Mother, Is It Really You?

Yonseo continued following her mother through the crowded streets.

Her heart raced with every step.

She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

The woman walking ahead of her was definitely her mother.

The same eyes.

The same smile.

The same gentle way of speaking.

But this version of her mother was different.

She looked happy.

Alive.

Free from the sadness Yonseo had always known.

For years, Yonseo had watched her mother suffer.

She had seen her cry alone at night.

She had seen the pain hidden behind forced smiles.

And now, somehow, she was standing here in the past, watching the woman her mother used to be.

"I won't let anything happen to you this time," Yonseo whispered.

She kept following her from a distance.

The young woman stopped at a flower shop and smiled while looking at the colorful flowers.

Yonseo felt tears forming in her eyes.

She had never seen her mother smile like that before.

For a moment, she forgot where she was.

Forgot about time travel.

Forgot about the mysterious photo album.

All she could think about was her mother.

Lost in thought, Yonseo didn't notice a small crack in the road.

Suddenly, her foot caught on it.

"Ah!"

She stumbled forward and fell hard onto the pavement.

The people nearby turned to look at her.

Embarrassed, Yonseo tried to stand up.

Her knee hurt from the fall.

Before she could move, someone stopped in front of her.

A familiar voice spoke softly.

"Are you okay?"

Yonseo froze.

Slowly, she looked up.

It was her mother.

For a moment, the world seemed to stop.

The young woman stretched out her hand.

Concern filled her eyes.

Yonseo stared at the hand.

The same hand that had comforted her when she was sick.

The same hand that had wiped away her tears when she was little.

The same hand she thought she would never hold again.

Tears immediately filled Yonseo's eyes.

Her body trembled.

The young woman looked worried.

"Miss? Are you hurt?"

Yonseo couldn't speak.

She slowly reached out and grabbed the offered hand.

The warmth felt real.

Too real.

As her mother helped her stand up, years of emotions burst from Yonseo's heart.

"Mom..." she whispered.

The young woman blinked.

"What?"

Yonseo's lips trembled.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Mom."

The word came out louder this time.

The young woman looked confused.

Before she could say anything, Yonseo suddenly wrapped her arms around her.

"Mom!"

People nearby stopped and stared.

Yonseo didn't care.

She hugged her tightly.

Tears soaked her mother's shoulder.

"I found you," she cried.

"I finally found you."

The young woman froze in shock.

Yonseo held her even tighter.

"I missed you so much."

Her voice cracked.

"You don't know how much I missed you."

The young woman tried to pull away, but Yonseo wouldn't let go.

"Please," Yonseo sobbed.

"Don't go near Dad."

The young woman looked completely confused.

"What?"

Yonseo shook her head.

"I won't let you be with him."

Tears continued pouring down her face.

"I won't let the future happen."

"I'll protect you this time."

The young woman's expression changed from confusion to fear.

She forcefully pushed Yonseo away.

Yonseo stumbled backward.

The sudden distance felt like a knife through her heart.

The young woman stared at her nervously.

"Who are you?" she asked.

Yonseo opened her mouth, but no words came out.

The young woman took another step back.

"I don't know you."

Yonseo's eyes widened.

"Mom..."

"Stop calling me that."

The words hit harder than anything.

"I'm not your mother."

For a moment, Yonseo couldn't breathe.

She knew this was the past.

She knew this woman didn't recognize her.

But hearing those words still hurt.

The young woman glanced around anxiously.

People were beginning to stare.

Fear appeared in her eyes.

Without another word, she turned and ran.

"Wait!"

Yonseo immediately chased after her.

"Mom, wait!"

The crowd filled the streets.

People walked in every direction.

Cars passed by.

Voices echoed everywhere.

Yonseo pushed through the crowd as fast as she could.

She caught a glimpse of her mother's white dress.

Then it disappeared.

"No!"

Yonseo ran faster.

Her chest burned.

Her legs hurt.

But she couldn't stop.

She finally reached the end of the street.

The road ahead split into several directions.

The young woman was gone.

Completely gone.

Yonseo looked around desperately.

"Mom!"

No answer came.

Only the sounds of the busy city.

She searched every corner.

Every shop.

Every alley.

Nothing.

It was as if her mother had vanished.

Slowly, Yonseo stopped running.

Her shoulders trembled.

The excitement she had felt moments ago disappeared.

In its place was a painful emptiness.

She had finally found her mother.

Yet she had lost her again.

Tears streamed down her face.

With nowhere else to go, Yonseo walked to a nearby bench.

She sat down quietly.

People continued walking past her.

Nobody noticed the girl crying alone.

The bright afternoon sky slowly began turning orange.

Yonseo stared at the ground.

Questions filled her mind.

How could she change the future?

How could she save her mother if her own mother wouldn't even talk to her?

And most importantly...

Why had the photo album brought her here?

As she wiped away her tears, something caught her attention.

A small photograph lay beneath the bench.

It looked old.

Very old.

Yonseo picked it up carefully.

The moment she saw the picture, her eyes widened.

The photograph showed her mother.

Standing beside a young man.

A young man Yonseo recognized immediately.

Her father.

And written on the back were three words that sent chills down her spine.

"Don't trust him."

To Be Continued...

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