Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I still remember the first time I met him. Our eyes locked, and I was drawn in by the sadness lingering in his gaze, the tears that shimmered on his face.
The moment was tense, yet my heart ached for reasons I couldn't fully understand. My pulse raced, fluttering wildly, as if it already knew something my mind hadn't yet grasped.
2020
It was the trip of a lifetime, a dream I'd held close for as long as I could remember—my first solo journey, alone in a new city that had always captured my imagination. Seoul, Korea. I had fallen in love with it through K-dramas and Korean music, especially BTS. Their songs became the soundtrack of my life, and this trip was my chance to explore the city that had sparked my heart's fascination
I had settled into a routine. For the past week, every evening from 4 to 8 p.m., I'd wander the Han River Park, notebook in hand, headphones on, soaking up the inspiration that seemed to float in the air. It was a peaceful solitude—until it wasn't.
It had been three weeks since I arrived in Seoul, and this city was slowly becoming my second home. It was 4 p.m., and like every other day, I made my way to the Han River, my favorite spot. I spread out a small blanket, lying back to soak in the gentle warmth of the late afternoon sun. The sky was clear, with just a few clouds lazily drifting by, and the breeze carried the fresh scent of the river.
I had my favorite headphones on, the ones my dad had custom-made for me. They were a treasure, as rare and beautiful as the memories tied to them. Beside me, my Polaroid camera rested against my notebook, waiting to capture the moment when inspiration would strike. Music flowed through me as I let myself drift in and out of melodies, jotting down lyrics and thoughts whenever something sparked.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I am Lee Miya, a YouTuber with over 4.5 million followers. I cover music, songs that move me, and share them with the world. Though I've gained popularity, being from Bhutan has its challenges. (I could obtain a lot of opportunities if I mentioned my father's name, but I can't.) Opportunities are limited, and it's why I came to Korea—to start fresh, to see what possibilities I could create for myself, from the ground up. (As a normal person would)
