Yerin sat in silence, holding her head.

“What’s wrong with me… I can’t go on living…” she whispered. “What did I do wrong?”

Every thought hurt. Every memory pulled her back to places she didn’t want to return.

It felt as if the air had grown heavier, as if even breathing was a crime.

“I won’t go to the police… No… If they find out… God, the shame…” her voice broke. “What will my parents, friends, neighbors say?.. I can’t bear it…”

She closed her eyes, trying to rest even a little, but there was no peace.

Every time darkness covered her, he appeared again — in dreams, in memories, in the shadow by the window.

“Don’t touch me… please…” she whispered in her sleep, shivering.

When she woke up, the clock showed almost three o’clock. She didn’t know how she had fallen asleep. She didn’t want to close her eyes again.

“He will come again…” she whispered. “I hate him… and I hate myself too.”

Sua came home earlier than usual. She thought no one was inside, but Emily’s door was slightly open.

“Yerin?” she called softly.

“Come in,” her friend replied, trying to hide the tremor in her voice.

“Oh God, what happened? You’re so pale… And there’s blood on your head!”

“It’s… nothing… I just… hit myself… accidentally…” she stuttered, forcing a smile that didn’t hold.

Sua brought the first-aid kit. They stayed silent, only their breathing filling the room.

Suddenly, Yerin hugged her. Tears rose in her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall.

No one can know. No one.

“Maybe we should order pizza?” Sua suggested timidly.

“No, I don’t want… I just… want to be alone,” Yerin whispered.

When her friend left, Yerin sat still, staring at the wall. Her thoughts were blurred, covered in fog. Something inside her tightened, and breathing became harder.

She didn’t even notice when she fell asleep.

In her dream, she was walking down the same street again. Fog curled around her, the garages disappearing into gray haze.

Somewhere far away, she heard screams.

“Help…” — a woman’s voice, so familiar.

Yerin ran. And suddenly she saw him — a man standing in the shadows. He pointed to the side.

There stood another her — frightened, wounded, in chains.

“Run…” her double whispered. “It’s a trap…”

Yerin turned — and saw him behind her. The same silhouette. The same terror.

She woke up screaming. And she understood — there was no escaping him, not even in dreams.

Yerin woke up drenched in cold sweat. Her head throbbed, her body ached as if she had fallen from a great height.

She wanted only one thing — to wash everything off her: the memories, the pain, the feeling of helplessness.

She stepped into the shower and stood under the warm water for a long time. The droplets slid down her skin, washing away tears, blending with them. It was quiet. Only water. Only her.

After the shower, she stepped out wrapped in a towel and sank to the floor. The world felt distant, muted. She stared at her hands — pale, trembling.

Breathing felt harder. Her thoughts were heavy, dark.

She just wanted the pain to stop.

Then — nothing. A blackout.