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A letter. Lee Donghyuck received a letter. No...more than a letter. He received heartbreak. Pure, painful heartbreak. It left him speechless. Numb. Confused. He wasn't sure what to do anymore. Mark wouldn't be coming. He would never be coming. Donghyuck wasn't sure what hurt more: the letter, or the slip of paper that came along with it. Written in shakey Korean, was a torn piece of paper with lyrics on it. The corners were browning and it was extremely crumpled, clearly written years ago.

Nae gyeote isseojweoyo
Nae yeope issejweoyo
Geureoke isseo jumyeon geureoke
Nal mitgo iketdadeon malro dasi kamssajweoyo oh~

They were lyrics from a song Donghyuck had shown Mark a few days before he left.

He knew now. The lyrics hurt more. They hurt so much more than the letter. Either way...he was filled with pain.

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Lee Donghyuck,

I do apologize for the unknown address that I am sending this letter from. I'm Mark's mother, and from what I could gather around his room and from what my father told me, you were very precious to him.

I'm writing to inform you that Mark will not be returning to Jeju. Last week, he was found dead in a car crash. It was a hit and run, and the authorities are still searching for the driver in question. He was driving to the airport, on his way to fly back to you but unfortunately, life seemed to have other plans. I am so sorry you had to find out this way, but I figured that he'd rather you know what happened than be left in the dark for the rest of your life.

I sent along a piece of paper that was found on him at the crash site. I'm assuming they're lyrics but I only know so much korean and his writing is very bad. I apologize for that too, I'm sure it was hard to fully understand what he was saying but you both seem to have managed.

I hope this letter finds you in good health and I send my condolences to you. I know how hard it must be to lose the one you love. And I hope you will eventually be able to find someone else who will fill that gap.

I know you don't know me, but feel free to write a letter if you ever want to.

With love and sorrow,

Jill Lee

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Dead. Mark Lee was dead. In a car crash. On his way to the airport. To fly to Donghyuck. But now he was dead. Gone. Nada. Never to return.

Donghyuck holds the letter tightly, the thin paper almost tearing in his grasp. His whole body was shaking as his tears were falling onto the paper, spilling and spreading the black ink, making them swim across the lines. His lip was bleeding from him biting it so hard and his heart was torn in half. Nothing able to fix it.

He's been like this for the past 2 weeks. Rereading the letter then crying about it. He's barely eaten or talked, much less come out of his room. His mother didn't know what to do; he didn't know what to do.

"Thank god I believe in the after life."

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June 15th, 2020, 2:34 am. The temperature was a soothing 75ºf [23ºcelcius]. The perfect conditions to make Donghyuck feel better about his decision. It was going to hurt; it was a bit insane, and horribly stupid, but he felt like he couldn't do much of anything else. He was empty inside, a dead soul in a living body. Hopeless, hurting, useless. Donghyuck couldn't even cry anymore, all his tears leaving his body the first time he read the letter.

As he climbs the slippery cliffs far above the sea, he begins to sing the lyrics Mark had written down for him. As the melody flowed from his lungs, memories began to flood his mind. Him and Mark...although a short time, it was filled with memories that Donghyuck wished to cherish. Though now it seems useless, seeing as he would never be able to recall them with Mark again. Or just recall them in general at that.

As he climbs higher, his feet now only a few inches from the edge, the weight of his situation finally lands on Donghyuck's shoulders. He was going to kill himself. He was going to commit. Let his body plummet into the rushing sea below. His life flying away with the midnight wind. It was stupid really, to be so depressed because of a boy he only knew for a summer. Except now that boy was dead. His own life gone in the wind, just like how Donghyuck's will be. If he ever got the courage to actually jump.

Donghyuck scoffs to himself. How ironic. Mark died with this piece of paper, and so will I. A twisted love story...truly.

There was no turning back now. He already wrote a note for his mother and told her that his body would most likely be found to the north of the beach of the winds keep their speed and direction.

He grips his feet over the edge of the cliff, the sharp rocks digging into them. He spreads his arms and closes his eyes, the lyrics fisted in his grasp. Here it was. The moment of truth. Would he jump and hold onto the hope that an afterlife exists? Or would he step away and continue on with his young life, deciding to live it out to the fullest for Mark.

He jumps. And his body falls to the roaring waves, the dark water swallowing him whole. Donghyuck died on impact, the sound of his body hitting the water resonating throughout the sleeping town. His life was taken away as quickly as the waves that crashed against the shore.

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June 15th, 2020, 2:55 am:
Lee Donghyuck dies by suicide.

June 15th, 2020, 11:12 am:
Lee Donghyuck's body is found up on the north shore, just as he predicted.

June 15th, 2020, 11:44 am:
Lee Sunhi finds her son's suicide note and cries.

June 15th, 2020, 12:00 pm:
Lee Donghyuck's body is brought back to his house, wrapped in a blanket. Authorities tell Lee Sunhi he was dead when they found him.

June 20th, 2020, 3:25 pm:
Lee Sunhi sends a letter to Jill Lee, telling her of Donghyuck's passing.

July 6th, 2020. 11:00 am:
The memorial for Lee Donghyuck begins.

July 6th, 2020, 12:54 pm:
Lee Donghyuck's casket is buried 6 feet under. The lyrics are still in his hold.

July 6th, 2020, 3:00 pm:
The memorial service for Lee Donghyuck ends.

And so does our story.

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