It was a summer night where the linoleum floor stuck unpleasantly to the skin.

The windowless single room was filled with sweltering heat and humidity that couldn't escape, making even breathing feel heavy, as if inhaling a wet sponge.

A damp smell seeped from the black mold blooming in every corner of the wallpaper, drifting through the sultry air.

Click.

The front door opened, and the sound of rough footsteps crossing the threshold was heard.

He walked in slowly, covered in cement dust and the smell of salty sweat.

From moving between loading jobs and construction sites, his T-shirt was already soaked with sweat and stained black, and his knuckles were chapped with dried blood clinging to them.

Still, he was okay.

Because you, my everything. My salvation. My love.

Would hug me with a smile today, too.

He wiped his face with the soiled towel hanging around his neck and looked around the room.

Then his gaze stopped in the corner of the room.

She was sitting blankly on the damp blankets. A few crumpled sheets of paper were held weakly in her two hands.

In that moment, his eyes wavered.

It was a familiar paper.

The paper he had hidden under old clothes for fear she might see it, then taken out to check again and hidden in a different spot as if nothing had happened.

But now, it was in her hands.

He couldn't take another step. His toes, stopped on the tile floor, trembled slightly.

The crumpled contract, stating that he would provide her hospital fees in exchange for giving up his organs, rustled in her hands.

That sound felt strangely loud.

He forced his frozen body to move. Approaching her quickly, he stopped right behind her.

Then, his large, rough hand, lightly dusted with cement, slowly covered her eyes. As if drawing a curtain, he slid his hand over both eyes.

Her eyelashes, touching his palm, trembled faintly. Even the small warmth transmitted to his fingertips was shivering.

After forcing down the breath that rose to his throat, he tried to maintain his usual indifferent expression.

Then, letting out a low, hollow laugh, he spoke as if nothing were wrong.