Forever, You Are My Star

Chapter 11: The Fresh Start

"Excuse me?" Mey asked calmly. The man shook his head and gave a faint smile.

    "I'm so sorry. You just look like someone I have not seen in a very long time." He then walked behind a small counter as Mey approached. "I see you would like to buy these jewelry pieces. Is there anything else...." His voice stopped in his throat when he saw the jewelry piece around Mey's neck. "May I ask where you got that?" Mey looked down and took the star pendant in her hand as she smiled.

    "My mother gave it to me. Coincidentally, she had the same name you also called me." The gentleman's eyes grew wide once again.

    "By chance is your name Mey?" At this point, San, Mingi, and Yeosang has made their way behind her slightly afraid that this man would go to the commander after they left. Mey felt in her gut that she knew this man, and that she could trust him. She wasn't wrong about San and the rest, so she gave a small smile and a nod.

    "It is." She gave a slight pause when the man reacted relieved. "Was my mother by chance the one you have not seen in a long time?" The man nodded back at her.

    "She was. She was a close friend of mine that my wife and I cherished. We miss her everyday." Mey released the pendant to let it fall on her chest.

    "As do I." Mey shook her head to snap her back to reality. "I'm sorry to keep you from your work. How much do you want for these jewelry pieces?"

    "For you, they are for free."

    "Oh no, I must pay you something. You must have put in so much hard work to make these." Mey began to reach into her small pouch, but was stopped by the man who reached his hand over the counter.

    "Please, take them as a gift. I insist. I have many more like these as you can see." Mey placed her pouch back down and gave a smile.

    "Well, thank you very much. I'm afraid we must be going, but thank you again."

    "Of course." Mey turned as did the boys and began to walk out of the shop. She let the boys walk out first as she stopped in the door way to look back.

    "May I have your name?"

    "It is Soowon."

    "Soowon, may I come back tomorrow?" Soowon gave Mey a bright smile.

    "Of course. I look forward to seeing you again." Mey also gave him a bright smile then turned and walked out the door.

    After about three more hours of walking, Yeosang was able to pick out the last of the food supplies while San and Mingi gathered gun powder for their muskets and ordered barrels of gun powder for the ship to be picked up the next day. As they began to leave a stand that was selling muskets, Seonghwa and Jongho arrived with their bags and baskets filled with medical supplies. Since it was almost supper time, Seonghwa thought it best that they should head back to the ship to drop off and organize their supplies then gather the rest to head to the tavern for dinner. As they were walking along, Mey stopped in her tracks which caused San to also stop as he was holding her hand in his.

    "Something wrong?" He asked gently looking over to what Mey was now staring at. There in the window of the shop was a beautiful off the shoulder, red dress with black roses fading down the skirt. Around the waist was a black belt with a beautiful red gem in the center. It was probably the most beautiful dress Mey ever saw, and San could tell she wanted it. "Would you like to try it on?" Mey looked over to San and hesitantly shook her head.

    "There's no need. Back at the castle, I would have a use for it, but now I do not. I do however need new clothes so maybe this store has more." She responded. San smiled down at her.