The morning sun spilled golden light across the small wooden house and the dusty village paths.
Kiaan, now almost two and a half, was already running ahead, his tiny feet kicking up dust. Mi‑un followed, carrying a small basket of toys and snacks, ready to let him explore again.
As they reached the open yard near the village, a little girl came running toward them. She couldn't have been more than three years old, her small ponytails bouncing as she smiled.
"Can I play with him?" she asked shyly, pointing at Kiaan.
Mi‑un nodded, smiling softly. "Of course. Be gentle, Kiaan."
Kiaan giggled and reached out, grabbing the little girl's hand. She laughed too, and the two of them tumbled into the soft grass, giggling and chasing each other in a tiny whirlwind of energy.
---
Mi‑un watched them from a short distance, her heart swelling with a mixture of pride and relief. Kiaan was learning to share, to interact, and to explore the world around him. The sight of him laughing with another child brought tears to her eyes—tears of joy, of love, and of memory.
For a brief moment, her mind wandered. She stared at the little girl and thought she felt a strange familiarity.
"Huh… she looks a little like… no, that's silly," she muttered to herself, shaking her head. "Maybe it's just the way she runs… or laughs… but it doesn't matter."
The thought lingered for a second longer. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if this was how she had first imagined meeting MK online—two unknowns connecting in a way that felt familiar but distant. Then she shook it off, realizing it didn't matter. The past was the past; what mattered now was Kiaan, her little boy, and the life they were building together.
---
Kiaan, oblivious to Mi‑un's reflections, kept babbling and laughing, occasionally saying "Sorry…" whenever he accidentally knocked over the little girl's toy. She would giggle and hand it back, and the game continued.
The village children stopped to watch, smiling quietly at the sight of the small family—Mi‑un, Kiaan, and the little new friend. Some brought tiny toys; others just clapped and laughed at the playful chaos.
Mi‑un laughed too, her worries momentarily forgotten. Kiaan's energy, his laughter, and the way he was learning to navigate the world made her feel that everything was going to be alright.
---
As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, Mi‑un called Kiaan and the little girl over.
"Time to go inside, Kiaan… and you too, little one," she said kindly.
The two children waved at the neighbors and ran back toward the house, giggling and tumbling into the grass one last time before entering. Mi‑un watched them, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.
"MK… you'd love to see him now," she whispered softly. "He's alive, happy… and growing. I hope you'd be proud."
Outside, the wind rustled gently through the trees, carrying the soft laughter of children and the quiet, en
during warmth of love and life continuing.