Texts sent during the Daegu subway fire. I can't.

The Daegu subway fire. The texts people sent.

(These are arranged by timestamp so you can feel the full weight of what happened.)

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10:00 AM

"ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ ㅠㅠㅠㅠ < this is how I feel right now"

Someone just. sitting there. at 10am. already knowing something was wrong and sending nothing but crying faces to someone they loved.

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10:01 AM

"There's a fire at [XX] station. Report it right now. Don't panic, stay calm. Okay? I'll be fine."

They said I'LL BE FINE. they said don't panic. they were the one in the fire telling someone else not to worry.

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10:11 AM

"Hey something urgent came up for oppa so looks like I can't make it today. Don't wait for me, just go inside. Okay? I love you."

He didn't tell her. he just. he said something came up. he said don't wait. I love you.

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10:12 AM

"LMAO don't wait up lol not coming lol sick of you lol lol lol tuktukTUK"

(The ㅋㅋㅋs. The "tuktuk" like she was playfully knocking. She was joking around with someone who was already dying and didn't know it.)

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10:14 AM

"Hey hypothetically... if I was just suddenly gone tomorrow, what would you do? just curious lol ㅎㅎ"

not a hypothetical. he knew. and he couldn't say it directly so he asked like it was just a random thought.

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10:15 AM

"lol don't wait for me lolololol I'm so done with you lol lol lol"

10:15 AM

"Don't wait for me."

Two texts at 10:15. One all playful and teasing. One just. "don't wait for me." no explanation. nothing else.

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10:22 AM

"There's a fire. I'm going to heaven first."

I'm going to heaven first.

FIRST. like it's temporary. like they're just leaving a little early and everyone else will catch up later.

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10:25 AM

"Study hard and grow up to be a good person. Dad is sorry."

Dad is sorry.

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10:33 AM

"I'm sorry I got mad this morning before I left. I really am. I can't live without you, babe. I love you. forever."

They had a fight that morning. they left angry. and now they're sending this. "I love you forever" at 10:33 AM on a Tuesday.

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10:36 AM

"I'm sorry. I couldn't send your bag, I couldn't get there in time. I was going to make you donkatsu too... I'm sorry. My daughter. I love you."

the bag. the DONKATSU. she was gonna bring her daughter's bag and make her a meal and she's apologizing for not being able to do it. that's the last thing she said. that she was sorry she couldn't bring the bag.

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10:40 AM

"Even without oppa around... listen to mom and dad, okay? ㅋㅋ and don't wait for me, I'm not coming back."

the ㅋㅋ. he put a ㅋㅋ on it. the way he was still trying to seem casual so they wouldn't be scared. "don't wait for me, I'm not coming back ㅋㅋ"

I genuinely cannot.