Thirty-One Days

Day 20 - Memory

What thoughts were running in Capt. Ri Jeong Hyeok's head while counting the final moments with Yoon Seri sending her off towards the border? Here is my imagination of his monologue. 🥺❤😭

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MEMORY

"Jeong Hyeok-sshi, don't forget about me."

"I won't... How would I forget about a woman who fell from the sky."

As I was listening to Yoon Seri and saying those words as my reply, I did my best not to blink. I refused to miss any second of the final moments I have with her. Not even one.

I want to memorize the details of her face. Her eyes. Though holding back tears, they are still the most beautiful I have ever seen. Her lips. They create the most disarming smile and cutest pout that I can never say no to. Her hair... Everything.

"I'll get going now..."

My eyes continued to trail her as she slowly walked away from where I was standing, feet glued to the ground.

I remember those days with Seri. Days stretched into weeks. Weeks turned into a few months until the bittersweet feeling has finally arrived. It was time to say goodbye.

Yet the moments I spent with her were never enough to fill my heart with good memories. We needed to create more. My heart wanted more, needed more. It has a whole lot more void spaces to fill.

So on our way to the border, I conversed with her as long as I possibly could so I could hear more of her voice and memorize the sound of it. I endured talking about her dating men and agreeing on a post-breakup condolence period. I told her to hang out with other people and be happy for as long as she shall live. I was desperate.

I wanted her to forget everything that has ever happened in North Korea. But the irony is that I wanted to remember everything.

"Ri Jeong Hyeok-sshi. Be honest with me. You have no sense of direction, right?"

Truth is I am the best at finding the right direction even in the dark. But now I deliberately wanted to get lost with Seri and enjoy her company for the last time. Yes, I was willing to act stupid and incompetent.

Seeing her step into South Korean soil, hearing the sound of her feet dragging against the dried leaves on the ground, and watching her shoulders shiver as she cried, I totally lost it.

I took my own leap of faith.

One bold step to cross an emotional territory I have never crossed before. Yes there was fear but that fear was overriden by courage and an intense desire to touch her one more time.

"One step should be okay."

I dropped my soldier's hat as a sign of surrender to the path my heart has chosen. Pulling her in for a passionate kiss, I savored every moment, every breath, the taste of her lips, her scent. I tightened my grip to feel the warmth of her body, the softness of her skin.

I took everything that my sense of touch, sight, smell, hearing and taste could possibly take in. I absorbed Yoon Seri and kept her in my heart, mind and soul.

Final, my memory is satisfied.

-Ends-