My Dear Hana (1)

[FLASHBACK: Killer's POV]

***

[He always felt alone]

The baby in the cradle squeals happily at him. She reaches for him with her chubby arms. Her eyes are the warmest shade of brown. When he reaches for her hand that has been trying to reach him, she catches it.

"Isn't she cute?" His mother smiles at him.

He shrugs.

"She likes you." His mother coos to him. "Her name is Hana."

[Until he met her.]

Hana. That name etches itself on his heart like thorny vines. The baby hasn't let go of his finger.

His mother goes back to Hana's mother and other women, laughing and talking about their daily lives. Hana's father is reading his case file, not paying attention to the women's prattles. It's Hana's 100th-day celebration, but only a few relatives and some close friends of Hana's mother are invited.

"She is an exact copy of her father." He hears his mother say to Hana’s mother and laugh. "She is going to be smart like him. I just have a feeling."

"You think?" Hana's mother asks, excited.

"It's