The plane touched down just as the early morning light began to spread across the horizon. Through the small oval window, Sophie Huo watched the city she had once called home slowly come into view — Seoul, quiet beneath a pale sky, unchanged and yet somehow distant.
Five years.
Five years since she had left without looking back.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her bag as the plane came to a full stop. Passengers began rising, reaching for their luggage, voices blending into the soft hum of movement. Sophie remained seated for a moment longer, steady and composed, though her heart beat a little heavier than usual.
"I'm back," she whispered under her breath.
Not for the past. Not for him.
For herself.
---
Incheon International Airport buzzed with life — rolling suitcases, echoing footsteps, the faint scent of coffee drifting through the air. Sophie walked calmly through the arrival hall, her posture straight, expression composed, though her eyes quietly searched the crowd.
And then she saw her.
"SOPHIE!"
Amy Yang waved both arms energetically, her voice cutting through the noise. Beside her stood a small girl clutching a stuffed rabbit, blinking curiously at the tall woman approaching them.
Sophie's calm expression softened instantly.
"Amy," she said gently.
The two women embraced tightly, five years of distance dissolving in a single moment.
"You're really back," Amy murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "Five years, Sophie… you really stayed away that long."
Sophie smiled faintly. "I had to finish what I started."
Amy pulled back, wiping her eyes dramatically before suddenly turning to the child beside her.
"Nina, say hello. This is Auntie Sophie."
The little girl peeked from behind Amy's coat before stepping forward shyly. "Hello, Auntie Sophie."
Sophie crouched slightly, her voice warm and soft. "Hello, Nina. You've grown so much."
Nina beamed, clearly pleased, and slipped her small hand into Sophie's.
---
The drive into the city felt both familiar and distant. Amy talked endlessly — about the hospital, mutual friends, and how much Nina loved drawing and cartoons. Sophie listened quietly, occasionally smiling, her gaze drifting to the city beyond the window.
Seoul looked exactly the same.
The streets, the buildings, the rhythm of life — all unchanged.
Only she had changed.
"You're quiet," Amy said, glancing sideways.
"I'm listening."
Amy laughed softly. "You always say that when you're thinking too much."
Sophie didn't deny it.
---
They stopped in front of a small, warm restaurant tucked between two narrow streets — the place Sophie and Amy had visited countless times years ago.
"You remember this place?" Amy asked with a grin.
Sophie looked at the familiar wooden sign, the soft glow of warm light spilling through the window.
"Yes," she said quietly. "Of course."
Inside, the scent of soup and grilled dishes wrapped around them instantly, comforting and familiar. Nina happily slid into her seat while Amy began ordering their usual dishes without even checking the menu.
Some things never changed.
Over dinner, Amy talked, laughed, and occasionally studied Sophie closely, as if making sure she was truly there.
"How was England?" Amy asked finally.
"Busy. Quiet. Predictable," Sophie answered.
"And lonely?"
Sophie paused slightly, then gave a faint smile. "Sometimes."
Amy nodded, understanding more than Sophie said.
"And now?" Amy asked gently.
Sophie looked down at the warm steam rising from her bowl.
"Now… I start again."
---
Later that evening, Amy dropped Sophie off at a small apartment near the hospital. The city lights shimmered softly in the distance as the car came to a stop.
"Call me if you need anything," Amy said. "Anything at all."
"I will."
Nina leaned forward from the back seat, waving. "Goodnight, Auntie Sophie!"
Sophie smiled softly. "Goodnight, Nina."
The car drove away, leaving Sophie standing alone beneath the quiet glow of streetlights.
---
Inside, the apartment was simple, clean, and silent.
Sophie set down her suitcase and slowly walked through the small space, her footsteps echoing softly. A new beginning. A new life.
Or perhaps… a continuation of something unfinished.
She opened the window slightly, letting the cool night air drift inside. The city stretched endlessly before her — familiar, distant, waiting.
Five years ago, she had left with determination.
Tonight, she had returned with calm.
But somewhere deep inside, something long buried had begun to stir.
And Sophie knew…
Seoul was not just the place she came back to.
It was the place where everything she had left behind still remained.