Gone

Journey back home

I sit in an interview room with my face down, holding my coat tightly around myself. It's cold in here. I've been waiting for almost an hour, but I'm not worried. I imagine what a stir I've caused in the other side of the mirror. But I will be able to convince them; the likeness is uncanny.
I saw it a few months ago. I was wrapped up with Mark, my ex-boyfriend ...ex because he cheated on me a while ago ... But I don't mind I'm used to people leaving me behind,
We were watching some show called wanted. They were taking about some boring stories. Just as I was about to change the channel, they next story began and a photograph came up on the screen. She had my nose, my eyes, my chocolate brown hair. Even my dimples.
"Kang Su-yeon finished her late shift at McDonald's, on the 17th of January," a man said in a dramatic voice over the photograph,"but somewhere between her bus stop and home she disappeared, never to be seen again,"
"Holy shit, is that you?" Mark said.
A family portrait appeared: the parents looking like they were in their thirties, two grinning brothers and Su-yen in the middle.
"F*ck, do you think that's your long lost twin or what?" Mark joked.
"Yeah,you wish!"
We'd started joking about mark's gross twin fantasies and he forgot about it pretty soon. Nothing stuck around long in Mark's mind.
The female cop enters and gives me a box of piping-hot noodles from the takeaway next door. They are oily and a bit slimy, but I've never enjoyed a meal so much.
Eventually, a detective comes into the room. He puts a file on the table. He smiles across the table.
"I'm sorry this is taking so long."
"That's okay," I say
"We're going to bring you to the hospital soon, okay?"
"I'm not hurt. I just want to go home."
"It's procedure. We've been calling your parents, but so far there's been no answer. Don't worry, I'm sure we'll get hold of them soon. They'll need to come here to make the identification. Then you can go home together."
That's the last thing I need, to be called a fraud in front of a room full of cops.
I speak into my lap. "I want to go home more than anything."
"I know it won't be much longer."
He opens the folder. It's Su-yeon's file. Interview time. I scan the first page.
"Can you tell your name?"
"Su-yeon"
"And where were all this while ?"
"I don't know. I was so scared."
"Was there anyone else there with you?"
"No. Only me."
"You saved me ." I say
"Thank you."
I can see his chest swell. Icheon is only 3 hours from here. And that's where Su-yeon's family is too. I just need to push harder.
"Please will you let me go home?"
"We need to interview you and take you to the hospital to get examined. It's important"
"Can we do that in Icheon?"
I let the tears fall. Men hate seeing girls cry. It's makes them uncomfortable or something.
"You are the boss here, right? If you say, I can go to Icheon. I just want to see my mom."
I say.
"Okay," he says. "Don't cry. Let me see what I can do."
He came back with a smile.
"Looks like your arenas changed their house yesterday. They live in Seoul now."
"Oh.. Okay. Thank you."
I will be driven to Seoul by the cops who picked me up.
**car ride**
We remain quiet throughout the journey.
Until I start getting a bit dizzy. "I need to use the restroom. Please" I say breaking the silence.
"Sure sweety."
They pullover in the nearest gas station.
I enter the washroom and it reeks of alcohol. It reminds me of days when I used to let guys pick me up in bars just because I wanted a roof for the night.
As I enter the smell of vodka burns through my intestines and all the oily noodles just came roaring through me. The female cop came in.
"Are you okay?"
"Just a bit car sick."
"We are almost there. Don't worry."
"Okay"
She guides me back to the car.
I enter and let my droopy eyes get the best of me.
**few hours later**
"Wake up sweety your family is waiting for you."
I hear an unfamiliar make voice. I try opening my eyes.
"Why is she so pale?" He asks
"She said she was a bit carsick..." The female cop explains.
"Call an ambulance." He snaps.
I open my eyes and see everything swirling.
"Are you okay." His voice very concerned.
"J-just a bbit dizzzyyyy....." I manage to say.
"She's wounded... You absolute f*cking morons. Idiots." He yells at the cops
I know it sounds a bit sadist but I manage to smile before the last bit of my conscience slips away...