Fragments of a Fragile Mind | Kim Taehyung

Taehyung was in the room he'd spent the last eight months in getting his stuff packed. He didn't have all that much, just some outfits that had come in as donations to the facility. As he was putting the last of his things in his backpack, a nurse was standing there reading off a bunch of instructions about what he was supposed to do for outpatient care.

He still had countless therapy appointments he'd have to attend. The medications were something he'd have to be on for possibly the rest of his life to help with his depression. He was pretending to listen, but was so sick of hearing the same things over and over. He kept replying with "Yes," and "I understand," and "Absolutely, I will."

"As much as we will miss you here, it's nice to see you moving forward. Good luck with everything," the nurse replied. He never cared to learn her name either. Didn't matter, because now he was leaving and it was nice knowing he wouldn't miss anyone from there because he didn't allow himself the opportunity to bond.

The hospital set up an Uber to come pick him up and give him a ride home. He had everything he needed to start getting back on his feet out in the real world. He wasn't sure what that looked like for him, considering he completely quit music and had decided to leave the company after the accident. He wasn't willing to go solo. It had always been, and would always be, seven or nothing.

Being in the Uber felt weird. This was his first car ride since the accident and he had to close his eyes and imagine he was somewhere else. The road didn't feel safe. Seeing the pavement below the tires sent waves of bad memories through his head.

He wanted -no, needed- to get back to the dorm as soon as possible.

Once he arrived at his own front door, a wave of emotions hit him.

Sorrow, agony, guilt, defeat.

He also felt a slight sense of hope. Hope that maybe when he walked through that door his members were waiting inside for him ready to throw him a party. Surely that's why they weren't with him right now. They were getting ready for his surprise "Welcome Home!" party.

Taehyung thought he'd finally figured it out. He'd been the one in the car accident, not the others. That's why he'd been in the hospital for so long and not them. Surely they had come to visit him plenty of times, his head trauma just made him forget about it but now he'd see them at home.

Everything made sense now.

With a smile on his face, he turned the handle to the dorm they'd all shared. He tried to be loud so the others would know to hide if they hadn't already. "Guys! I'm back!" he shouted through the door as he slowly creaked it open.

He cleared his throat as he slowly shut the door behind him. It was the first time he'd seen his home in months and it looked as though it'd been well lived in. Clothes were scattered across the living room couch while empty cups sat on the kitchen counter. A rancid smell was being emitted from the trash can that was sitting in the kitchen. When's the last time they cleaned this place?

He stood there and wondered why his members hadn't jumped out of their hiding spots yet. Didn't they hear me say I was back? Maybe they didn't hear me walk inside.

"Hyungs! Jungkookie!-

-I'M HOME!"