Son Ombre

The letter from the Korean empire army.

To: Queen of Denmark

From: Korean Empire Army.

Princess, Your Highness, all my life. 

I'm writing to you, you would probably have recognized my writing in a matter of seconds. You would probably have known if this letter had ever been sent to you.

I'm writing to you, This is me. The deputy commander.

This is not my first letter to you, nor is it the last one. I counted them at first. I cried because of the letters as much as a man never cried, but you made me feel like no one could make me feel.

It's night now, the moon is smiling at me and I'm alone. I'm still wearing my army uniform and I can recognize your smell on them even though they've gone through countless washings in boiling water, your smell, your scent on my clothes.

I enjoy writing you letters that may never be sent to you, I enjoy reading them and crying from them, I enjoy missing you as time passes.

I am sorry for all the times I told you that I would continue to be there, forever, forever by your side. I'm sorry because I did not stand, I did not keep on being by your side, although I'm here and there, I'm sorry because I didn't kiss you enough as I'd like, I'm sorry for every moment I had to be with you and I was not. I'm sorry for every time I looked at you and did not go on for another minute.

Your Majesty, I am sorry for everything, from the beginning to the end.

I'm sorry for every time I called you Your Majesty when you didn't want me to. I'm sorry that I did not stay with you there, I'm sorry I was born like this, out of control over time, otherwise I would have stopped the time just for the two of us to exist forever.

I'm sorry my ship has gone away, far away from you, I'll never see you again, so I knew it.

Half of my letters to you are soaked in my tears that have destroyed you, the ink has been smeared, turned into something that looks like our love - blurred with tears but still written, exists.

Your Majesty, I'm sorry I promised you this false eternity. Though you are there, always there, as far away as you were at first, and I am here with my heart that misses you like the heart of a man who has lost his sanity.

I just wanted to write the words I did not think about then, when we were together, when I could hold you.

I just wanted to write,

Your Majesty, it's me, the Korean soldier who went on with his country after all. Your Majesty, as time passes, I begin to realize that the eternity we talked about has not taken place anywhere other than the world we have built ourselves.

I want only one more day with you and not miss more, than an entire eternity and happy with another.

And I'll never forget your promise.

Though I'm sure you're keeping and not breaking them like me.

You promised me that I would continue to exist in your heart even after hundreds of years of passing and meeting in another place and another time.

You promised me that I would continue to exist there, even then.

Even when I don't recognize you, even when we may not meet in another life, but you will find me in some way and you will know when this time will come, that I entered your heart again and will never go out. I'll be there, Your Majesty.

I finish the letter with a salute . Your Majesty, when the sun shines and warms you, and the moon shines in me and sends cool winds over my salty face.

I will continue to exist there, in your heart. Don't let anyone know about us, tell this to the moon, though that's all I can do every night.

One day, this letter will be secretly sent to you and you'll read it, and if you read it now, I'm fine. and I love you.

Imagine my voice telling you these words, don't cry.

years will pass before this letter finds its way to you,

I hope until then to see you, if possible, just for one moment.

Your Korean soldier, 

Deputy Commander, Lee Joong-chan

Korea.