Somewhere on the Asian Continent

As she had her head bent down, focusing on her opened books, a voice echoed in her mind.

You wasted your time on earth, thus your soul must be collected to erase your debt. You have been given twenty-hours to put your affairs in order, then your mission will begin. Here are the rules that dictate your mission…

Exasperated, she stopped reading, looking for the lurking person to which the voice belonged. They were in a library, and she wouldn´t stand this rude behaviour. Despite thoroughly looking, she could not spot where the voice was coming from. Even more irritated, she packed her books and finally went home.

“Good evening grand-father, grand-mother, I am back.”

“Go set the table, Seo-Yun, answered a woman’s voice coming from the kitchen.”

“Yes, grand-mother.”

Seo-Yun started to do what the elderly woman told her to. When she was done, she went to help her grand-father reach the dining room. She observed him without a word. He was quietly asleep in his red armchair, his oxygen bottle next to him. Each passing minute gave him more difficulties to breathe. Seo-Yun feared each day that he won´t be here anymore when she came back from school or from her job. She gave him a kiss on his temple.

“Hey Hal-abeoji, she whispered softly, her hand on his shoulder. It is time to go have dinner.

Slowly, the old man opened his eyes before smiling when he noticed his grand-daughter.

“Good evening, Gongju-nim. How was your day?”

“Good, grandpa. I studied at the library until it closed and then I came home. ”

“Good, good, good. Continue to study hard my darling but also take care of yourself. ”

She smiled, moved by his words.

“Thank you Hal-abeoji, I will. Now, let´s go. ”

They sat and ate silently. The atmosphere was tense. Her grand-mother never tried to hide her animosity against her grand-daughter, who had already given on the idea that Halmeo-nim Song might love her someday.

“Do not eat too much Seo-Yun, you need to watch your figure. ”

“Yes, Halmeo-nim. She left the table and cleaned it up before starting to wash the dishes. Her hands were dipped in the lukewarm water when the same voice echoed again in her mind. ”

“Here are the rules…”

The young woman was surprised to hear it again but only thought it was due to her tiredness. She has not slept much in the past days, as she had been busy studying for her coming exams. Thus she did not pay too much attention to it.

When she exited her shower, the bathroom was fully fogged. She absentmindedly cleaned the mirror with one hand before jumping back, startled. On her chest, was etched an hourglass, and the time it displayed appeared frozen. The hourglass had rounded edges and looked like one of these infinity eight designs that popular girls wore as necklaces or tattoos with empty inspirational quotes. Frenetically, she grabbed a sponge and tried to wash away the mark. She rubbed it until her skin turned red and her arm was painful. Her heart racing, she closed her eyes trying to catch her breath. She could not recall how she could have gotten it. Her shirt was white and could not stain. Seo-Yum let herself slip on the wall, desperate. If it was real, she only had a day left. She would have to leave Hal-abeoji. She would not be able to take care of him anymore and he would be left alone, grieving her death. Bravely, she stood up. Her heart still racing, she looked at herself in the mirror again. The hourglass was gone. The young woman convinced herself that she had hallucinated and over-reacted because of her lack of sleep.

Her Saturday was spent quietly. She took care of the house chores and of her grand-father, obeying the orders barked at her by her grandmother.

“Hurry up and get ready, said the grand-mother. Or you will be late for work. ”

The cold treatment she suffered did not hurt the young woman anymore. She was used to it.

The night did not bring much animation to the store. People would rather be enjoying parties and flowing alcohol rather than doing their grocery shopping. As the aisles were emptying up, Seo-Yun´s boss instructed her to fill the shelves. As she awkwardly balanced on the ladder, she fell backwards.

And the darkness overwhelmed her.