The air in Gyeongwon was soft that morning, the kind that whispered change. Anne Hwang tightened the straps of her faded school bag, the weight of her future pressing against her shoulders. Tomorrow, she would leave for Seoul.
"Anne, you'll forget to eat again," Mrs. Kang scolded gently, placing a steaming bowl of porridge on the small wooden table.
Anne smiled. "I'll eat on the bus, eomma. Don't worry."
Mrs. Kang sighed, wiping her hands on her apron. Her eyes softened with worry, though she tried to hide it. "Seoul is a city of wolves. You… you're too kind. Promise me you'll be careful."
Anne nodded, her throat tightening. "I promise." She hugged the woman tightly, inhaling the scent of warm soup and detergent—her comfort for eighteen years.
As Anne walked toward the bus stop, her bracelet jingled softly. A thin silver band, the only relic of her unknown past. On it was engraved one word: Hwang. She often wondered if somewhere in Seoul, someone else wore the same name.
She adjusted her bag and whispered to herself, "This is it. My new beginning."