Thirty-One Days

Day 29 - Hands

Memory came flooding in when Ri Jeong Hyeok held his son for the first time. What powerful magic can a tiny grasp do? 🙏💕

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HANDS

"Mr. Ri Jeong Hyeok, please meet your son. Congratulations."

The moment the nurse left us, and it was just me, my sleeping Seri and our baby inside the hospital room, I felt my whole chest wanted to burst. My heart was overflowing with unexplainable joy that the only way to ease myself was to cry.

Silent tears welled in my eyes as I looked closely at this tiny human being right before me. From his soft brown hair, chubby cheeks, tiny red lips, down to his long, fair-skinned arms and legs, and slender fingers.

He is perfect. We did well, Seri-yah.

"Annyeong, little one. I am your Appa. I am so happy to finally meet you..."

How I wish he would open his eyes but part of me wouldn't want to wake him up yet. I wanted Seri to rest a little longer and for myself to savor this quiet time staring at my son. God, my own son...

When we learned Seri was pregnant, one of the things I hoped for was for our baby to take after Seri's wide and bright eyes that turn into crescents when she smiles. It was the memory of her bright eyesmiles that kept me alive during those days and months we were apart. They served as my hope; something I always looked forward to see, like the sun peeking through the dark clouds.

With one hand gently stroking his narrow forehead and my other hand tracing the lines on his tiny fingers, I asked.

"Do you have your Eomma's eyes, my son?"

Then something magical happened.

A small yet tight grasp jolted me. My child's  adorable fingers wrapped around one of my fingers, as if saying 'yes' to my question. He held on like he never wanted to let go. His tiny nails burying to my skin. So soft but the grip was really strong.

Just like his mother's hands.

The sight and feeling took me back to that gloomy afternoon when Seri and I tearfully bid our final goodbyes at the border.

"While I was being taken away, your Eomma squeezed my hand for as long as she could. She was still weak but there was strength in her hands. She tried to grab my hand again but at that time, Appa couldn't do anything about it..."

My eyes were drawn to my wife's hands resting on her belly. Still sleeping soundly, she must still have felt very tired from giving birth to our boy. I reached out my hand to hers.

"Thank you for holding on to us, Seri-yah. For not giving up. At that time, my only prayer was to be able to hold your hands a little longer like this, just a little bit more time.

But you have given me so much more today, my love. You gave me another pair of beautiful hands to hold, to guide and to cherish.

In front of our son I promise that I will hold you forever with all my heart. I commit every strength my hands possess to protect you, and every gentleness they have to serve and take care of you. You, our son and all the children we shall have..."

-Ends-