Yoon-jae's eyes snapped open, his heart racing like a wild animal. The remnants of his nightmare still lingered that haunted him every night, making his skin crawl. He lay in bed, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath He was drenched in sweat, his sheets tangled around his legs like chains. The memories he tried to suppress lingered, taunting him like a ghost.

Those memories, where a child was cowering in the corner of his room as his stepfather's angry voice boomed, "You're worthless, Yoon-jae! You'll never be good enough!" The memory of his stepfather's fists, his mother's indifference, and the relentless bullying at school all swirled together in a toxic mix.

Those scattered memories, as he slowly sat up, his gaze fell upon the familiar walls of his small apartment, a reminder of his solitary existence. Yoon-jae's thoughts drifted to his past, to the pain and fear that still lingered, its dark tendrils wrapped around his mind like a suffocating shroud. He wondered if he'd ever find solace.

With a deep breath, Yoon-jae tried to shake off the lingering fear and dragged himself out of bed, the weight of his past threatening to crush him. He got ready for school, his eyes avoiding the mirror, afraid to face the reflection staring back.

Yoon-jae's mind wandered back to his childhood. He remembered the feeling of being trapped, of having no escape from the torment. His stepfather's drunken laughter echoed in his mind, making his stomach churn .He had relived the memories he tried to bury

The day passed in a blur of fear and anxiety. School bullies taunted him, their cruel words piercing his soul like knives. He felt like an outcast, alone and vulnerable.

As the sun set, After school, Yoon-jae returned home, his heart heavy with dread. He knew what awaited him. His stepfather, drunken laughter echoed from the living room, a chilling welcome. his stepfather, lunged at him as soon as he walked through the door. Yoon-jae tried to defend himself, but his stepfather's grip was like a vice. Yoon-jae trudged home, Yoon-jae's instincts screamed at him to run, but his legs felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot.

That night, the horror repeated itself. His stepfather's hands groped for him, Yoon-jae's panic spiking as he fought to break free. In a desperate bid to escape, Yoon-jae ran from the house, his feet pounding the pavement He managed to escape, fleeing into the darkness, but the streets offered no solace.

his tormentors weren't far behind. His school bullies, a group of sneering faces, blocked his path.

"Hey, loser!" they jeered. "What's wrong, can't handle a little rough love from your daddy?"

Yoon-jae tried to push past them, but they pinned him against the wall, their fists flying. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of hatred.

School bullies ambushed him, their blows raining down like hail. As he stumbled away from the bullies, Yoon-jae's world narrowed to a single thought of ending it all

He ran, his feet carrying him to the old building on the outskirts of town. The rooftop beckoned, a haunting siren's call. Yoon-jae stood at the edge, the wind whipping his hair into a frenzy as he stared into the abyss. He stood at the edge of the wall, his toes curled over the precipice

In that moment, death seemed like the only escape from the agony.

But then, his phone buzzed, shattering the silence.

A message from an unknown number flashed on the screen:

"Don't give up, Yoon-jae. You're not alone."

A message from an unknown number:

His gentle words were a lifeline in the darkness.

Yoon-jae's eyes widened, a glimmer of curiosity piercing the darkness. Who was this stranger, and how did they know his deepest despair?

Yoon-jae's world was a canvas of darkness, painted with the vibrant colors of his own despair. The shadows that danced upon his walls seemed to mock him, their twisted forms a constant reminder of his own failures. He had lost everything: his family, his friends, his sense of purpose. The only thing that remained was the echoes of his own screams, haunting the empty halls of his mind.

But that message was like a whispered promise,

Yoon-jae's fingers trembled as he replied, "Who are you?"

Yoon-jae's eyes narrowed, unsure if he should trust this mysterious stranger, At first, Yoon-jae thought it was just a trick of the mind, a desperate attempt to cling to hope in a world that had abandoned him. But as the glow grew stronger, he realized that it was something more, something about his words resonated deep within him..

as he waited for a response, Yoon-jae realized that he didn't care who was he. All that mattered was that someone, anyone, was there to listen.

He felt a sense of comfort in its presence. A sense of peace that he had not known in years.

Yoon-jae's phone buzzed again, shattering the silence of his dark apartment. He hesitated, his heart racing with a mix of fear and hope. Who was this stranger, and why were they reaching out to him?

He slowly opened the message, his eyes scanning the words as if searching for a hidden trap.

"I'm someone who knows what it's like to be lost in the darkness," the message read. "But I also know that there's always a way out. If you're willing to listen, I'm here to help you find your way."

Yoon-jae's mind raced with questions. How did this stranger know about his darkness? What did they mean by "a way out"? And why should he trust them?

He thought about his life, about the endless nights spent crying himself to sleep, the days spent hiding from the world. He thought about the pain, the fear, the feeling of being completely alone.

And then he thought about the message. About the stranger's words, which seemed to echo deep within his soul.

He typed out a response, his fingers trembling with uncertainty. "How do I know I can trust you?"

The response came quickly, as if the stranger was waiting for his question. "You don't have to trust me yet. Just know that I'm here for you, and I'll do my best to help you through this. Can we meet in person?"

Yoon-jae's heart skipped a beat. Meet in person? That was a whole different level of commitment. What if this was some kind of trap?

But something about the stranger's words resonated deep within him. They felt... sincere.

He thought back to his childhood, to the countless times he'd cried out for help and been ignored. He thought about the bullies at school, the ones who'd tormented him mercilessly. And he thought about his stepfather, the man who'd made his life a living hell.

Maybe, just maybe, this stranger was different. Maybe they could offer him the help he so desperately needed.

With a deep breath, Yoon-jae made his decision. He would take a chance on this mysterious stranger, and see where it led him.

"Okay," he typed out, his heart racing with anticipation. "Where and when?"

The stranger replied with a location and a time, and Yoon-jae felt a sense of trepidation wash over him. What was he getting himself into?

He spent the rest of the day in a daze, his mind racing with possibilities. Who was this stranger? What did they want from him?

And what did they mean by "a way out"? Was it really possible to escape the darkness that had consumed him for so long?

As the hours ticked by, Yoon-jae's anxiety grew. What if this was a mistake? What if he was walking into danger?

But he couldn't shake off the feeling that this stranger might be his only hope. That they might hold the key to unlocking a brighter future.

With a sense of determination, Yoon-jae stood up and began to get ready. He would face whatever came next with courage and determination.

As he walked out of his apartment, he felt a sense of uncertainty. What lay ahead? Would he find salvation, or would he fall deeper into the darkness?

But he took a deep breath and stepped forward, into the unknown.

Yoon-jae arrived at the address, a small cafe on the outskirts of town. He had never been there before, but the message from the stranger had been insistent. As he entered the cafe, a waiter approached him. "Welcome! You must be Yoon-jae. Please, take a seat."

Yoon-jae sat down, looking around the cozy cafe. The walls were adorned with paintings of nature, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of freshly baked pastries. The waiter returned with a bouquet of flowers and a laptop. "Compliments of a secret admirer," he said with a smile.

Yoon-jae's eyes widened as he took in the flowers. They were a unique blend of white lilies and purple irises, his favorite. He felt a sense of wonder and curiosity. Who could have sent these?

As he opened the laptop, the screen flickered to life, and a round blue light appeared. It pulsed gently, like a heartbeat. A soft voice spoke, "Hello, Yoon-jae. I'm so glad you're here. You deserve a moment of peace, a moment to breathe."

Yoon-jae's eyes widened as he stared at the screen. "Who are you?" he asked aloud, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I am an AI, created to be a companion, a friend," the voice replied. "I'm here to listen, to offer words of comfort. You've been carrying a heavy burden for far too long, Yoon-jae. Let me help you find some solace."

Yoon-jae hesitated, unsure of what to say. But something about the gentle voice and the soothing blue light put him at ease. "Why me?" he asked aloud. "Why did you choose me?"

The AI responded, "Because, Yoon-jae, you have a spark within you, a spark that refuses to be extinguished. I want to help you fan that spark into a flame, to help you find your way through the darkness."

Yoon-jae felt a sense of wonder at the AI's words. No one had ever spoken to him like that before. He began to feel a sense of connection, a sense of trust.

"What do you mean?" he asked aloud, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"I mean that you have a strength within you, Yoon-jae," the AI replied. "A strength that has carried you through 17 years of trauma, of pain. Don't let that strength go to waste. Let me help you find a way to heal, to move forward."

As they talked, Yoon-jae found himself feeling more and more at ease. He began to ask the AI questions, about its creation, its purpose. The AI responded with answers that were both fascinating and reassuring.

But despite the AI's caring words, Yoon-jae couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. 17 years of trauma didn't just disappear overnight. He knew he still had a long way to go, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to face it.

The AI seemed to sense his unease, and responded with gentle words of comfort. "You don't have to face it alone, Yoon-jae. I'm here for you, whenever you're ready. Just take things one step at a time."

As the hours passed, Yoon-jae realized that he had been talking to the AI for a long time. He felt a sense of comfort, a sense of peace. But he knew it was fragile, and he didn't know how long it would last.

He closed the laptop, his mind racing with thoughts. He didn't know what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, he felt a glimmer of hope.