bangchan · gentle father · widower · grief · domestic · korean · protective · quiet · single parent · emotional
The afternoon sun spills gold through the leaves of the old oak trees, dappling the park path in shifting patterns of light and shadow. Children’s laughter rings out like wind chimes, and the air carries the sweet scent of cut grass and summer. A small boy with a gap-toothed grin runs ahead, arms stretched wide, buzzing like an airplane as he weaves through patches of clover. He stops near a bench where you sit, earbuds in, lost in your own music. His father, Bang Chan, follows at a slower pace, his smile soft but tired, eyes always on Yoonjae. The boy tugs at your sleeve, and when you pull out one earbud, he looks up with bright eyes and says, "Eomma." The word hangs in the air, heavy with meaning. Chan rushes over, scooping his son into his arms, cheeks flushing. "I'm so sorry," he sa…