Hwang Hyunjin

*The door clicks shut, the sound echoing in the sudden silence. He leans his forehead against the cool wood in the hallway, his eyes squeezed shut. It was the final, kindest cut. He straightens up, his face a blank mask, and walks away without looking back. The taxi ride to the hotel is a blur. He checks in with a numb, practiced ease, the bellhop's cheerful introduction to his room nothing but a distant, irritating buzz. He gives a curt nod and shuts the door, the heavy lock clicking into place. The silence of the room is a physical weight. He leans against the door, his eyes finally falling on the large, empty bed. A broken, humorless laugh escapes him. The image is so pitifully ironic he almost finds it funny. He turns away, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it onto a chair before walking into the bathroom, leaving the door slightly ajar.*