The first time he saw her it was winter. It was the first snow of the season. The outside world was a blanket of white and the street was fairly empty. The sun was just rising and he was out, shivering despite the fluffy jacket, hopping up and down as to not get stuck in the knee high snow. The coffee shop was nearby and all he wanted was a warm cappuccino to get him through the morning and the freeze.

            Seven in the morning and the winter sky was a gray cover. Rays of light shone through sometimes, creating dazzling lights sparkling off the ice that had hardened over the hours. But the snow was still falling. Himchan clapped his gloved hands together, wishing he had had enough foresight to have brought earmuffs.

            He reached the corner and out on the streets, was a white figure. It was a scene straight from a movie and for a moment he wondered if he had unwittingly wandered onto a set. She was dancing. Her footwork was light, not hindered at all by the half a meter of snow on the ground. Her sleeves fluttered in the wind and that was when he realized she was only wearing a thin dress. She was crazy.

            A warm blast of air hit him in the face. Alluring wisps of coffee lingered in front of his nose. He wanted nothing more than to walk in. But he couldn’t keep his eyes off of the vision in front of him. A voice next to him spoke. “She’s been there for quite a while now. Poor girl. Must not be right in the head.”

            The elder man who had spoken shook his head before shoving his hands into his pockets and trudged back along the snow, grumbling about the weather the whole way down the street. Himchan felt a twinge of unease for the girl. Her eyes were closed as she twirled and there was a soft smile on her lips, as if she had a secret melody in her head and nobody could quite guess the song.

            Himchan pushed the doors to the café open. The barista behind the counter glanced up. “Hi,” he nodded in greeting before turning his attention back to the coffee machine that was currently dripping, drip drop, with the newly brewed liquid.

            “Can I have a cappuccino please? And also a hot chai latte. Thank you.”

            The barista looked a little surprised. “Two doses of caffeine this early in the morning?”

            “I’m working from home. I’m going to need it. It’s a sleepy day today.”

            He leaned against the counter. From the window, he saw that she was still there. “How long has she been out there,” he tilted his chin at the dancing figure.

            “Since I opened. I asked her if she wanted to come inside and she only shook her head. Seemed like a foreigner. Either way, must never have seen snow before. I swear she wouldn’t leave.”

            Himchan nodded and when the two cups of steaming coffee was placed before him, paid. “Stay warm!”

            When he came out, the snow was falling harder, if that was even possible. She had stopped dancing. Instead, she stood still, with her arms outstretched, head tilted backwards, letting the flakes kiss her face. He was surprised no cars had honked her out of the streets yet. He waited, not wanting to break the dreamlike image before him.

            The coffees in his hands were not getting any warmer and that was when he called out. “Excuse me!” He had to call her three times for her to open her eyes.

            She smiled once at him, a dazzling smile that lit up brighter than the sun could, before slowly returning to the angelic pose. He jogged up to her, feeling like he was breaking a rule. One simply did not interrupt a deity. But there was something that made him so determined to interact with her.

            “Hi, I’m sorry. It’s cold out here and you really shouldn’t be standing in the middle of the streets like this.”

            Her arms fell and he felt bad, as if he had ruined something beautiful. If only he could turn back time, he would just have left her alone. “No need to apologize.” The bartender was right. Despite speaking fluently, she had an accent. “I guess I must have seemed strange standing out here by myself.”

            Himchan laughed hastily. “Just worried about your safety. I have coffee. Would you like a cup?” He held up the drinks he had just purchased.

            The smile she gave him warmed him straight to his toes. “Did you get one for me?”

            He had, despite whatever he had told the bartender. “Yeah. I figured you would want to warm up. I hope you like chai.”

            Her cheeks were rosy and the mirth in her eyes didn’t dim. “I love chai!”

            He looked around awkwardly. His eyes met the curious gaze of the coffee shop owner and he felt his cheeks heat with embarrassment. “Well, I don’t quite know where we could sit. We can go back to the café, or you know, walk somewhere else warmer. If you want, or you can just take the coffee as a gift and get somewhere warmer. It must be freezing. You’re only wearing a dress.” He was babbling. God. He wanted to be swallowed up by the ground now. Why had he thought talking to this stranger would be a good idea? It wasn’t like he was used to hitting on girls. Was he even hitting on her? No he wasn’t.

            She let him finish his rambling, the entire time watching him with an amused smile. “You speak too much too fast. I only understood a little. Thank you for the coffee.”

            His face fell despite his better intentions. He had wanted to stay with her a little longer. “Oh. Here you go.” He held out the coffee cup. “I’ll head back on my way.”

            “Are you not going to drink with me?” Her accent lilted each syllable, holding him in their melodic sway. “Are you going home? Can I follow you?” And that was when he saw her blush get deeper. “If that is appropriate, of course.”

            “O-of course it is.” It wasn’t, was it? “I live just two blocks away. I have a conference though, so you can just make yourself comfortable. The call will only take a few minutes, I promise.” He found himself already making her promises. There was something in him that just wanted to be at her every beck and call.

            “Please don’t let me a bother.”

            He waved her words away. “Not at all.” He looked at her thin dress. “Do you want my coat? You must be cold.”

            She smiled. “Where I come, it is even colder. I am okay. I just missed the snow.”

            A thousand questions bubbled to his lips. Where did she come from? Why did she miss the snow? Why was she here in Korea? All those questions would be answered in due time. Right now, he pushed open the door to his humble abode and shook his boots to get rid of the snow. She stepped in, looking around in wonder.

            “It’s kind of small, a very typical bachelor’s pad,” he said, embarrassed. Females rarely visited, unless they were of blood relation, and then that didn’t matter.

            “It is cozy,” she stated. “I like it.”

            He quickly cleared a spot for her at the dining table. “You can sit here. Drink the coffee. Here are some pastries. I don’t know what you like, or if you have any allergies. I’m going to sit at the other table, okay? Please don’t worry about making yourself comfortable. Anything here, you can touch and see and you can wander anywhere.”

            She was giving him the kind, amused smile again. “You are talking too fast again. But I will make myself comfortable. Thank you.”

            When the call was over, he found her curled on his sofa. Her hands were tucked in one of his sweaters and he felt his heart warm. Himchan sat on the edge of the coffee table and stared at her. He stared until his tiny heater sputtered to life and she opened her eyes.

            “You are done,” she stated simply and he nodded.

            “Yeah. I’m sorry. I never got to introduce myself properly. My name is Himchan.”           

            She gave her name. It sounded beautiful in whatever language it was in and he repeated it again a few times until she laughed. “Yes, that is my name.” His ears tipped pink. There was something other worldly about her, and he felt like he couldn’t compare.

            She was a traveler. She had been wandering the world for six months now, and Korea would be the final stop before heading home. She had purposely chosen to come during winter because even though home had snow, she had heard Korea’s snowfall was incomparable. So she had wanted to come.

            “I just arrived yesterday.”

            “Do you want me to take you back to your hotel?”

            She shook her head. “I didn’t stay in a hotel.”

            “Where were you? Where is all your luggage?”

            She smiled. “I was staying in a one day room. I only have one bag. No luggage. Life is more fun that way.” Himchan stared and she gave him a curious gaze back. “Is it not? Do you think I’m weird?” A worried look crossed her brows.

            “N-not at all.”

            “Good.” There was a silence that fell between them. “Can I stay here?” “How long are you staying?” The two questions came out at the same time.

            She covered shyly. It took him a good minute to register her words. “Of course you can. Do you want to get your bag later?” It was a spontaneous agreement. He didn’t think about logistics, didn’t consider that he knew next to nothing about her, and was now offering her a place in his home.

            She nodded. “Thank you.”

            She stayed. Every night when Himchan came home from work, she had dinner ready. She introduced him to her native cuisine and he showed her Korean dishes. They talked about nothing and everything, the topics changing as quickly as the pitches in a song. It was a comfortable existence, until one night he found himself staring at her face, not three centimeters away from his.

            “Can I kiss you?” she asked.

            Himchan’s heart skipped a few beats. Yes, he wanted to reply, but instead all he did was close his eyes. Her lips pressed against his and too quickly pulled away. He brought her back, taking the initiative this time. Their mouths moved against each other and all the words that had passed between them seemed like a road that led to this moment.

            They were breathless when they finally parted. Her eyes were still closed and she leaned in to rest her cheek on his chest. Her palm was placed flat on his stomach. Her breathing was quiet and he held her. When he saw that she had fallen asleep, Himchan couldn’t help but let an exhilarated smile escape him. He giggled softly to himself and he saw her lips curve upwards.

            Weeks passed into months. The winter turned into spring, and he never dared to ask her how long she would be staying. That was the forbidden question. He had asked before, and she never answered. So he kept it this way. Selfishly, he wanted to keep her forever.

            She brought him on adventures, letting spring and the monotony of work and home life blend into summer and the excitement of road trips and new places.

            “Himchan,” and he waited. There was something melancholy in her voice and his heart stilled. Please don’t let this be the goodbye he had been avoiding.

            “Yes?” his voice cracked, giving away his emotions.

            “I love you.” This, he hadn’t been expecting. Her ears were by his heart and he knew she could hear the increased speed of his pulse.

            “I love you too,” he replied because it was the truth. But he was scared of the implications. Was this how she wanted to part ways, with a confession that would never allow him to live his life the same way again? Not that he could ever go back to how life was before. Not after her.

            She sat up and smiled at him gently, cupping his face. “Why do you sound so sad?” A question he should be asking her.

            “I-” but before he could respond, she kissed him, sealing his answer away in the bottom of his heart.

            It was autumn. The days were getting colder again. “Will it snow soon?” She turned to smile at him. Himchan looked up from the dinner he was making.

            “Maybe in another month.”

            She sighed. “Good.” And she was then lost in her own world. He stared at her, worried. Ever since the summer sun glow had faded, he noticed that she seemed thinner, seemed paler.

            “Do you want to go to the hospital? Are you not feeling well?”

            She shook her head. “I’m fine.” That was it. A curt two words. He stared at her. She smiled winsomely at him. “Don’t worry too much, ChanChan.” She had given him the nickname and now he was used to hearing it. The reassurance was almost good enough.

            Himchan kept a careful eye on her through the next weeks. When she caught him staring for too long, she would frown. “If you stared more, you would see right through me.” Her Korean has definitely improved enough to scold him.

            “Sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

            The first snow fall came in late November. It was considered early. When he woke up, he saw her staring out the window. There was a wistful look on her face as she sat, trance like.

            “Do you want to go out?”

            “Yes, yes please.” Her voice shook and he made sure she was dressed warmly. Her body seemed so thin under his careful embrace. His head raced through the possibilities. He didn’t quite know what she did when he was at work. All he knew was that she had made friends with the local business owners, and she said that she had fun.

            It was seven in the morning and the sky was a smoky gray. She stood in the middle of the road and smiled at him. “ChanChan, can you buy me coffee?”

            He was reluctant to let her go but she was smiling so brightly. There was more life to her eyes than there has been in a while, he noticed. “Okay. Chai latte?” She nodded and he headed into the coffee shop.

            “Girlfriend really likes the snow, doesn’t she?” The barista raised an eyebrow and Himchan chuckled.

            “Yeah. Reminds me of when I first met her.”

            “Been a year now, right?”

            “Just about. Thank you,” Himchan nodded and took both cups with him.

            When he walked back out, she was on the ground. Her white coat blended with the snow and he was reminded of the first time he saw her. But there was also something else. Red stained the snow next to her and he shouted her name. The coffee cups slid out of his hands. The snow let out a tiny hiss as it turned brown and melted under the heat. He ran to her and sank onto his knees next to her. Himchan held her in his arms, calling her name again.

            Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled. Blood stained her lips. Another crimson bubble escaped her lips as she coughed. “Himchan,” she smiled weakly. “I am ready to go home now.”

            His heart twisted and he placed a kiss on her temple. “Let me call an ambulance. Just hold on for a few more minutes.”

            Her hands clutched onto his, keeping him from reaching for his phone. “I want to go home,” she said. “I was gifted with a whole year; I’m ready now.”

            “Okay,” he sobbed silently. “Okay. Tell me where the address is. I’ll book a flight and I will go with you.”

            She shook her head. “ChanChan.” She coughed again and this time the blood stained her coat. “I’ve been preparing for this for so long. There is nothing to be afraid of.” A tiny frown creased her lips. “I’m just sorry I don’t have more time with you.”

            In halting breaths, she told him the truth. She was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Unable to see her family mourn for her, she had sold everything and decided to go on an adventure. Wherever she passed would have been her final resting place. She only had a few months left, “but because of you, I was gifted a miracle.” She sighed, completely at peace. “See ChaChan, you were my miracle. And I am happy for the year. I am blessed. But now it is time for me to go home.”

            Her eyes closed and he didn’t care that his tears were dripping on her face, didn’t care that his knees were frozen solid, burning with the cold from the snow. “Please, I love you. Please don’t leave.”

            “I love you, ChanChan.” She coughed again and he held her. “I’m happy you are my resting place.” And those words broke him completely. Suddenly the freezing wind wasn’t the most painful thing. Grief was ice through his veins. Her grip on his arm slacked and her eyes remained closed.

            The barista would remember the sight for years to come. Himchan with the girl in his arms, the world painted in white and only the red stains as a reminder of the life that had lived and passed.

This one was requested by heart-baek-bleed. 

I was hit with inspiration for this and I hope people enjoy!