The Papers in the Drawer

One day, Yomein’s grandmother was thinking,

 “I could die at any time… What will happen to Yomein after me? Where will she go? She’s just a child… and those awful Yansen and Lucy — who knows what they’ll do to her?”

With tears in her eyes, Grandma thought,

“If I transfer the property papers to Yomein’s name, at least she’ll be able to live in this house, and won’t have to ask anyone for help.”

Next morning at breakfast, they both were sitting together.

Yomein seemed lost in thought.

Suddenly Grandma said,

 “Yomein?”

Yomein looked at her and replied,

“What is it, Grandma?”

Grandmother asked,

“Yomein, don’t you have any friends?”

Yomein, hesitating, replied,

 “No, not really. They’re all busy, so I haven’t been able to talk to them for the past few days… Why? Did something happen, Grandma?”

Grandmother said softly,

“Yomein, don’t lie. I know everything.”

Yomein looked at her but didn’t say anything.

Her Grandma continued,

“yomein… do you like any boy?”

And then seriously added,

“Have you thought about what you’ll do after I die?”

Yomein’s eyes filled with tears.

She hugged her grandmother tightly and cried.

“No! I don’t like anyone. And you’re not going anywhere. Please don’t talk like this. I can’t live without you!”

Her grandmother gently stroked her head and said,

 “But one day, everyone has to die.”

Yomein sobbed,

“Then I’ll die with you too. I don’t want to live without you…”

Her grandmother, trying to be firm, said,

 “Go. In the drawer, there are some papers. Bring them.”

Yomein looked at her with a sad face and got up slowly.

She went to get the papers, thinking,

 “Why is Grandma suddenly saying all this?”

She took out the papers from the drawer, looked at them… and started crying again.

“Grandma, why are you doing this? We’ll stay together… right? Then why all this?”

From the room, her grandmother called out,

 “Yomein, come here.”

Yomein wiped her tears and went back into the room, sitting beside her.

Grandmother said,

 “Bring a pen from there.”

Yomein went to get the pen, wondering,

 “Is Grandma angry about something? She’s never spoken to me like this before… I’ve never seen her so serious.”

She returned with the pen.

Grandmother said,

 “Here, sign here.”

Yomein looked at her, about to say something—

But Grandma interrupted gently,

 “Look, Yomein. You’re the one who has to live in this house after I die. You need to understand that. It’s your choice if you want to live with someone or alone.

But Yomein you know too… I don’t have much time left.”

And somehow…

She convinced Yomein to sign the papers.

The Promise Before Goodbye ✨

Yomein’s grandmother said,

“Yomein, promise me... after I’m gone, you will never do anything to harm yourself. You will never think about dying. You must live, for me. Do you understand?”

...TO BE CONTINUED ...

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