Chapter Text
Zhanghao has always loved the snow.
Ever since he was 6.
6-year-old Zhanghao couldn't sleep. He just couldn't. He wanted it to snow! No, he needed it to snow! He even put his pajamas inside out. Put a wooden SPOON under his pillow. He was sure HE could make it snow snow.
Early morning on December 26th, he rubbed his eyes. Young Hao barely was able to open them, due to the bright cast that lay in his room.
But wait – something was different. With a burst of excitement, his eyes quickly fluttered open, as he jumped to the window. On his tippy toes, he tried to reach for the long white drapes that covered his window but failed.
Quickly looking around, he saw his solution. He scrambled, feet dragging, across the crisp cool wooden floor, and grabbed his playing stool.
After multiple, failed, attempts, he was able to see what he had been looking for. Behind the drapes, the world outside his window had transformed into a winter wonderland. The room echoed with his cheerful gasp as he bounced off the chair, small feet once again pattering against the floor.
He struggled to put on his favorite pajamas decorated with characters, his favorite shinchan friends, buttons fumbling in his little hands. He, of course, needed to bring his friends out to see the wonderland outside too. He galloped towards the window, face pressed against the glass, once again. The sight outside was beyond his wildest dreams – a pretty blanket of snow covered everything. He had been waiting for this.
With a giggle, Zhanghao's eagerness bubbled over. "Sno! Mommy, sno everywhere!" Excited to share the joy, legs all twisty and wobbly, he made his way to mommy's room. Bursting through the door, he clambered onto her bed, his tiny hands gently shaking her shoulder. "Mommy, wake up! It's sno time! Super duper awesome sno time!" he exclaimed, his excitement contagious even in the early morning hours. Though his efforts to rouse her were met with drowsy murmurs, Zhanghao's persistence and adorable antics ensured that the magic of the first snowfall was a shared delight.
"Mmm, Mommy's little sunshine, what's all the excitement about?" Zhanghao's mom mumbled, her eyes still heavy with sleep. She blinked, focusing on her son. She then reached out to caress her son's head.
"Mommy, mommy, you gotta see! Sno everywhere! It's like magic!" Zhanghao exclaimed, his eyes wide with awe. His mom couldn't help but smile at his contagious spirit.
"Alright, sweetheart, let's check it out together," she replied, her love for her son is evident in her loving gaze. As she slowly got out of bed, the tiredness from a late night still lingering, she ruffled Zhanghao's hair affectionately.
In the following moments, Zhanghao's mom, though tired, moved with a gentle grace. She prepared a quick breakfast, zipping up Zhanghao's jacket, all the while stealing glances at her son's playful face. Oh, how she loved him.
As they stepped outside into the winter wonderland, the chill in the air was refreshing. Time seemed to playfully pass as they built snowmen.
Zhanghao's mom and he were ready to lie to make snow angels, but just as Hao laid down, a surprise player joined the scene. Zhanghao's dad, still wearing his cozy pajamas, ran into the snow with a mischievous grin. From there, a snowball fight happened.
As evening approached, the trio snuggled on the couch, sipping hot cocoa, and Zhanghao's mom couldn't help but smile at the fun of their day. Exhausted but fulfilled, she exchanged a knowing smile with her husband, grateful for the simple yet beautiful moments they had with their son. Whom they loved, very very much.
Zhanghaos Journal Entry #1
Today is 2006 December 26,
Today was the BESTEST day EVER! I woke up and saw sno outside! It was like magic, like fairyland. I runned to Mommy's room, and she got up, even if she was a little bit sleepy. We did fun things all day!
First, we played in the sno! Me and Mommy and Daddy. Daddy joined our snowball fight, and it was soooo much fun! We made snowmans and snow angels. Daddy even twirled me around like a rocket ship! Then, we comed inside and baked cookies! I helped Mommy mix the dough. It was all messy, but we giggled lots. We made cookies shaped like stars and hearts. Yummy! After that, we drank hot coco and cuddled on the couch. Mommy read me a bedtime story, and I felt all cozy and warm. Today was so fun. I can't wait for more snowy days with my family. Sno makes everything extra special!
Goodnight im tired!
-Zhanghao
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Hanbin has always hated the snow.
Ever since he was 10.
But it wasn’t always like this.
It was the year's first snowfall last night. Hanbin, who was 10, scurried down the stairs, nearly falling a few times, to grab his coat. In his mind, a scarf could wait. Gloves too. maybe….also…shoes..?
"Woah woah my darling! You are NOT going outside like that. Sit down. I made your favorite breakfast, for your favorite day of the year.." His mother pulled something from behind her back. Which was a plate of the most delicious cream-filled pancakes Hanbin swears by in the world. Topped with rich strawberries, bananas, whipped cream, and a chocolate drizzle.
Hanbin, nearly choking up, "Mom...Thank you!!!" Hanbin jolted forward almost knocking his mom over. She pats him on the head indicating, for him to sit down and eat.
Hanbin sat and started devouring this masterpiece his mom made. In the midst of this, he also read through the morning newspaper.
As he skimmed through the pages, a picture caught his attention, along with a headline. Nearly flying out of his chair he exclaims, "Oh...Mom! Your and Dad's cafe made it into the local newspaper! See here look look! It says, 'Bin taehyun and his his wife, Bin Irene has opened a," Hanbin still barely awake began fumbling over the words.
His mom looked over at him from across the table with endearment. "Sweetheart, take your time." Her eyes slowly formed into crescent moons, which Hanbin loved to see.
Clearing his throat he continues, "They have opened a hit new cafe, which locals can't get enough of. They serve-" Hanbin finally getting into the rhythm is cut off.
The phone's ring cut through the peace, stunning Hanbin's mother from the comfort of listening to her son.
"Oh my. That ring is going to give me a heart attack someday!" As she answered the call, her expression shifted from one of cheerfulness to a mix of anxiety and shock. "What happened? Is she okay?" The haste in her voice grew, the seriousness of the news quickly taking hold. On the other end of the line, the concerned murmur of Hanbin's grandmother provided only a few details for Hanbin to hear.
An accident involving Hanbin's aunt, trouble caused by the overnight snowfall. As Hanbin's mom listened, her face went pale, and the worry lines carved across her forehead worsened. "Tell me exactly what happened," she demanded, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anxiety.
The conversation played out in fragments that Hanbin, who went onto the staircase to hide, tried to piece together. "Stuck between the car and the garage… she forgot to turn it off… rolled forward… couldn't get out..stuck there all night…..only found her this morning..." The words painted a vivid picture in Hanbin's young and innocent mind.
He gave in on trying to hide from the situation and went over to ask questions, as one his age does. "Is she hurt? Mom, is she hurt?" Hanbin asked repeatedly. Her eyes darted to meet Hanbin's gaze, momentarily forgetting he was there.
Just then, the clatter of hurried footsteps was heard through the house, and Hanbin's father came rushing down the stairs, having caught wind of the conversation. "What's going on?" he asked, his eyes darting between his wife and the phone. "It's Auntie," his mother managed to say, her voice choked with fear.
Hanbins family had rushed to the hospital, through the thick snow. Hanbin still trying to comprehend the confusing turn of events. The sterile smell of the hospital hit him as they entered, and his little sister, completely unaware, clung to his side.
The room where Auntie lay seemed hushed, a stillness that felt unnatural. The air itself carried weight as they entered, and Hanbin, his heart beating out of his chest, caught sight of her. She lay in the hospital bed, seemingly asleep, her face peaceful. The room was bathed in the soft glow of muted hospital lights, casting a soft ambiance, as the snow fell outside.
Auntie's lashes held delicate crystals. The paleness of her skin seemed otherworldly against the white sheets, and yet, there was a gracefulness in her composure. It was as if she had been frozen in time, caught between the reality of the hospital room and her dreams.
Hanbin, still unable to comprehend the importance of the situation, looked to his parents for reassurance. His mother, fighting back tears, clung to her husband for support. He had never seen his mom cry. He never wanted to. His grandmother was holding her sister's hand, praying. Then, the doctor entered, his somber expression revealing the severity of the situation. Hanbin's mom, her eyes locked on Auntie, sought answers. "We did everything we could," the doctor began his words hanging heavy in the air. "But I'm afraid... she won't make it."
A deafening silence settled over the room. Hanbin, still too young to fully grasp the concept of death, felt a deep sadness welling up inside him. His mother's knees weakened, and she sank into the chair beside the bed, her face buried in her hands.
The room, once filled with the sounds of a beeping machine and hushed voices, now was filled with the muffled sobs of a grieving family. Hanbin, uncertain of how to process it all, simply stood there. At that moment, the hospital room transformed into a place of goodbye, where his beloved Auntie, frozen in her peaceful relaxation, made the room still. The rhythmic hum of machines faded, and time seemed to pause as her heart monitor painted a straight line.
Hanbins Journal Entry #30
Dear Journal,
December 26, 2011
Today was...not a very good day. Mom got a call. I went to the hospital for the first time. Auntie was there, but not the same. Mom and Dad's faces looked different too, like they were really sad. But they didn't want to show us. The snow outside seemed quieter, and it's not the kind of quiet I like. I miss Auntie's laugh. Things feel different, and I don't know how to make them okay.
Hanbin
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