Accidentally become a father

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The sidewalk was empty.

Streetlights stood in a row.

A dim yellow glow.

The road beside it—

deserted.

Occasionally, a single car passed by.

Fast.

Then gone.

The sky was dark.

Not a star in sight.

The air was cold.

Seeping slowly through my clothes.

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I kept walking.

My pace wasn’t fast.

Not too slow either.

I reached into my pocket.

Pulled out my phone.

I checked the time.

1:00 AM.

The dead of night.

Silence. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

No sound but my own footsteps.

Because someone didn’t show up.

I ended up staying later.

I kept walking.

It was fine.

The pay would be double.

I stopped briefly at a red light.

Even though there was no traffic.

But.

It was all the same.

The light changed.

I walked on.

Taking on a two-person workload.

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My steps felt heavier now.

My body ached.

My shoulders were stiff.

My back felt strained.

My hands felt slightly calloused.

My eyes were heavy.

Blinking took longer than usual.

I exhaled.

A thin cloud of vapor escaped.

My steps continued.

The apartment building came into view ahead.

Lights in a few units were still on.

Most were dark.

I went inside.

The stairs.

The hallway.

Quiet.

My footsteps echoed louder indoors.

I stopped in front of my door.

203.

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Yuna...

should be asleep by now.

I took the key from my pocket.

Inserted it.

Click.

The door opened.

The room was dark.

Only a sliver of light bleeding in from outside.

I stepped in.

Closed the door.

My eyes adjusted.

The futon.

Yuna was there.

Fast asleep.

Her blanket rose and fell in a slow rhythm.

I didn’t approach.

Just watched her for a moment.

Then—

my gaze shifted.

The table.

On top of it—

a plate.

A fried egg.

It was already cold.

The shape was a little messy.

The edges were slightly burnt.

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"...Hm."

I walked over to it.

Set my bag aside.

Sat down.

Stared at the egg for a few seconds.

Yuna had made it.

There was no note.

No written message.

But the meaning was clear.

I picked up my chopsticks.

Took a small bite.

Cold.

A little salty.

Imperfect.

I ate it slowly.

Finished it.

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I set the chopsticks down.

I stood up.

Didn’t change my clothes.

Didn’t wash my face.

Went straight to my futon.

Lay down.

My body felt like it was sinking.

My eyes fluttered shut.

Almost immediately.

Just before I drifted off completely—

I heard a small voice.

Coming from Yuna.

"...Papa..."

Softly.

Half-asleep.

My eyes grew even heavier.

My vision darkened.

Then... darkness.

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