Taehyung's hand rubbed my shoulder, and I felt content. Sleep was right there, whispering my name, but I tried to block it out. I didn't think it was even that late, maybe 8pm. So I tried to fight it, but in the end, sleep took over, and I never knew when the power came back on, or when Tae got up and left.

~♡~

I woke up slowly, realizing that I wasn't in my bed, instead I was on top of it with a blanket covering me. It was just starting to get light out, so I knew it was still early. I remembered the storm, the power going out, Tae and I lying here under the blanket that now covered me.

Tae was gone, having obviously left sometime during the night. I looked at the clock on the  nightstand, blinking an incorrect time, and wondered when the power had actually come back on.  

I sat up, pushing the blanket to the side, and swinging my legs over the side of the bed. I stood, knowing that I needed a shower and looking for my phone so I could see what time it actually was. I found it on the table in the kitchen, seeing that it was 6:20, so I had plenty of time, since I didn't have to be at work until 8:00.

I ambled back over, opening the wardrobe, and pulling out a pair of pants and a long sleeved light weight shirt with stripes on it. After grabbing socks and undergarments, I made my way to the bathroom to shower and get ready for work.

A half hour later, I was showered, dressed, my hair up, teeth brushed, and all ready to go, except I still had an hour left before I even had to leave. I decided to stick the two days worth of clothes in the washer, and start it. After doing that, I plopped on the couch, looking at my phone, but not knowing why. I had no one to text, because of course I had no contacts. I had never been too active on any social media, not really keeping up with anything, so that wasn't an option.

I wondered how early was too early to get to work. Being early couldn't be a bad thing, right? As long as I could get into the building, I should be okay. Even if I had to wait in the lounge, it would be better than sitting here waiting.

I stuck my phone in my pocket, made sure I had my key to get back in, and decided that I would just go in to work now. I walked to the door, opening it and promptly jumping back a step. The old man from the park, A.K.A God, stood outside my door, smiling.

"Good morning Laney. I see you're settling in well. I'm so glad."

I swallowed, and moved back another step as he came into the apartment. I had no idea what to say.

"I'm sure you're surprised to see me here, so I understand if you're caught off guard. I wasn't just going to send you here, and not check up on you though."

"I, uh, I was just leaving for work."

"Yes, that's why I decided to catch you now, before you left."

"Oh...is, is there something wrong?"

"No, no, not at all. there's just a few things I wanted to mention, that's all."

"Okay."

"Well, first, do you have any questions for me?" His eyebrows went up slightly as he spoke.

I thought for a second. I did have a question, however, as much as I wanted to know the answer, I also didn't want to know the answer. So I chose not to ask.

"I don't, I mean, not really. It's...it's not super important."

"Are you sure you don't want to know the answer to that question, Laney? That's actually one of the reasons I came by to check on you."

I took a breath. I was sure I already knew the answer, and I didn't feel the need to have it confirmed. I knew that everything that was happening right now, this whole 30 days, it was all wished into a reality that was only mine, temporarily. I would rather choose to believe that Taehyung's feelings were real, than to know that they were just a product of my wish. So no, I didn't want to know the answer.

I shook my head.

"Laney, you're wrong. I had nothing to do with Taehyung asking you to be his girlfriend."

He gazed at me, his eyes kind, and I slowly realized what he was saying.

"Wait, you mean..."

"Taehyung does have feelings for you, and it has nothing to do with your wish. They aren't forced feelings Laney. They're from his heart."

My heart jumped in my chest at the fact that Taehyung had actual feelings for me, and a smile broke out on my face. But just as quickly, I became aware of the fact that this wasn't a good thing. I looked up, my smile slowly disappearing.

"But...that means," I bit my lip, a heaviness taking over my heart, "he's going to be hurt when I just end up gone one day..."

He nodded. "He is going to be hurt. Taehyung has already had a lot of loss in his life. It isn't going to be easy for him."

I groaned. I felt horrible.

"This was a bad idea...I never...meant for him to get hurt. I, wish I'd never made this wish."

I looked at him, pleading, wanting him to have an answer. He just continued to look at me with his kind eyes and gentle smile.

"Can't you do something? Can't you reverse my wish, it's only the third day."

"No Laney, your wish will play out until the end. It has to, It's already been set in motion. Stopping it now would only make it worse."

"But," I sighed, feeling defeated, "I don't want him to get hurt."

"I understand, but unfortunately, pain is a part of life. The thing is, you can either let it bring you down, or you can learn from it."

"Right, but I thought I was the one who was supposed to be learning something. I should be the one with the pain. Isn't that why you granted my wish, so that I would learn to appreciate my husband, or understand him better or something?"

He laughed. "No Laney, it's the other way around. Your husband needs to learn to appreciate you."

I was so confused.  "I just don't understand why Taehyung has to experience pain because of my wish. If I had known that it would be like that, I wouldn't have wished for this."

"Taehyung needs you, Laney."

I shook my head, doubtful. Taehyung had so many people who loved him, that I was sure he didn't need me.

"I just don't want him to be hurt. Can't you make it so that he forgets me once the 30 days ends, make it as if I was never here?"

He shook his head. "Taehyung made a wish too, Laney."

"Well I'm sure it had nothing to do with me specifically..."

"It wasn't specific to anyone. Taehyung just wants to be able to help someone, to be someone's reason for not giving up."

I narrowed my eyes, not sure what he meant.

"I don't think I understand. Taehyung helps so many people everyday, just by being himself."

"He does, he is one of the most beautiful people I have ever had the pleasure of creating. He is honorable, pure, and worthy of every bit of love he receives. But he feels like he's failed, as a friend, and as a person."

"But...why? He's the kindest, most considerate person I think I've ever known."

"Taehyung lost a friend not long ago, he took his own life."

I felt my heart twist, and I couldn't imagine the pain that someone must be feeling to cause them to take their own life. 

"He feels guilty. He believes he could have saved his friend, had he only spent more time with him, instead of always being so busy. Since then, he has been making the same wish over and over."

My heart ached for Tae, for the torment I imagined he must be feeling, and I wished I could ease it somehow.

"So how do I fit in?"

"Taehyung  wants to know that he's made a difference in someone's life."

"But he does make a difference...for so many people, every single day."

"I know that, and you know that...and deep down, even Taehyung knows that. But making a difference indirectly isn't the same as helping someone who's right in front of you, someone that you can see, and speak to. Wouldn't you agree?"

I  nodded slowly, still not sure what any of this really had to do with me.

"He knows that as a group, BTS has helped countless people in so many ways. But he wants to be the difference for one person. He wants to know that one persons life has changed because of him, that he's helped them in some way. If he can accomplish that, then he might be able to let go of the guilt he holds over not being able to help his friend."

"Okay, that makes sense. But again, how do I fit in?"

"You are the person whose life will be changed by Taehyung. No matter what the future brings for you, you're life will be better after having known him."

It made sense. How could my life not change for the better. I would have the memories of my time with him forever. But he would have the memories too.  I still worried about him being hurt.

"Okay, I can agree with that, my life has already changed for the better, just by being here with him. But I still don't like the fact that he's going to get hurt."

 "Might I make a suggestion?" His smile brightened, and I felt a glimmer of hope.

"Please."

"Don't forget Laney, that it's up to you if you tell Taehyung why and how you ended up here, and that you only have 30 days."

I nodded, understanding that he was suggesting I tell him.

"If I tell him, then when my 30 days are up and I'm gone, he'll remember that? He'll know why I'm not here anymore?"

"He will. He still won't be able to remember your name, and he will still want to look for you, but he will also know that you didn't have a choice. He won't think that you just left him without a word, and he will eventually realize that he has helped you, and that he has made a difference in your life."

I closed my eyes, sighing deeply.

"If I tell him, he's going to believe me? He won't think I'm crazy and have me fired?"

He chuckled lightly. "Taehyung is a smart boy. I have faith in him."

That didn't tell me if he was going to believe me.

"Laney, you're here because you were unhappy, and you made a wish that you believed would bring you happiness. Have you been happy since being here?"

I smiled, thinking of Tae, and all of them, really. I was happy here.

"Yes, I have."

"Then continue to be happy. Let Taehyung love you. Let him make a difference. Don't stress over what might happen at the end of your time here. Focus on the now. Don't waste your wish. Things have a way of working out just how they're supposed to."

He smiled brightly, and turned, walking towards the door, fading with each step, disappearing into nothing before he actually reached it.

I stared at the door, thinking about what he'd said. Let Taehyung love me? Don't waste my wish? 

I looked at my phone, not surprised to see that it was only a minute later than it had been when I'd stuck it in my pocket and opened the door to leave. Time had been frozen again.