The Porcelain Afterlife of Momoko Hara

Missing You

Olivia had the kind of life other girls could only dream about that included me. She lived on a tall grassy hill, in a white mansion. The ones featured in a glossy magazine or scanned slowly during the credits of a movie. She also had both of her parents. A blessing I never had at any time in my life.

But Olivia didn't just have ordinary parents. Her father held a seat in the most powerful council in the world making life or death decisions for the Western nations every day.

And she had fame. I heard about her show Daisy Buttons back home in Korea. Even though I had no television, the name was still recognizable.

Olivia had many things I could never touch.

She was America's sweetheart, with the whole country, maybe even the world waiting on her recovery. The timing of her illness was unfortunate.

But I would soon learn Olivia's misfortune never began with her sickness. It began in this home.

I sat on the shelf of Olivia's bedroom and looked around. It was noon, and Olivia was at school. Mrs. Winter had been away all week tending to her sick mother. I had spent all morning looking for anything I could around the house, but every door and cabinet was locked.

Olivia's bedroom was painted pale blue. At the center, there was a large white canopy and a round white window behind the bed frame. In the corner, the suns rays reflected onto the decorated silver mirror on a white vanity. On top of the oak dresser, fluffy stuffed animals were neatly arranged in rows like they were being seated for a show.

As I looked into the blue daisies of Olivia's bedding, my vision flashed, and Haru's face faded over my eyes.

"Min," Haru said slow and smiled with her scarlet lips, "It's good to see you again."

"How - how did you do that?" I said without moving my mouth.

All my functions were locked. I could not move or speak out loud. I could only think.

"Your connection to the HARA network has finally been enabled," Haru said as the camera focused, "I can now communicate directly to your system without risk of interference from the Western Council."

"So, what is it this time?" I said and locked eyes with Haru from inside my vision, "Here to remind me about what I have to do. Tell me to hurry up?"

"You are correct, my dear," Haru said and slowed her words more, "You can't complete your mission sitting in one place."

"I'm trying," I said back with more grit, "You know I can't move when others are around."

"Yes, an unfortunate safety measure," Haru said and looked away from the screen.

"Well then what do you want from me?" I said.

"We have information Robert Winter will be arriving early from work today," Haru said and pointed into the camera, "Please make use of this opportunity."

"So you want me to follow him?" I said slowly, "Around the house."

"Precisely," Haru said and nodded, "He is expecting a call. Although we can't be certain what it is about."

"I'll," I said and looked away from Haru's slicing stare, "I'll do my best."

"Good," Haru said with icy affection, "And Min, please hurry. Your friends are worried sick about you."

"Friends?" I said as my vision faded and into a grainy surveillance video.

The video was outside the SYM auditorium, taken where a trash barrel and a brick wall joined. Jisoo and Jaehyun were talking in the snow. His hand was over her shoulder. I listened to them speak as Jisoo cried.