fact that she couldn’t let herself make new friends. 

She didn’t want to anymore.

 

Past memories began filling her consciousness: memories of torment and guilt, of failure and death, of absolute hell on earth. She had failed her friends in the past, the very friends that once loved her and never left her side for anything. She didn’t want to go through the pain again; she couldn’t risk it.

Better to not have friends than to lose them again, she reminded herself every day.

 

Her doe-like eyes stared at the numerous boxes of pizza that were stacked on top of her coffee table amidst another dusty stack of books, and decided that she had suddenly lost her appetite. 

 

‘God, if you’re up there,’ Yoona prayed silently as a single tear fell down her cheeks, ‘Please end this worthless life of mine.’

 

-

 

It had been three days since Yoona made her last order, which was very unusual. Yuri sat staring at the red telephone in the restaurant office for hours, desperate to hear her favorite regular’s voice again.

 

“Mom, did Ms. Im place an order yet?” Yuri asked.

 

“I don’t think so, Sweetie,” Her mom answered, “Hmm, that’s really weird… Her order should be coming in right about now.”

 

Yuri’s heart skipped a beat. What if something horrible happened to her? What if her house got robbed, or if she got a heart attack? What if… what if…

“Mom, I’ll be right back! I’m just gonna go check on her for a bit!” Yuri said as she hurriedly grabbed her keys and helmet before her mom could say anything.

 

As she the engine, her mother ran outside with two boxes of pizza and a bottle of coke.

“Just in case, you never know,” Yuri’s mother said as she gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead. 

 

-

 

Yuri knocked on the door loudly. 

 

No answer.

 

After knocking two more times, and ringing the buzzer three times, her concerns took the best of her and she decided to break the door open by force. It was an old and crummy apartment so she thought the door would be easy to knock down. Going back a few steps, she sprinted with full force and transferred her entire weight to her shoulders. Her body crashed against the wooden frame of the door. 

 

The only result was a bruised knee and shoulder. The door didn’t budge.

 

However, she decided to try again. Limping, she sprinted forward again and collapsed against the door. This time, a cracking noise echoed around her, followed by a loud crash. The door finally gave in to the power of her athletic build.

 

As Yuri raised herself up painfully, she looked around the dim and eerie living room. Piles of boxes were littered around the entire apartment, some still sealed and some lying open. Stacks of clothes were thrown across everywhere and a rancid odor filled the air and Yuri’s lungs.  She raised the collars of her shirt to her nose, and then scanned the area thoroughly for any sign of life. Suddenly, she froze solid as her eyes caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure lying dead on the couch. She ran full force at the couch and stared at the corpse in front of her; her hand placed over in shock.

 

“Ms. Im!” Yuri cried, shaking Yoona’s shoulder violently. “Yoona, wake up!”

 

No response.

 

Yuri placed two of her fingers at the bottom of Yoona’s jaw near the nape of the neck. The pulse was weak, but it was there. She breathed a sigh of relief, but knew that it was no time for rest. Immediately, she pulled out her phone from her pocket and dialed for the ambulance. 

“Hold on Yoona,” Yuri said as she placed her hands on her friend’s forehead to try and measure the temperature. It was burning intensely. Her eyes suddenly began to tear up as worry began consuming her thoughts.

 

“Just hold on…”

 

-

 

The heart monitor beeped constantly, the jagged lines a reflection of her own heart as she sat near the bedside where Yoona was sleeping. She couldn’t help but feel sorry; sorry that she didn’t arrive to her apartment faster. Just then, the door to the hospital ward opened with a creak and Yuri turned her head over.

 

“Are you Ms. Im Yoona’s guardian?” the doctor asked.

 

“Ah, no...” Yuri said, scratching the back of her head. “I’m just a—close friend of her. Will she be okay?”

 

“Yes, she will. She’s lucky you found her in time. One more day and her heart would have failed on her,” the doctor replied.

“What happened to her?”

“It seems she had collapsed from severe dehydration and malnutrition. Also, her brain scans show that she was suffering from immense stress and fatigue far above critical levels, something you rarely see at such a young age.”

 

Yuri kept her gaze at Yoona was sleeping peacefully on the bed, her face still the same as ever: stern and lifeless. What could have possibly happened to her for her to be doing this to herself? she wondered. 

“The patient should rest here until she can regain her full consciousness. I strongly suggest that you call someone, a guardian, if you can.”

 

After taking measurements, the doctor left Yuri and Yoona to themselves.

 

Yuri sat next to the bed patiently, carefully thinking about her next moves. There was no one to call to let know about Yoona’s condition, but it didn’t seem right not notifying anyone about the situation. Earlier, she called her mother about what happened and her mother was relieved that her daughter got there on time. Her mother told her that she would contact the police to try and find any close relatives. With a thank you, Yuri hung up.

 

Soon, someone knocked on the hospital room and opened the door to come in. Yuri jumped in surprise and turned around as a slender figure walked in to the room. The newcomer was a blonde woman dressed in a black one piece with sharp features and a slim figure. A look of worry was plastered all over her face.

 

“Excuse me,” the woman said. “Are you a friend of Yoona’s?”

 

“Yes, although, I doubt she thinks of me the same way,” Yuri replied casually as she stood up to greet the woman. “And who might you be?”

 

“Oh, I’m an employee here,” the newcomer stated. “I’m also Yoona’s only sister.”

 

Yuri’s eyes widened in surprise as her jaws dropped to the floor. “You’re her sister?”

 

“Yes,” the woman replied as she grabbed the door handle. She gave another glance at her sister who was lying peacefully as the beeping of the heart rate monitor echoed through the walls. Then she turned her eyes towards Yuri. “Also, there is something I want to tell you about Yoona, and considering that she has no other friends, I don’t know who else to tell. Would you mind if we stepped outside for just a second?”

 

 

-

 

The two women sat in the hospital lounge not far away from the hospital room. The blonde figure, Jessica, sipped her cup of coffee as she continued her story.

 

“Yoona, Tiffany, and I were very close back in the day,” Jessica continued. “The three of us were always together ever since we were orphans, and eventually we were adopted by kind people that looked after us well and gave us an abundance of love. Most importantly, even though they found out that Yoona came from a very affluent background, they never took advantage of her.”

 

“Yoona-- affluent?! As in, money?!”

 

“Yes, money,” Jessica answered. “Yoona’s parents left her with a sizable fortune. Unfortunately, they died in a car accident not too long after, and she was only allowed to get it once she turned 18.”

 

Yuri sat breathless, not knowing what to say.

 

“In her final year of high school, she had made some bad friends who took advantage of how rich she was. In no time, she got involved with drugs and alcohol that took over her life with a firm grip,” Jessica let out a sigh. “Until one day, when Yoona was on her way home drunk, and Tiffany was sitting in the passenger seat, a truck collided with her car and killed Tiffany instantly.”

 

Jessica stopped, and tried to control her emotions. Yuri could see she was trying to hold back her tears. Soon, Jessica continued as her breathing got heavier.

 

“Yoona recovered after a year of treatment, but after she was released, she went into hiding ever since. I tried calling her and talking to her, but she didn’t respond to me at all. It seemed she blamed herself for Tiffany’s death, so much so that she didn’t even attend the funeral service. When I went back to her apartment to check up on her, I found out that she had moved to a different place.”

 

Yuri kept staring at the hospital ward, thinking about Yoona constantly. It all made sense now, why she didn’t find anyone else living with her or why she always had such misery on her face every time Yuri was delivering pizza to her. Her heart sank deeper into her chest.

 

“Why was she admitted?” Jessica asked.

 

“Fatigue and dehydration,” Yuri answered. “She seemed to have starved herself the last couple of days and lost consciousness.”

 

“How did you two meet?” Jessica wondered.

 

“Well, I’ve been delivering her pizza for a while now. She lives alone in this crummy, old apartment now, and from what I saw she practically lives in a garbage can.”

 

“Looks like she still blames herself, but no one can blame her though,” Jessica sighed. “She doesn’t realize that she’s still loved by the very people she thinks she hurt. We’ve all been worried sick. We already lost Tiffany and our foster parents were devastated by her disappearance.”

 

There was a long period of silence.

 

“I never got to say this, but thank you for saving my sister’s life,” Jessica said, bowing her head slightly. “You’re probably her first friend in years.”

 

“I just did what anyone would’ve done,” Yuri replied subtly. “But I can’t seem to keep Yoona off my heart. Do you think its love?”

 

Jessica chuckled. “Either that, or she must’ve tipped you pretty well.”

 

-

 

Everything was hazy and blurry as her eyes were bathed in white. Soon, everything came back, the memories of her lying in front of the door, her refusing to eat or drink anything, and her collapsing on the couch. That was the last memory she could recall. 

 

Soon, her sights fully recovered and she scanned the room. She realized she was sitting in a hospital bed with a medical gown over her. But most surprising of all, there was a beautiful figure, a guardian angel, who was collapsed on the arms of the bed, sleeping. Not to mention, the angel snored like a giant beast, her tongue barely escaping her glossy lips. 

 

She shook the person up who awoke with a confused expression all over her face. But when their two eyes met, the figure formed a beaming smile on her lips and hugged her. She welcomed the sudden embrace, thinking there was nothing wrong to accept it.

 

“You’re finally awake, Princess,” her guest said, smiling.

 

“Um… Yuri, right?” Yoona asked.

 

“Yep, the one and only,” Yuri replied.

 

“W-what happened? How’d you know about me?”

 

“Well, when you didn’t perform your usual pizza ritual, I thought something was wrong so I went over to your place to check up on you. Next thing I know, I found you collapsed on the couch so I called the ambulance over,” Yuri replied, chuckling as she placed her hand on the back of her head. “Although, I might have… sorta, kinda… broke your door.”

 

Yoona gave a slight laugh. “Thank you, Yuri.” 

 

“Once you’re fully recovered, I’ll take you home,” Yuri added.

 

“Oh no, I can’t ask any more from you,” Yoona objected. “You’ve already done enough for me.” This was exactly what she didn’t want right now, a friend. What if she ended up hurting Yuri just as she did her sister Tiffany? She couldn’t fathom such an idea. She didn’t want to risk it.

 

“No, I want to. Please,” Yuri insisted. “Plus, I know garbage cans that are cleaner than your apartment. I’ll help you unpack when we get there.”

 

“No, I can’t ask any more from you. I can’t--”

 

“Look, if you want to repay me for this, just let me be.”

 

A smile formed on Yoona’s mouth. She couldn’t remember the last time she smiled like this. 

She had finally found joy.

 

-/-

 

Dozens of empty pizza boxes were wrapped in trash bags and the walls and windows were dusted and wiped clean. Cobwebs that once decorated the living room corners and floors were no more. Lights finally filled the living room brightly, and books were stacked appropriately in the clean shelves that sat next to the television set. Her clothes were hung nicely and neatly in the closet, and her bed was dusted off as a foam mattress was placed on top of the frame. Yoona’s place was finally starting to look more like a home.

 

“You’ve never even used your bed once?”

 

“Why should I? The couch is nice enough,” Yoona said in her defense. Throughout the cleaning, she never talked much, but at least she talked here and there. “Do we have to finish this today?”

 

“Yes, the doctor said it was critical that you feel comfortable and homey,” Yuri lied, “So we need to clean up and create a healthy atmosphere in this apartment.”

 

“Wait, don’t you have work to attend to?” Yoona said, trying to get Yuri away.

 

“Are you trying to get me to leave?” Yuri said as a smirk formed from the corner of . Her hands kept dusting the floor with the broom. “Besides, it’s a family restaurant which basically means no firing guaranteed.”

 

Yoona let out a defeated sigh, but she was interrupted by the sound of her own stomach growling.

 

“Speaking of restaurants, I’m pretty starving as well,” Yuri said, dropping the broom. “Let’s go and eat there!”

 

“How about we just order like always?”

 

“And who’s gonna deliver them?” Yuri said. “Besides, you need some sunlight on that pale skin of yours.”

 

“Fine!” Yoona screamed, upset, but at the same time, overjoyed.

 

-

 

Yuri stood on the balcony of her small apartment she lived in with her parents. A cool, summer breeze swept through her face as her hair danced with the melody of the wind. She couldn’t help but think about Yoona, about all the trials and tribulations that she must’ve gone through. Her eyes were gazed out at the skyline of downtown Seoul, her mind racing elsewhere.

 

“You like her, don’t you?” said a gentle voice from behind.

 

Yuri turned and saw her mother smiling. “That girl seems so fragile right now. I’m worried that if she breaks, you’ll cut yourself with the fragments.”

 

“I do like her, but not like that,” Yuri replied, “She has a family mom, and she ran away from them because she blames herself for her sister’s death.”

 

“Oh sweetie is that what’s been bothering you all this time?” her mother replied. “You feel like it’s your responsibility to fix this just because you have a vague idea of what she must be going through?” 

Yuri didn’t really think about it, but her mother was right; a similar event had happened to her before and she hadn’t talked about it for ages. She didn’t want to. Ever since then, she tried to erase all memories of that ill begotten day.

 

“I almost forgot about it,” Yuri answered, her eyes gazing upon the orange hue of the clouds as the sun was setting over the horizon. She breathed a heavy sigh. “Do you still think about him Mom?”

 

“Only too much,” her mother smiled. “But I know that he’s in a better place now, and he would’ve been happy to see you grow up to such a fine lady.”

 

Yuri couldn’t help but smile at the idea.

 

-

 

Christmas day was finally here. Yoona sat on her dustless window sill, looking out into the snow from afar. She hated this time of the year, since it was a time of family, harmony, and yuletide joy. It was also around this time that Tiffany died. 

 

It had been a week since she saw her only friend. Even though Yuri did so much for her, and her heart kept gravitating towards her, she couldn’t find the courage to make a friend. She just sat there by the window, dreaming of what they would do together in the snow.

 

Suddenly, she heard a heavy knock on the door and jumped in shock. Yoona made her way forward and turned the handle to open it. In front of her stood Yuri, dressed in a thick fur coat and a pair of denim jeans that was covered knee deep in snow. A pair of mittens covered her long fingers and white fuzzy earmuffs graced her silky hair. A single red scarf ran around her slender neck and down her torso. Yoona couldn’t help but admire her friend’s red, puffy cheeks and a smile that emitted gentle warmth inside.

 

“Wait, but I didn’t order anything.”

 

“Huh, Is that all I am to you, just a pizza delivery girl?” Yuri said, sounding hurt. She then stuck out her hands to reveal a present wrapped in Christmas wrappings.

 

“Well, since I’m just a delivery person to you, here,” Yuri said as she passed the gift to Yoona. “Merry Christmas… friend.” A faint smile lit on the corners of as she turned around and began to walk towards the stairs.

 

When Yuri was out of sight, Yoona went back to her couch and began unwrapping the present before her. When she opened the lid, a familiar item sat on the floor of the cardboard box. The item was a thick, black book with a red silk bookmark sticking out. 

 

It was a Bible. 

 

Curious, she opened the cover that bound the book and stared in shock. Tears began flowing down her face like a gentle stream. Her heart sank like a stone as she kept reading over and over the inscription on the front page of the Bible.

 

“Holy Bible

Property of: Tiffany Hwang <3”

 

The static background noise of the TV was all that was heard in the room. Yoona held the Bible in her hand. It was the last reminder she had of her late sister. Grabbing the red bookmark, she turned the pages over to see what it was set to. Soon, she found it: a verse that was highlighted to mark significance.

 

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark (11:25)”

 

Through the tears, Yoona let out a silent chuckle. Is this what you’ve been meaning to tell me all this time, Sister? Yoona asked as she looked towards the ceiling.

 

Her sister was watching over her like a guardian angel. Through Yuri’s eyes.

 

Her sister was alive through Yuri, her newfound friend.

 

And she was telling her to let go of the past, to start anew.

 

Yoona closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, finally at peace.

 

-

 

“Excuse me, but can you tell me where I can find Yuri?” Yoona asked at the reception table in the restaurant. “It’s very urgent.”

 

“She said that she was going to see her brother after she sees you,” Yuri’s mother replied. “Is something wrong?”

 

“No, nothing’s wrong, it’s just that there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask her. Could you tell me where her brother lives, then, by any chance?”

 

“Well, he’s resting under a tall oak tree in Dongjak-dong right now,” Yuri’s mother replied. “Yuri’s probably mentioning you to him. She keeps going on and on about you, how she has feelings for you and deeply cares about you.”

 

Oak tree in Dongjak-dong? But that didn’t make any sense.

 

“Wait, the only oak tree in Dongjak-dong is in a cemetery. Why would--” 

 

Yoona paused. She understood now.

 

“Yuri lost her brother fifteen years ago in an accident,” Yuri’s mother said, her voice shaking slightly. “She goes to visit him every week now. You’ll find her there.”

 

 

-

 

The Volkswagen Scirocco parked just outside the city cemetery.

 

Through the window, Yoona saw a large number of people visiting their respective graves, paying tribute to their lost loved ones. Bouquets of various flowers lined the snow covered floor and some even had Christmas ornaments decorated on them. She looked around to catch a glimpse of Yuri, then found her standing still under the oak tree that casted a large shadow on the ground below.

 

Yoona walked over to where Yuri was and stood next to her. Yuri turned around and gasped in surprise. Both of them smiled as they turned their heads to face each other. Yuri gave Yoona a gentle hug, to which Yoona received gratefully, albeit rather awkwardly. Yoona then turned her attention to the gravestone that marked the death of Yuri’s brother.

 

“Kwon Hyuk Jun. 1988-1997”.

They both stood in the cold, silent. A small fog of breath escaped Yuri’s lips as she closed her eyes.

 

“He was only nine we he died, and I was eight,” Yuri said, breathing deeply. “One day, we were playing on the sidewalks with my small football when I kicked it to the middle of the road by accident. He ran into the busy street to get it, and before I knew it, a car had hit him.”

 

Yuri paused.

 

“I couldn’t speak for a year. The doctors said that I was suffering through PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder,” Yuri replied. “I blamed myself for his death. I kept telling myself that it was me who kicked that ball in to the street, that it was me who drove the car into his little body. I couldn’t seem to forgive myself; rather, I didn’t want to.”

 

Yoona lifted her head and stared into Yuri’s watery eyes, a light shining across a lake.

“Then one day, my brother visited me in a dream. He told me to stop torturing myself for his death. He assured me that it wasn’t my fault, and that everything was alright,” Yuri said. “My parents told me that it’s not my fault that he died, that no matter what happens, I’m their daughter. So if they still love me after what happened, why should I not love myself?” 

 

Yoona stood frozen in front of the gravesite at a loss of words. 

 

“Yoona,” Yuri said as she turned her head around to face her friend’s pale, innocent face. “Stop torturing yourself over your sister’s death. I’m sure she wouldn’t want you going through such pain, either.”

 

Yoona’s eyes suddenly became bigger. How did Yuri know about my history? And how did she know about the Bible?

 

Just as she was about to open to speak, Yuri gave a beaming smile and turned around to look across the graveyard at a person who was standing outside.  Yoona followed her gaze and stared as well. Immediately, her heart leapt a great distance as she realized who she was staring at. It had been too long since she last saw those golden strands of hair.

 

Yoona felt her friend’s hand slip inside her jacket and squeeze softly. A warm smile radiated across her lips. 

 

It was all Yoona needed at the moment. 

 

Tears began flowing down, creating a warm puddle between her green snow boots. Seeing the only two people that loved her in the world, she felt as though an immense weight was lifted off her back. She felt like she could soar above the clouds. 

 

Snowflakes drifted onto her hands and head, melting as it flowed down.

 

Soon after, the two headed down the hill and out the cemetery. Yoona flung herself onto her sister’s arms who wrapped around her in a warm embrace. The nostalgic scent of peppermint and strawberry lingered in her nostrils. It seemed that her sister hadn’t changed at all. Just the way she liked it.

 

“We missed you, Yoona.”

 

Jessica peered into Yoona’s brown eyes and smiled. Turning around, Yoona saw Yuri walking away from them, her back turned to face them. Each of her hair stood on its end as her entire body was flushed with a deep sensation of love.

 

Thank you, Yuri, Yoona uttered under her breath. Because of you, I have finally found happiness.

 

“So,” Jessica said as the two of them walked over to Yoona’s Volkswagen, “what do you wanna eat for lunch?”

 

 

-

 

 

 

“Did you get your brother something this year as well?” Yuri’s mother asked as she passed the dinner rolls along. The Kwon family was gathered around a large table for their annual Christmas dinner. A carved Christmas turkey lay in the middle, decorated by a bowl of mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.

 

“Not this year,” Yuri answered. It was a habit of hers to get a small football for her brother every Christmas; as though she was trying to give him the ball she never got to return.

 

Her parents gave a warming smile, the same smile they gave soon after her brother died. It was a smile of unconditional love.

 

The Christmas turkey never tasted so good all her life.

 

-

 

Knock. Knock. Knock.

 

“Coming!” Yoona said as she wiped her wet hands with her apron and approached the door. She opened it as a familiar figure stood in front of her wearing a wide smile.

 

 “Two boxes of cheese pizza and a family sized coke. That’ll be twenty five dollars, ma’am,” Yuri said, dressed in her usual delivery attire. Yoona set the pizzas and the coke down on the floor and gave her best friend a huge, welcoming hug. Yuri stepped backwards from the recoil, patting Yoona’s back gently. 

 

“Wait, but I didn’t order this,” Yoona said. “And how did you find my new address?”

 

“Well, let’s just say a little blonde birdy came by the restaurant a while ago,” Yuri replied, laughing. “And let’s also say that this little birdy is pretty cheap with her tips.”

 

Yoona let out a chuckle, and stared at Yuri questioningly. “Are you gonna stay?”

 

Yuri looked into Yoona’s eyes. “Only if you want me to.”

 

Yoona stood at the door, not knowing whether to cry or shout or laugh. After a while, Yuri shook her friend’s hand and said good bye. “Well then, I guess I’ll see you sometime soon.” With that, Yuri turned around and walked towards her car. 

 

Suddenly, Yoona flung the door wide and ran over to Yuri. She then placed her arms around Yuri’s petite waist and gave her rosy cheeks a warm, gentle kiss.

 

“Don’t go,” Yoona whispered, her head resting softly against Yuri’s back. “I want you to stay.”

A long pause followed as the stood in the middle of the driveway, Yoona’s arms still wrapped around Yuri. Then, Yoona broke the silence.

 

“I love you… Yuri,” Yoona said softly. Her eyes were closed as a gentle breeze flowed through their hair.

 

“Yuri,” Yoona said as she looked into her best friend’s dark, hazel eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Will you marry me?”