Perhaps if she'd never mentioned it in the first place, things wouldn't have gone astray.

pre mortem: before death

One day under a shared umbrella during an autumn storm, she pulled up the courage to confess to Aerin, which was unfortunately declined. In a brief moment of shock Lin ran away into the rain, got soaked to the bone, and ended up contracting a severe case of pneumonia from which she never recovered.
During the short periods of time when she would regain consciousness in the intensive care unit, she was constantly troubled with worries about whether she'd lose her friendship. She was gifted with relief the day before she died - Aerin had finally found the courage to visit, and they were able to alleviate misunderstandings and make amends.
Though never reciprocated, Lin-Young's feelings never changed - she accepted her friend's choice, her dire situation, her own emotions, and her fate. And that was enough.

arbitrium: the choice

---

vita nova: new life

Though she gladly took on the task of being her friend's guardian angel, sometimes she can be seen gazing at them with a sad smile on her face, because things could have different.