Yuni stood at the doorstep of his house, his hand resting on the doorknob, twisting it slowly. The door creaked open, and he stepped inside.
"Mom? I'm home…" he called out, his voice echoing softly through the hallway.
No reply.
He slipped off his shoes and walked in further, glancing around.
"Mom?" he called again, quieter this time. "...Mom?"
Turning the corner into the living room, he finally saw her.
She was curled up on the couch, fast asleep—her head resting gently against a cushion, one arm hanging lazily off the side. The TV murmured in the background, casting soft flickers of light across the room.
Yuni stopped. His voice caught in his throat.
He tiptoed over and knelt beside her, careful not to wake her. For a long moment, he just stared.
"She's still here."
Every gentle rise and fall of her chest felt like a quiet reassurance...
Even for a moment, when I can't see or hear you… it terrifies me. It feels like I might lose you all over again. Like you might slip away the second I look away.
A soft smile found its way to his lips.
"Just watching you sound asleep... makes me forget everything."
He reached out carefully, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his fingers barely grazing her skin.
"I want this moment to last forever," he whispered, his voice fragile and full of longing.