The fragile heart of a warrior
Chung myung was confused.
Chung myung could not stop the tears rushing down his face.
His voice broke and a wept came through, his his heart unable to stay quiet.
It was as if every emotion he had beat down deep into his heart came rushing out all at once.
Chung myung could not breathe.
He heaved and heaved but it was as if the oxygen escaped him every breath he took.
He clutched onto anything he could- the table toppled to the floor with him, Empty alcohol bottles breaking at the impact.
He squeezed the cloth around his heart, feeling the embroidery of the mount hua symbol.
He was no longer in the past.
So why does his senses betray him!
He wasn’t in war anymore, and everyone from that wretched war was long gone.
Yet he could not stop the gut-wrenching sobs that came as he curled into himself.
His voice shattered, unable to contain the cries in between shallow breaths.
It was as if the burden he had been carrying all the sudden felt too heavy, it came crashing down on him- crushing his lungs.
The collar of his Robes and the floor under him were soaked with tears.
Chung myung could not stop the sobs that made him retch with the itch to vomit everything in his body.
So you could not blame the scream that occurred as the disciples rushed in, not caring about the broken door.
The five swords could be seen surrounding him, but Chung myung could not greet them.
The lack of oxygen made his vision blurry. His limps had long lost any strength he had in his body, he could feel someone’s arms wrapping around him- he wanted to push off whoever it was but he couldn’t.
I couldn’t save you. I couldn’t keep my promise.
A sad but firm voice could be heard, though only Chung myung heard him.
{Chung myung,do not blame yourself.}
The retched sobs all the sudden stopped as the young man was unconscious- his body unable to hold the sorrow that had spilled into his every sense. Yet in his sleep the tears did not stop.
The disciples around him stared at the scene wide eye, some holding back tears as they watched baek cheon bringing their youngest into his arms, hugging the unconscious Chung myung whose eyes still spilled precious tears, tears that might as well be rarer than an expensive jewel.
All the sudden Chung myung seemed like an old man that had carried too many burdens in his life. His shoulders were small and heavy as he breathed- his breaths becoming softer as he fell into sleep.
The room fell into a silence, the only sound that could be heard was Chung myung’s soft breathing as the tears finally stopped.
You could hear the fabric rustling of baek cheon’s clothes as he hugged Chung myung tighter.
As if he couldn’t believe the scene Infront of him.
He held on tightly, as if letting go would shatter the fragile jar all over again—its broken pieces barely held together by cheap tape. The heavy burdens inside pressed against the cracks, threatening to spill and break it completely.
