Fintpithedby Ponabe Bone ang “7k ppc ain pled by Doble Bed ey (Addon Rreman ena opm © an ag 8 gh don oprigh © cer Shr See Saaiiacttdatote SSS eee cabeegemeraitent cs Benatar mre Sigeekely med = ‘eae owed “netedittocatrar dat eearies Siomanmeatoeass ‘anu emer iam ami: weenie ‘The VegetarianBefoe my wife waned vegeain, Fahy though of her sacompletly anette every ay Tobe Hank. the Ast time Let her wis even aneaced vo hex: Midi highs bobbed hair aither nag noe shore jndiced,scly-looking ‘hin; somewhat prominent cheekbones; het cand slow asoett tod me all ozs to now: Asche came up tthe fable where I wae wating couldn hep but neice er shoes the lanes: bck shoes imagine. Ad hat walk of hers — cts ft no low sting nr mine. However ee wast any speci atsacion nor di any pticalr aac poset themwdve, and chetforeehere ‘sao reson for the tn ofa net get mate, The fasive pessonality of tis woman in whora I could detest nether Feiincs nor charm, or anything special refined ced me dwn wo the groand Tere ws need wo fet neta Teaming in onde to win ber ove, oto worry that she might be comparing me tothe pening men who pose in fsion Cxtlogus ant she du’ gee worked wp if happened to be lane fr one of our mostingz The paunch eit sored peat ing im my midtences, my shina legs and forearms that Steady ified to bul wp in spite of ny but fons the inferior complex ied wo have abot he sizeof my penis = could rt asured dha I would have wo ist about sch thing on her account4 Theta ve aways inclined rewards he mie couse in i Ae schon [chore to bois around howe who wer 0 oF cine ‘yas my junio, and wh whom T could 2: the separ, tater tan tray Shor wih thon ry age ed ne 1 chose which colege to apply to based on ry chances of bung a achcanip lng enough or my nerds Ukinatcs, Teatled foro jb where [would be provided with 2 decent ‘monthly sayin eu x dignity crag ou ny abet tilt company hose smlsiee mae they would alae ny uneemitabe sls And ves only naira chee woul al wont in the world. As for parry dhe most rao ‘women who were prety intelligent, rikingly sem, the agers och fies ~ they would cry ever have served to dpe my curly ordered exitnce In keeping with my expecations, she made fora com= pletely oimcy wife who wert about things witout any ere Sioloues. very morning he got up ate 2. tw pepe ice aad soup.and usally sb of ih, From sales ‘cence thd contributed to er fay’ income through the ‘od bc ofpare-ume won: Ske enced up witha ob ava as taatinteuctoal de computer gaps college she'd tended foe yextand ws kesnmacted by 2 menhwa pubisher to ‘work on the worl for their speech buble, which she could do fom home ‘Se was 2 woman of few wor Ie was tae for her to demand anything of me and howover Ine {was in geting home she never ook upon Rese kick up a fis. Ben wien our dys of happened oenncide,¢ woulda occurto her eo mages we go out someothee together While {ied theatemoon av2j TV emete in hand she would shut her? ‘up in her worn, More tha ky she would spead the ane Han Kang. 5 reading, which war pracy har only hob Por some Uuntthomable exo, rating at something ee wat able realy mars herein reading books tha locked dll cout even bring mye oko much stake soak inside le cores. Only at mealies would se pen the door an slerly emerge to pope the food. Te be sue tat kindof ‘wif and chat kindof Mes, did mean that wis uke © find my diy paebuly wimeatng, On the other han if hd one of toi wives whose phones Hing on nd ofl dy loug wid lls fom fends or e>-nochenscr whose nage periodically Iss to screaming rows wid dei abana, I would hae been grate when she ally wore heslf out ‘The ony respect in which my wife was all usual was ‘hot she Gdn ike wearing sb. When Twas young man barely ou of adlecence, and any wife and I wore ding, [happened to pat my herd on er bac only find hit 1 oul el atza stap andere ses and when Tread what this meas I became quite aoased, In onder judge whether se mio poss have Been eying tel meee thing, spent a cians ox two loking ther trough nw oye, sadying hee sited The outcome of my sds wae har she was in it, Send any hid sen So i oi sit eines, ost a seer ack of concern? I eulnt irtmyhead rourc Kevan event hoagh he had shapely bea which night ut the‘ao-ba loo’. would ave pre~ fered hee go snd wearing one that a hick paced, 1 tac could ve fice ia Gout of my acqualaunces. ‘ven in the summer, when T maniged to peruade hero ‘woot one fra while het hav nha arly a minute fie Faving the house: The undone book would be dely ible under er ti, light-cloated tops, but she want6 Mevigerion remotely concened I red eproaching her, ectring her ‘o layr up with vetted fb in hat ley heat Se ‘rod jus) Rel by saying tha she couldn sad vesting bra because ofthe way it qacezed her bret an that 1 ever orn one mel s0 I couldnt understand how con- siting. Nevers comsidering Ve frst hat ‘thee were per of oker women who nike hy did have ning pica agit bs, began wo hve dou bau ‘his yperseasviy of bers all other cespecte, the course oF cur marted fe rn smooth We were approaching the five-year, ad sive ‘ve were never madly in lve to bin with we were abe to sod illg ito thc stage of weurness and boredom hat ‘an ther turn mars ifeinto a rial The only ching ‘wat became wed decided o pat of trying fr chien unt wed mszaged to secure apace of or own, which had only Irappened lt sutumn, Tvmetimee wondered whether [ ‘would ever getto hea the suring cund of child ggg “dada, and imeaning me, Uni cern day ae Febrany, ‘ue Team sere my wife tanding in the chen 3a ‘breakin jas her mightlothes, {had ever considered the onsibliy that our lie cogether mighe undergo such a= appaing change. "what ate you doing sanding thee? been sboutto etch onthe bathroom ight when [a brosght up short wes around fur the morning and woken up with 4 mging thst Gom de bere anda hl of soy ad with ines, which ako meant Le toking loge 1 come fo my senses cha wu Hon Kang 7 “Hello? ated what you're doing" Te wat cold encxgh it ae bt he sigh f my wife wut ven moc dling Any lngesiagaleohst-indued doasiness silly paso he was sanding, modonls, im Gort ofthe fridge Her fice was merge inthe darkness 0 I oaldnt sine out er expresion, but the potential options a fled ne wih fea Hie tic, ratory Blick hie wae uted up, Aiheeled. and she was Weang her sul whe akleeagt ighdeos ‘On such night my wi would orn have hurriedly Aipped ce 4 canigan and searched for her owelingslppen. How eng might he have eon sanding dhe ike that bare foe, in thin summer nighewear, mod siaight 25 though perfec blvios tomy repented intron? Hee ie wee turned nay from me and she was standing there 0 anna rally ill ic was alos a she were some Kind of ghost, len standing ground ‘What was going on If she couldn hear me then perhaps that meant she wae leepwalking 1 went town her, caning my neck 6 yan get ook aherfic. ‘Why ate you standing there ke tha? Whaek going ‘Whee I put ny nnd on he shoulder T ws suprised by her complete ack of reaction. I had no deve that 1 935 in ay ight mind and all is was ely happening had bec faly concious ofewrything Thea done ince emerging fem ‘he ving room sing her wha she was doing. and moving ‘ova her She was the ene zndig there completely wase~ sponse, tbh lot in her ova wold ews Hhe those rave occas when absofbed aa te-igh TV dena she'd| 8 Thevigesien fled o vice me asving home. But wht cou se be to absoib her atenstn inthe pees ofthe ridge white oor in the lich ack tehen afr inthe morning? “Hey! Hee profile svar tare me cut oF the dines. tok. in he eyes beg a not veri s hips lowly puted. hada dca? Herve wa openly eee ‘Adee? What the hel se you edking shout? De yoo leno wha time” ‘She earned 0 chat her body wat facing me, then slowly sea off though the open door int th vig room. Ac the entered the ror she seched ot her fot and cay pushed the door to. wis lee alone in the dark tchen, ooking Relpleiy en a hr retreating figure ws aloe sp throng the door Turned onthe throm ight sd went jn The cl apy had continied fr seve days now. consstealy hovering around 10°C. showered only fw hour ages0 my patio Shower dippers wees cold and dan. The eles of tis crue eon began co make oe seeping fo the Hick peningef he vena fn above dhe bah lesehing ou of ‘he white tle covering the Boor ae walls ‘When T went bck into the ving room my ie ws ying down, he legs ced up toe che the sence so weghred Tinga wll have beca lone in the room. OF cour this sv jst ny any ood pene eld my breath ae erin to Then, 1 sale eo heat the faint sound of ‘brething coming from where ly Yee ida ound ike the dep regular breathing of creone who Bas illen asleep 1 could have ceaced out to et, and my hand would have Han Kay 9 encountered er warm sin. But for some reson I found snyselfumble wo wach x dda ven want rach out 10 ther with word Feethefow moments imamedinely er openednyeyesthe next mocaing, whea sebty had yet to auume ie anal ‘conctetene 1a with the gut wrapped about me, abent= minded asesing dhe qui ofthe winter sunshine we fered ince the room ehrough the white cursain. In the nile of thi fi of abortion I happened co ance 2 ce val clock and janpd up ehe insure Ta the rime ikod the doce cp nd hued ou of the rom MY wife wasn fon of tie Ge. “Ave you stany? Why dh you wake me ap? Whe cine Something sass undec my foot topping mein mit seavence 1 coulda’ beeve mye ‘She wis crouching, sl wearing her nightlothes, her Aihevele, angled nie» shpelet rss around her fie Around het the kitchen floor ves awed with pte bags snd aight contines, eased all ove 40 that there wat ‘where I ould put my fre without ending on them. Beet ‘ox shaby-sabuy, bey pork ovo sds of back bee sinme ‘epi in a vcnum picked kag deed ee th my mothersne law had kept us fom the cournayie aes ag, ied crother tied wich yllow string, unopened pecs of fone dorplings and ene bandles of unidentified su dragged fom dhe depts oe hdge There was resting ound ny wife was bacy puting the things aroun her one by one nro Blac rub bags. rently Ios contol10 The Meine “Wat the ella you vp © n0y?"I shoute, she kept on pasting the prc of mest nc he bith ngs Seeminpy no more sate of my exence than the had been Ist wight Bef and pork, pieces of chicken, at less 2oo,z00-von worth of alter cel. "Hace you Tox your mind? Why om eat re you throwing a chi so? "uri eambled my way tha the psc bas and sgabbed her wit, eying to prise the bags fom her grip Sonne finder Reco tagging bala a not fered for a moment, bat my outage soon ave me the swength to overpower bee Mausgingher reddened we he spoke in the sane ertinary. cal tone of voice sheild ofr “Those words aia Her eprestion ashe ook me was pefedycompored, hat then my mobile ang. ‘Damn {sared wo fanblediough the pockets af ry cat which 1 eed onto the ving roam sf the previons evening. Flyin she lat inside pock= my fingers lsed aed wy seclcitent phone ‘mn sorry Somethings come up a argent Fry ter, 0 l'm very omy TE be chet quickly pos, Nota going lave right now Ieee. 9, ouldat poi Ive you do that Plese walt jst He loger en ey sory Yes. ally canta right now 2 1 fipped my phone shut and dashed soto the bath oom, Where 1 sheed so hurries that I cut mone in evo ee ‘lave you even oned ny whe sir? Hen Kang 0 ‘Thete wat no answer: {splashed water on myself and summagod in the sary uke caching fr your’ ite “Lacy iewssnt too creed Notonce id my wife bother to peer out Goma the hitchen inthe tine it tock me to gst ey, Hinging my We round ay neck ike a vac, pling omy socks, snd gee ny notebook and walle ogee. kn the five years wel ben marred this wae i ie had to po & work without her banng me my things and ceng eof. "You're inn! You've comply lea it? 1 crammed my fet ine my recenly puchwsed shoes, which were too marow and pinched uncomfortably, chew ‘open the oa door and ram ea. checked wheter the it as going to goal the way upto the top floor, and thea send down the ight of tsi, nly once FA managed to {amnp on the underground ain as ews about wo eve did have ine te tke in my appenance,rslctd in dhe dae Carriage window ran my ngerstheogh mph id up my ‘ieyand strated to smooth ou the creates in my shire Miy wits unmaurly seroe Be, he incongreculy Sem vice, setae ny mid Thad «dram ~ she'd sid that evice now. Beyond the ‘window in che tk manne} her ace ied yy — he ce, bak ‘amir though was sing ite the int dine Howes, shad tary nae in which te concoctan exces fe my lea thar would si my tenes well ping ogee 4 Heft prope cr ty mecing, thre was a0 Sine for smuling ove the seg Rebar of my ever-canger ie, Hivingssd at | ld ase chat somchow or other ado Ine the ofce eel today (note mind tit in the reveal onus since [ saitced eo my new pavkion there hada12 Thelegteon been s single day where C4 gt off before midnighs), and sceled nyse for 2 contontaton Date woos No peple The sero kas othe os my ‘ae Ths pla lat need bt Pt sigh Cll Aves: he fozn rae arte bing Sa mating Papin in ccs he dR ited ine ini Tang bombo sie oyu grt Mande ote of me, nd oping dow. Ti ph pat but the et, De wo on 0 ‘he met al ne lod n my math, Node cer hel ty shin, Sootow wy out Running, mening desig the ely ‘than uber the ved pen a, Te the wth aes, ig tine gs igh, Fie pion, lc nosing boat, snd shat mel that douse. Alot peal ivi. The bigs, pnle spree rh a kn, ang on binbip.Rarvaing meet, the coum of singing and happy legis Bet hr Myc wei Meo. Hie ie eid te tes Che dou, do let phy ee My Way nds My ised mou In Sat bar, whet a dove? Ped tt a mss Wo my mut, lit ch sna ny uns the ff my mou ke i ino Bod. Cheng on someing Sots bt old har len it co My fae, ck yee fate at sare bf Or a is for. hing makes ene Fara et tht ists hoy eran Jig, His Korg 13 ‘On he dining ake my if bad id euelecuce ae seybean pute pin weed cup without the unl befor clam and ich "Wont the hl? Se al because of ome sdiculows dea, youve gene and cused out the mest? Wor wrmuch? 1 gt kom my cir and opened the eee. I ws pac> ely enpy nothingbut ato powloy chil: powede, ozen fish chlles anda pack of mice gui "Just make ane some edge ely ted today 1 ‘id ever get 0 have a proper hee "Teew the egg oa well” ‘And Ive gvea up mil too "This unbolowe You ting me att et msn? 1 coin le hoi thing tay in he fridge. Tt welt eight? How net could the be elena? I are a her lowered ee. herexpesion coo sf posession. The very ea tha thee shuld be i other ide to he ome where she selshly ids she pleased, was atoning Who weal hive Bought sc could beso uneaonsble? ‘So youTte ying that fom row on, thee’ bene meat Aishoue? "Wel afer lyon wally only eat bea theme And {suppose you fin have meit wih yout anch an ciane eh aot if you de iyo go widhow mea jus for one me er ply was so method i was a ihe thought hat thi iielourdecition of her was something completely ‘tonal and appropriate ‘Oh good,so dts me sorted then. And what about you?14 TheTiyorins ‘Youle chiming that youte nor golng to ea mex ar all fom ‘ev on? She nodde.'Ohruly? Uni when? suppose. forever 1 ya To fr wo, though the sme time Iwas avae that choosing a vegetarian det wane que o ae a thd Leva the pus People tue vogetian eral ors oF reams to ty and alee thei genetic preposition towne certain alleges, or xample or ee because i seen a more ei= roamentlyfendly not e et met, OF course, Bade rests who Inve ken certain vows ae meray odiged nt to paccpate in the dexnton of i but suey nok even smpeesionsbe young git ae it quite that aA fara a oncemed the only reasomble grounds for altering one ‘cating abit were the dase to ove wight an atmo alle- ae certs py amen, beg posse by an espn, cor baving your seep dizuibed by indigeton, [many other case wat noi ba cheer absencyfr a wife ogo agit her haan wishes maine had done. Ir you'd sid heer wife had slay ben indy raced Dy meat. then foul ine understood i tt meaty twas ute the opposes — ever since weld got anced se had proved here more than competent cook, an I'l always ‘ben imprese by her way wih fon. Tong ia cri and and + lrge pr fsck in the ober, he'd ipped i mestin sing ran whitsippnge in bitesined pees hee mote= ment def and paced Her fegrantcramclned deep Dey poek wat actueved by mariating the mest in minced ‘Sryer and ghtino starch yup. Her igrtute ds al been ‘afer thia ices of bee susoned with Black pepper and sesame ol hen coated with sc rice poder a generuly 1 you would with cce cakes or pancakes and dipped in Ha Keng 15 ‘babtiagst-shabu bt Shed nade bina wid bean sp minced bef and pre-seakod vce ie fed in ome (lL There hc so been 2 hi ecken se duc soup with large hun of potatoes pey broth packed lf tender lane aed mi of which I could happy poh off thee angina single sting. “What vat petted with now ws ory ete fr meal. Her chal pulled back an ange my we spoaned 9p some seaweed soup, which was ute clely going ase of ‘ser and nothing ele She anced ice and soybean pst ot 1 Teuuce leat tbea banded Uae wisp ito her mous and chewed italew Tost couldnt understand her Only then di trae Teal ida aves cue when came te this wera “Nee esting she ake absent-minded for the world lke some middle-aged wonan adessing ler promrap on [atin sleneo endl urintereed inthis poor eneue for 2 mel ceunching on Kinch for what lie am age Spring came an sll ay wife bad backed down Se was 18 good wher word —T evr ts snge pose of mea pat her tps ba had Fong since ceased bothering to complain When a peson undergoes such a distic wnnsformution, ‘hee’ imply noting anyone ee condo bar sit back and let {hens ge 08 wit ie ‘Ske gow thinner bythe disomic 0 chat her chee hones hed rely become indecently promines. Without suke-ug her complexion scrbled that of hsp pation fit had a ben jut ancberintuce oft meme Bing uP sea in onder to lose weight then there would ave been no16 The tAgeuriee sed to wory bat I wa convinced tha thee ws more ging fon here than axle cate of wegen No, Bad oe that drum she'd mesioaed: tha vas hound ro be a the bottom ofall Alebough, era mutter oft she' pracy soppetsleine 1No one could describe my wilt a pecilyateaive— ten when [retired home te Fin tha se a aed Fill sleep. But ow I would pein a nihe and even after U had wath, arrange the bedding, a ain doa 10 Step she al woulda’ have come ta join me in the ving room She wast readings book, cating onthe internet ot ‘satehing lt-nigt cable TV. The only hing cos thisk 0f as tht she must have ber working om the mana speech Tubbs, but there a no way at would te tae Up 10 rach ine She didi come vo bed unl around ve inthe morning, ‘and even then I could say for sure whether she actully spent the nest hour alzop or nt. Her fice haggis hot hse tangled, he would oberve me ovr the breaks ble trough ed narrowed ees. She woud so much pick up her pon, neve mind acy et eyching ‘But what uoubled me moe nas that she now seemed 10 ‘be acivelyaviting sex Inte pas he'd gene been wi ing to comply with my piel dermnds, and ener even ‘ben the occasional time whea shld cathe on o make he fit move, But new ahough she dint mae a fa abr i fy tandso much asbraed her shoulder she would cimly ‘toe ey. One day I chese to conion het about it "Whats the problem, exactly? ed ‘Wl he, tht mean you need to et eome mest. Thats How Keng 0 wy you doit hie aby enengy any mor eight? You cide ed eo be Uke di, aferall” ‘Actas Wha? ee the smal “The sme” “The meatal Your body smels of meat” “This was justo ielous for wou “Dia you ss meat ea shower? So where thse coming oon, bat? “rom he same ple your aveat comes fom’ she ansmeed completly in ores TNow znd then ill fis scusk wes Ung note smc ridiculous ily ominoue Wh if by chance thes exty= tage symptom dt pos? Ihe Has ac hysteria, dls, tweak nerves ae oon tht Fought I coal detect what She nds ended up leading someching mor? All he smn, fund i dial co lieve that he might ein be goingsotin the head rian she waste thin a she'd ever been and continued co Keep the home sgonterdet.On weshend: he prepuedsezones egeable side Gaho for wo eat daring te week and even ade tirfied {law noodles with mushrooms insted of de ua! met It runt acu al tht srange once yes tok ite acooant tat sing vegeta was appueny jn vg: Ke wes only when She hadnt been able to seep, whan the Ralls in her ce were ever ore pronaunced than wal, as though she'd ened rn within arin the morning {would ak wnt tae tater ws only oben ada cese’. never enguite 0 the mature fi cream. Tae had to Kites once to chat ‘rz peabout he brain the dr woods, he ie reflected18 The Magen inthe pool of Mood ad al hc rst of and ence ad been sors thin enough ‘All because ofthis agonizing dren cm which wash out, ad no wy of lnowing and morsever dda win 9 now, she continued to waste away. At Seed snes dowa to the deans lines os dancer’ plysaue and Tt hoped tings mighe op ther, bt by now her body rem ‘ed nothing so mach as de skeletal fame of an Sn Whenever ound nz rouble by such thought, sed o> ‘ease nyseby naming thmagh what ew of he Eu Hor father worked ts swan sal cova, way out i the sks, where her mother ran hole n-the-vall shop, ‘ile my ste-i-aw and her Iasbund were both regue people and decent enough ~ sat the very least heed seera tbe ay stain of mental abnormality Deng in my fe Hoodie. 1 coukint think of he family without ako reeling the sal of sang meat and burning gat, the sound of sot ‘Gases inkingand the women iy cermeration emanating, om the kitchen. AI ef them ~ speci my ferns ~ enjoyed yu neo Kind of bet cata een my mother~ lnsaw gue ae ft, and my wife and her ster were both prsfecly competent when it came to hacking 3 chicken ino Pees with butchers ler I aby lke my wi’ ety vita he nay she woul-eateh cockroaches by sacking ‘hem with the pl ofherhand She rly had been she mot ‘orlnary woman in the worl, ven gen the treme unpredictably of he condom, "wan't pepe to consider aking he for an urgent medial consltation, much es 3 coun oftestment Thee’ nothing ‘wrong with he old allthis hind of ing Sn eve a Has Kay 19 rel lless. esse the empaion to inde in inspection, “This ange siuon bad nothing wo do with me. “The morn je Hh th dean, vr ming fosan mat smnender in gel ey ‘Daath ly ding ena ke Pe srr bon eqn fe {ye kv ad Feces wake hep my reve in heck, Ot pople cg it fred, Ie ferme ening ge fe, et ap Qh gu The hand ing te ka ws woking gui, het pre ack of my eke My had, the chopping ba theme ed thn Se fe ii ed int ny fig: A dy ofr bed ahead Bsning out ofthe 8 Ren han rend Shing te fer my woh ined. Te et seu and now tse wees rkng someting te, me tong padi Leta dye yor a dou ese, sat oe nthe and pk ot oman tring “Whe the ha yu le A off te fe" sce vty yor ddr fc yo me ‘et ene wt odd hve happened Td alone #1 is deo dig Why dat Si aga me ihe it shed have de? Deed, 1 ace een ene Aa nd om my fred. Sub en sting erand Bg le ou, Hough ped ack cdbing tide Te ding tbe, yon al the Ketch fentre Dnu toe, he ky ing esi lof note sce. Daa of test doy The pos of Med nf bam «1 ft a he fife tae20 Thetigerian "Whats wrong wi you lip? Havent you done your mae- od eck my shoes of apun and deipged my faerie aesudy pat om ho ato the ont soom, “Were you teal going to gn out locking like thi The 00 oft wee rected in the desing bi mis. ‘De yout make-ap agin’ She gc shrug ff ay han opened ber compact snd prted the powder pal ever her ice The powder made her ‘ace semewhat Bary covering Wim mote. The 1 lipid he lays wed to wena were ashen, went some way to aBevsting her sickly pallor whe! rn cont withous which her lips {ws rete "Wet ate Come oa, huey up! {opened he font dor and hued her ong ip tiny ashe Samed with he dar ue eins They dice 0 with her blac wench cou, tt coulda be heed She hd no smut shoo efi having thrown ou anibig made fom lenther. ‘As soon athe ear engine sae | pitched on te aio so linen tothe eae bullatin, paying pnicalsatetion vo ay merton of sues nese the Korean-Chinee rearant ‘which the boss had served. Once Tf made sce woah he quicker to go by another rat teed my set ble and seleed dhe handbeake My wife pea minute fasing wid her cost an finally managed t9Suton her set bet alice a couple o file ae, Tne this evening to go we You bnow ih he fic iie the bos ha smted meta one ofthese nner Han Keng 26 We only ja mange eo gto the resaura in ie, and ten then only bern Fd gane fac out on the main ou The emo-torey bulldag. Gorted by 2 spacious car park was cleanly a ophisaed atblshmen “The cold oat winer wat subhorny lingering. and my wife looked ely she tod inthe a pack denen only + thin spring coat She hod ada single wonton the way heresbuc convinced myself tds woulde' bea problem, ‘There nothing wrong with hesping que; fe ll ada women tdtioally been expeced to be deme and re ined? My bos, the manoging drectorand the exec distor ea ave ative, alongwith tei wives. The section che se iif ard up a ow minutes afer us conpleting te ary There were aod desl ond 2 we exchanged tings ook ou coats aa ung the up My bon wil, mimposng Noman wit ney phcked eyebrows and rg Jade necklace dackng athe outscored my wife ane me over to the dining bl aleady bid for wht pried eo be 2 lash meal and at down atthe bead ofthe ble The ethers seemed ite at ease gular. took ny seat cre to be seen to grap tte onate cling which wit at bo racy decor a the eves of sonal bulding. My gaze ‘wet ares bythe ght of gpdih evening sil ina se ‘ol and Terme to adres my wie but what Isa there ronght me wp shore ‘She was wearing sghty clinging back Nous. and eng ‘weer mortifeation Ysa that he cute of ee niples was leary viable ecugh he br Without dt shel corne ‘vt withou: 3 bra. When the orker guest surreptitiously craned their neck, no doubt waning to be suc da chy22 Thedigeran realy were seeing wha chey thought they were, the eye oF le execute ciecors wie met mine, Figning compose, T mgitered the curiosity sonia and conerpt which were reves in arm i er eyes T could fel my cheeks ashing All 90 comcioas of my ‘wie sting here holow-eyed an making na sterpt on In wih the other women’ exchange of pestis, Icon ‘alld mye and decided that the best ting to do the only thing to do, wat to act natura and pretend that there was nothing ueceward “Did you have any problems finding the place” my Beat wife inked me. "No, , Fe been pas ere onee or tice befor. afc, "been chinkng of coming here mysl: “Ala sce. ye che gud has turacd cut gute wel hue 2 Yen ought ory coming inthe yin; you em ce the flower beds rough ha window ove thee” Buty the ume the fod bogan to be served the ain of nainaining a eal cae, whic I hed jst sbout managed se fi, ws bringing me clone to resking poi. The is ehing pce in ont of ut woe am xi ih ‘of mang ea jelly dees with hin livers of ocn-pea ey snushion ad beef Up uns then my wife had mec it sd obseve the scene insilenc, oe the water won (he pein oflding ome oat he pith Bin opened bce mote Shed spoken very gic bat the other gs al tay stopped har they were doing. ecg pines of sapese snd wonder st her emacisted body, don’ ext mes she a sigh louder thi ne Hor Kang 33 “ay word so yout one of those “vegeta” se yu sny bos ake Wall kaw dha ome people cher coun tree trict veptrens ofcourse: And even hey, yo know, Ie does sezm dc adie ace beginning to change a Ke Now and then ther be someone ining that eating mest is bad afer I suppose giving up meat in oner to Ine a Jong Ea lat ean iio" "ately xo poedbeto lve without eating men” is asked wih a sail, “The waiter whisked nine plate sway leaving my wie sal-geaming plate on he hl, The comteraon ntsaly continued on the topic of vegeta "Do you reciember choke mrmmatied harman reais they dbcovered cee? Five handed thousand years eld, ‘ppareriynd wen backhen humans were hating forest = ty col el that fom che seletom, Meatentng sa fuel una tne, which mana vegetarianism goes aginst man ate igh? ej sear "People mninly wed so carn vepearian bosses dey nbectbed to « certain ideology .-. ve been to various Aocrars mre o have some es dane ads here was ‘uything in parcuar I onpht to be aeiding but everywhere I wen Iw tol tometing dierent ay ese the Wen ‘of special het always made refs uncom. Ke scems to me that on shoulda be eno aarrow. minded when it comes 0 fee” "People who arbivaily ot ov this oF that food eve ‘hovg theyre not sel deri o anything hse whst, | would ell nazow-minded the executive decor’ wife chiens bad been sneaking sideways glances sy wile ent fr same tie now babace dist goeskan in ane24 Tha gerion ‘wih akalanced mind, dont you thine” And now se booed her arrow drecty amy wile "Wa thee some pel rer fr your becoming a vegetarian? Head exers, or ecample or rigour, perhape "Na Her ool ely proved that she ws completely olive iousto ow dlcae the station hd become. Al of able, 2 sierra thigh me beeaie {had gut fing he knew rh dh war about ay ac “Tad ea hci spoke over he, "Rors longtie my wile wed to le fom guseoeteits ‘which wasse acute hat urbe her sen yu see A et clan advsed het te ge up aes and er symm got ot Deer te the (Only che dé the oder nod in undereang. "Wel [ust Yn gh Te ll never st down with « proper vegeta Tif arto shares me with someone who eidesextng meat repuhiv, just because thas how dey hemseies person fe. dont you gre Tagine you were matching up «wriggling baby octopus with your chopsics and chomping it to death ~ and the ‘woman 2cos om you gre like you were some kind of anim Tha mus: be how i fo to st down an ea with » ‘The group broke oats laahicr and wa onscons of| exch and every soptareangh Needles to ey my eda so much as cack asile By xo eveyone ws by making se thar heir mouths wer Fly duped with ating hat ‘iowa he up co chem ety anal en award ences tha wote now peppeig the cornerstone wis cer that they were a sncomfonle, Har Kang 35 “The nest ih ase chicken neil ana sauce sual har 9as ona. My wifes there immobile while ‘oejone oe tucked in he ples senting pal of 30s as they puhed agin the fbvic of ber Mouse. Her gue reamed intently oer the opidly wouking mouth of the other pet, delving into every nook and canny as though ‘encngt soa ap every Eee de 1p the meee ewe magnificent comes were Oy wichad eaten aoihing but sald end Kinane bit of squish porridge, She hadit even tacked the scky porsdg.a they had used a special recipe ion bet sock to give it sich, herons tte Grady che ther gues leaned to noe her presence andthe convertion sted © ‘oan Now an hen potaps oat of iy hey made a tHlore 6 inlade me, ba nny ae of heats Lene that, they wanted herp acer dance bezween ‘When fe was brought out fr deere my wie ste one salle of pple anda sre ozrge sepmen “Youteaot hungry? Buta goodness you've bealy eaten anything!" There vex something flamboyant abo he ren, socible one in which ay bos wie expresed ie concer, But the demas apolagei smile which wae the ony exon able response never cme and without even having the race took embnrased ny wife simply stared bly a my boss wife Tae sre apallet everyone presen. Did she not ere recognize the sation fo what was? Wat pombe hat the ade griped the estat ofthe alent mildleged ‘woman fig er? Whit shadowy esses ake a erin woh ose 1 never spect? In dat momen, the ws ery unknonable26 The gti | id now what ould da exsech but Hee het Lad te do something That wes the dilemma which tormented me 2 T dove home. My wife om the othe hate appeared ently unpet= turbed, seemingly unavar of how dgeiceil her behaviour tua been She jes archer reing ec he pst he doping: ‘ce window appaeny a de point of dosing of. Nucl, 1 go angry: Did she watt ee her hon get Ged? What ‘he el id she chink se was doing Burl had feng tht none of would ake the sbghtet ir oC rence: Neide rage nor persason would acces Jn movingher and I would be uote o ke mater ito ty wn hand. AM washing and puting on het nghtlckes she ap peared im her on oom ner than geting ea sleep inthe ling room 28 we way. Lva a pacing vp and ow whea T heard the phone rng: moxher-inla “How i everything with you? | had heurd a thing for suck along tine “Tm sry about sha. ju that Pe been 0 busy ely is fier in good hes “Oh, nothing eee changes with Are ding going well ewok hesitate Ton fn. Bat for my wie. "What abour Yong ys what the ates? Her veee was laced wit weeey. St had reer tend show mech of interest ine tecond daughter, but Lsuppore onc} cde ane one cle afer a “The thin she stopped ena mea Wht did youay? She’ stopped eating any Kind ef res tal ove fh — How Kae 27 si she Ines on vegetables. es Been several months new! "What kind of alk eh? Say you ca bays jt ll er not fellas thi ie: ‘Ob, ve ted al rah, bu she sil goes ahead and Asis me, And whats moc she even impor this iice- lovedSet on met can emenier the ste Taxed meat in his howe! My motherin-iaw was lest for word, nd I used her speechless as am opportuni to wm the screw alle tigherShe} become very weak I'm not sae exactly how “Lan hve tis I Yoong dere? Pas he the phone? ‘She! gone 16 bed now 1 tll her ro call tomorrow "No\leae i I el. wan thot child be defan? Ob, yo muse be ashamed of ‘Afr lnnging wp 1 sifled through my netbook and allod ry sitecin cw In-ye momber My eat were asauled by the sound of her young so bellowing "neo? down the lin. lw put your mntheren? Ing, wooly cok the sever fim herson sea ed my ile qt clay Bue her eyes ere ager aed rete and overall she was much moe feminine. “Hl” Her voce a itsounded over the phon, aap somehow more dite: dan in pon, acer filed co send me into a fate feel aoe informed he of my wwe new ford vegetarian in de same way as Thad jus dove with her smothelitned te eae the ane sequence ofaconishinent foowed ty an spology and pat down the phone afer24 The eg scoping hor sancs I comidered peut the proces by caling my we younger brother, eong-hoybutdevied thet, hae would be vending ie Dron of ue Murkesor muri anys oenaris wring hin aviary Meese trys cay bones mp Only te volo wd erght sek A sone ay of ‘nam when the mete he ci ad the hen iat updo fl gear el i dan eye tome mower tins fon Tan unt Dans ud wih dea a pales of hr Viet ac ered by igh A hey frig 1 pind. bt wee od. lity defi, Inte bang lng sip Loting Bx alas ed (0 kath acim. But now ah coming of ‘That sulin, si rome, brea eng. Nehig ee rains Mestre er ard, ecprione tn ved te at be wl. Deserve, seed. Laken, he gly ed Hood thing ts fl ela Like re cone the bak of amen Stu p bein «deren whale Begs Pn ly now coinguy ben he. 10 rk aenying bing tied ot a itd ace dae, (Conary co what Td hoped, my motber- and sterile ffoes at persion had not the sghex iaueace on my ‘wifes exting bss. At the weekend the phone rang ind my Wie picked wp. "Yeong ie my fther-ialew bellowed te you ail not Hi Kang 29 ‘ting ment! Hel never wes tlophone in is Band T ‘could hear his excied hone emerging fom the receive. “Wat dyou dink yout plying at hey? Acking ike his at your age what on eth met Me Cheong think” My wile stood therein perfec sence, holding the rectier Co he "Wy doit you usec? Can yo ee? ‘A pon of cup ws baling oa the stove. my wie put the reccver down om the alle without a word and diapocued into the ktcen. tod there fora fw moment ening > ny father-in-law raging imporey, unaware that there was to one on the oer end then took pry on im and picked pte receiver “Tasos, Paeria-h’ "No I'he one whe ahora Te socked me wert paca man apologize in ‘he fe yeas TY know him, [Wnover once ear uch wows pos: hsp. Shame 2 empathy jst nt st in He neter tired of boating about having scsned the Onder of Military Meni or wecving i Vieram, and not eal wa his voice ‘xcernely oad. was the voice ofa mn wih suongly fe iow mye in Vita. soe Vga rnin, 1 a ony to maar wih the bepining of his monoloe. According to ay wile he ad whipped er oer the calves ‘dhe wa geen yoo “lay cas youte coming up next noms eit er own ad havi out then? “The fly gec-ogethe schedie forthe second Sunday "his coming ane ws cleay ging tobe avery big del. Even if x0 on id openly wae pain to ee ha ey wer all geung ca to give my wife 2 desing, ‘Whathes oot my wife was sruly ava fa of i2 Te igen she never seme in the Ie bit prerbed. Asie fom the fit tha she dtberteycorsnund to avoid deeping with me ~sheld even taken to leeping in uowers on the srfice We swore sla reguht masred couple The only thing tht ad ange was that inte ery hovrs of the toring, when | groped for mylar: cock, tured ited at up she would bedying here ramsod sight her jr gaing pars n the dans Ale he mea the esate people inthe company ha been novice ool tomar me but once te roec Td pushed through began to yield ome ffm gig profi all sat nplenntns sppeced to have ben cetelyforgeten, 1 ometies told myself dat, ven though the women | sling wih wi ito nothing peru bad would ‘come off thought could pethy pericy welt thinking other ata stangeror toa steer eva a makl someone ‘who pus food on the ble se keep she how in good one Dect wn no eay thing fora nani he prime of is efor ‘whom marred if had vag gone entirely withou itch, ‘o hve his psi needs go unsaid for such ong period of time. So yes, one night when I returned bome hte ad Somewhat inebeed ater a meal with coleagus {grabbed hold of my wife and pushed her to the fee Pinning down her sogghng sand eaging off her trousers I beeen unespeciedl arsed She pix upssupesingly tog ves nce and siting out vulgar css al the whl Wook me three atemps before I nanaged to inser myel sucental ‘Once that hg happened, he hy there nthe dank ering up the ceng hes fice Vaak, 2 dough she wor a ‘comfort woman” deagued in paint ec wil and wie the Japanese ‘oldcrdernding er service Asso0na8 {ised she wed Ha Keng 33 ‘over and bed her ion he gal wen eo have ashowet sd ly the time I cerned to bed she was Bing tere wih hoe opt cote ae i noehing had happened, ora though reything had socichow sorted inl out dating the se TL spent wang al ‘Aer thi fit ime twa ener for me todo ie again, bat cach time, T would be seized by seange, ominexs promoni ‘ons. Tue thick dane by strand cers wae the Tic ofeersinng oan eins but he dik and sence of he ning roera would erik scl oagh mea ‘the sme. The following morn sing wl my ile atthe cake ae her ps peed Semly closed a per usa, clearly not paying the lights Int of stenon te anything | nigh be sing ~ (woud be unable o conceal aking of bhorreace kon I loked aro ter. [could stand the ‘way her expresion which made iscem though he were woman oF bite experience, who ad sueod miry hrdibps rigged at ny conscience Tews the evening tice days before the any aber “Tha dy che hums Seo wate highest on record and ‘he te condoning was Maing out inal the big shops After spending al day inthe office I starting sive aed vo 1 rene home ite eer than a On opening the font door and catching ght oy wie copped hasty nde ad lord the door behind me; wee 2 cordon spare, and the lt thing I needed ws for omeone 1 pas by a peek in, She a ising lesning agaist che decontive eleven ‘thine posing potatoes wearing thin white cotion onten ‘bx with her upper body ar tothe wal She had Jest ‘omc weight hat ec beats were isle more han pir of ‘al borps erent hershey poring olabone,ss Theliyetins ‘Why have you taken your thes off Tased her trying to fore ove a aug. ‘eeu ho she sere nether ning herhend noe ssngin whet she vas coin. rite my eet. Look 2 me I wild er bat witout ssying the word out oud. Look sme and ugh, Show me that your anower wa jut aoe Ba she diag I was sieht in the evening ad the door tothe bakony wes open, which meant athe apareat wa ite cl day wi shoulders were cover in goose pimples like tiny ssnce seed The pote peelings wer ied wp ia heaps oa sheet of newspaper Thiy-odd rersningpotstoes formed a anal ‘Whtare you pong odo with then? oskeacing efect compose "Steam then: ‘Alot them? ‘Mecha? [ tanghed fteringy and waited foe her to lagh in response Butte dds ah. Shee oven it her esd "Tyas jut you now. hungry aams fy hans asand sonnet Broa tht hr be fing she suing ex throng bata hadnt of deg finger int thi lpper pl. The dns wang hoe, «peel cba he tet yee ote, my: Sige fesing ki. Nest do cits bg omnes ee. my fines tar ld snc that righ et My rel e o vcr my bow Ice «doen pose een pe her. ip ide ne, dvi Se hou Han Korg 33 lo potg tn my meat, The cer sop, E have chee ny revere Along he anh fy ee tp ee wth Laing Ben my Hs erg doa ont oat ss eel oa of ensues for en jose IT hone slo lle its ore gh tan can coun eke ed ae nt tare fot Chil Bk eo Soup thts ene te ool. Nag enue te Back sa The dfn or tls an ho, a sone ones fo race Be doo any ea he ine Fame bck fo bd and pt my hon we she ul al he rath i go Shaping infin nthe Synge offre cscs, fs back =the dea, Cart re eal hat vw nina 5 eanng id pase of Wa, acute el gin ove ees ‘ag fom et fy sac, Sadr aunty hand ed ee my hn Brey feral al of my ll gente (Can ony a yeas oe he my Brest ang Be Dil by th and ft, mgr, go, ol woop: fm ek retin sf Baty bet 78h ny od ress Pm es. ‘Se hay. Sow do the esp vinking? Net cen ed noe Wi? Why am Ling We hi? Hy ae my ede a sapeniag sea Ta og gouge? ‘The sunny sou-facing aputnent was on the seventecsh Aer Tru. the view cut east was cbscure by other bud, ‘othe rear te moustass were visible inthe dance34 Thc Hearn "Now youve forgeten al your wore my ahersn-bw pronounced king vp his spoon and chops Completiy eae the morene” ea fore se got maid, my stern n-hye Fad managed to secure an parece withthe income ie eee ‘fom maneginga comets ore Lexding upto he pregnancy, ‘he sor had expanded othe ines song and afer the birth se insted en topping ty ony a gh and jue fora sore while wo make sure ht everyting was ronning ‘mooi in herabenceAss000 ny aophonFowoo tuned three ard wentco a masery she'd apateny started spending al dey in the sop agin. envied he hasta Hewson at college gadante who hed wo pose as an art, yet dda conmbutea singe penny ‘0 thi household Gxancos. Teas he had some prope that Te inherited, bathe ida bong in slay in Gc hie _scvts were imted wo siting sound ad no dig an af loco arching Now that x ye ad led wp her deve nd stand was ee to spend hie whole Me mesing about wither’ without singe wory to cube lis comorafe exstence Not ony thar, bo o-hye wae ee 2 ed cook, just as my wife wed to be, Seca the lunch tube she hi ewnly set rade me fel a sadden peng of| nung. Taking in her ney ed-ont Fg bi, double- lied ee ane dene manner of speaking Lory eretid {he many things seemed a ended up long somehow or seve lack to wok, ther to have le me in ry cere plight [Nether complimenting the howe nor thanking her set for taking he couble wo prepare the fod, my wie a iti toting rice and Limehi. Those were dhe only things she vouched. Mayonnaise conned 95,0 thit wat another thing Han Kang 35, ‘ofthe mem or her ecco much tick Her chop sxc sap the mouth-watering la er fice was blnched nest f proceed incre A seanger coming srs her inthe suet would have astm she wa hosp pti A lil eae, prety much a0 se well both come mn throngh the sont door she'd been ssinmoned:o the mststDedoon aera while ny ser law was the Bit to emerge, and judging for her baled ‘expres | gaesed that my wift had come out withoat a ta. Sureexoaghywhen looked doselyIcould ee her ight ‘bun nipples showing thoagh hike smudges onthe cotton, How uch was he deposit here?” [eily? We wear to lok the real ests te yard: ‘his spanment had aeady gone upto arcud ity milion ‘won. Decne neat yar they will hie completed thew {gmund line extension yous! ‘My brodhein-hw cea hata ood head fr this kind thing? “Wha id do? e-was ll down com wif: ‘While ov polis ibe convertion cred on in iner- ene tory, the cen scot ansble o sting ‘ich ther and making an alighty rack, pasiag ee to su their mots with fo “Sherine asked yo prepa ll his ed youre wit? ‘She give me a halal "Wel, Ive been ding ic bic by bic since the day before tery And ths the easonedeyten wont he market expesy ogc because {know Yeong-ye likes them and ste ban ven toced then sed my bth, Here comes 1 howe36 Te geurine Boough ny Either ed "eu, Yonge! Aer AIT od you, your owe he” ‘Tha outburs was flloned by Ln-hye roundly sebuking my wil. ‘Do you tly imend to go on ike thi? Hunan beings need cerin neon ...f yu inert flow vegetarian det you sould sit down and daw op «prope, well-blinced mea pln Js ook a your fea? So fr my wie bros Yeogho nas keping his on counsels ic wie decided ta have her ny insted When | saw her fChough she ws dierent penn. 1 head about ‘efor my hukand bu never woald bao assed hat sping vegeta could damage oor body ike that? (My mother-in-law broaght in dishes of sce bef, sweet and sour pore, steamed chicken, and ostopas noodle, _uraging them on the able fom of my wt “This whole vegetarian busines ps sight non she ad "This one, and this, and this — Merry up an eo them. How could you hive got ate dis wrctced ae when ther wot 4 thingin the wot yo can st” "Well, what are you wating 12 Come on et wp my Sather boomed "You ste Yeorg- hye! Ine admonished "Yul hae more energy you do. Everyone needs cxiain amount of ‘energy while theyre ve own priest who ete the erple hey igh be elt. but ow’ ake this asters too fa ‘hoy ll bet ne ave ives? The cilien were staring wide-eyed at my wile She turned her blak gare om ec fanja ifs eld fo ‘he reson for a th adden is, [A arined sence ensued I vurveyed inary fcher- Incas worthy cheeks; ny mother in-law Gs fil Han Keng 37 vines 1 coulda bone ft had ence been dat 04 young oan et eyes fled with worry: a-bye aul led ebro; her husband’ fected atid of being no roe tan csial bystander di pave but seaiagly dploued cxprosions of Yeon and his wif. expected my wie cay something in er ew defence bu esl, seat amet ‘he made to al howe rng face wn to st the pit of chop stick ehe nd picked up bick dwn on the able ‘Asn lacy of cae sn dough te asembled fail “Thi ine my rotor. picked up come met and ur pork wih he chopsticks ad hs ight wp in oa of aap ‘niles mouth ying "Here. Come on, hurry up and eat Mouth ose my wie red! hermottera hough ently ignorant of the cues oF eigaces*Open your mouth eight row You dont Bhs Waly ti stead thea! She ted the same ching with sed bes and whew my wife kept. her mouth shots before the boat ow and picked op some deed oper Havert you ke chese since you Wer lie? You wed to wart et them the ie “Yes ememiber tht tat Intye chimes, backing oP her herby agit seem a hoagh ny wie aot eating oyster wath lat ig del lwp think of ou when ee oye. Yeon-ye ‘As the chops bolding the daowed oyster gradually eed my e's ered most the twsted aay lle. "Bac pict My aha My mother-in-law arm oot cell remBling Evenly, ny wie sod up. ‘twenteait? Ferthe fist time in ong whl Re speech was dear and dixinceSS Thetegeurian ‘What? my we’ Ether nd baer who wer both sin Iuty hor-empered, ellen concer Yeong-ho wie icy sgribbed her hudband’ arm, ‘My heart wil pack i if hit goes on any longer! my fiheria-hw shouted a Yeong-ne. Dot you undentand ‘what your her lng on? If etl you to ext, you en Teapected an answer fom my wie along the ne of tell she sid wal dot ext men~ dear enuelsted an seemingly at the leat bi spolgeie. My motbrsin-hw geherd ap the chops with an at tude of desu Herold woman’ fice seemed onthe brink of suppres it ny lege, ‘sr enched, her inten sare cng each one of ws dow in tucn my wile bared ae “stop her. ‘Say buck! Ha Kang 66 lod shone out of er ws The sock of resist cove ie chin As he knees buckle and she crumpled 0 the toc, nie woe wrote from he by In-hye band, no wn din Rad sac though te whole thing a an ile pecuee, ‘Wha are you doing? Somebody fxch 3 towel at leat” very inch dhe speci owes rate he topped the leding swith prctied shill, and picked my wale aps ig aes “Quickly go down and eat che cagine” I groped for any shot. The one I picked up werent a irs had zo swap ther before wa able w open de ent door and gon dg tht srs i tthe my ge chad pt Fr oto Wh ts ede Barapa rand, «a= al rely Motrin go ou and stand a the min ste La in eo od ad the sme het ing The wat soe don nd i th sua i ming of ra The gt oti ered og ing A white harden ling dog ger toe than me Up wnt a ie eh, ener ie lage us hog edd do a rg We Fate the gt tad eee uh a ae, esas bee Hos he heard vem fa vig 4 deg hep ming antl th pe f death sie ler ‘andor Te metry eae Han, ad Ee eins ove ‘va ie The dag rn lang bins ps ep hye ‘nd. hve wom aan tad ae usbe eue wacny He ees ling nd gasping or be, cut hme Bey ne i glaning es et ny mI le ver ve erly ‘at ao, me?2 The Heer ‘One ba poe fl th eg is ting athe th. ld hips fmt da abc big choked withthe ope Coty raring trong ts aed ta, the gaged log the ound esx he dy vomits lise bd, iin fot |v moh and open thee Ar Bod and fd ix the, oad hy upg ad set tet gto ye Se ps, nd le sting fr thd tc ey Fer ok ed and sees hai sin ft LagigBnplyf tewoloeeHeat the og fo obi les sel pets the Ned en wea. de ep Th vay theo tor Re Ae mideged foe the math eBeyays cane eryne my ath nse ah eing The ying se that fr acd and by ge fea you have we ane dy, ad 18 cpap «mould Jor mp. Nin fut Tate a ene bie Te sl of ‘hen fhe pri de ln whl ae, pied my, ve ronenr he ps hat adn wi te dps made 1 now vont lod mised wth ft, ad haw Iu hy had seemed pa brn, the spe temp Bet dst car aly die ae “The women stayed Behind in the ou in onder to cm the ellen dowa, Yeon sa wy meetin ho had fice and my bibther-i-ew and H tock oy wil o the aay deparonent ofa nenty heap. Now no lager in itil condition she was tuanered oa get ewo-paient ‘oom snd aly then did we evo men bscerne avae that Out clothes were stained with dried Hood My wife fll aeep with an IV need inserted io er righc arm The ewo of us oberved her ecping fein lence Hin Kaw 4s ‘As thagh sme sot of ebtion ere incrbed there A ‘hough only kept on examining her fice, would be able to figure om the aoe ‘Could you sep ouide for 4 momene? ated my brother-in-law. His expresion nugget at he had some: thing he wonved to gt of it chest bat he ted hiner toa non-eomnical alright’ poled out 20,200 won fom my pocket, which wi all I coukd Sad in ther, and handed ‘Plese we this to bay at of dois Bom the tore! "Me Ay wie wil beg me some clean clothes when se comes round ler" ‘Yeongrlio and his wife showed wp that evening, with Inctye Apparently my father sil had ced down “Ther mother kept on tabboraly insisting on coming to che Iespt but Vengo wat edamane at she wasn € g0 sanpsere ner de plc, "Win on earth wert 0a beck there? Yeoug:ho? wie ‘eschimed “And ight in font ofthe children She mus fave Been eying her aahe-ap bad ran end er eyes were swollen, Nour father wert to fa, you knows How can he hic his danger in flr fer bub? Hs he abrys bce he thi” “OF cou, et anys been ghick-empered” lye scutes, Havent you sca how Yeong he takes aor in? Bat tl now hes older tenets bad. ‘Yeong-holoked pat out 'Why are yu puting di Hare “Though irl nye contin gnoring him, Yeong- lye refaed to sy a singe word co hin, so he was bound to topic you now =I mean, he hit dvgheer4 The Vgaan "Fore-fsng ber meat was ceil aking to but what mad her decide top eng it inthe ft plas? Aad ‘hen Why the kai? Ie neve se ca thing nll my i However il sh look her husband in the fe? Yeo "We looked hain shock While In-kye was camining my wit I chunged ito her husband Tshie and weet wo the sauna vps Lwashic of| the black congealed blood under the shone? Ikewarm sere of water [ooked a myelin thesis, owning, ‘The whele ale rmce my sh ra jot de sem el Right then, thinking abou my wie de cae me shock ot enfin so much sn icone fing of digs, ‘Mics In-lye ad gone home che only people ein the ‘gener wud side fom my wife and me were a school ‘whol been admitted with a rupened inten, and ee pent. They kept on dating sidemars glace at me while I sod watch a my wie Reid, and I could et perfor ‘well they were walpedig gether But ery mite now this long Sunday would be over and Monday would begin, ‘hich meant | would no longer have to lok tis waran, "expected that Yeong-ho woul ake ny plead ut che yar tomorrow my wie woalé be dcharged Discharged = in other wort would oe agin have to Be with ths sang rightoning woman the owe ofa inte ane howe i yasaprespece Md ical to contemplate. At ine o'elock the next evening 1 visited the wad ‘Yeong-bo grested me with a snl “You must be Grd, 0? hes ‘How se the cider? ‘Fewoo' dd’ saying wi hem x” IF only my colleagues had decided to go for dks air an Kong 45 ‘woth woul ave ha the pec exc oad the wart fe another two hows Butt was Monday so there was a hance fay euch rep, ‘Hows my wie bea? “Shel jut been oping: Yo can es tht without having to ak She ate what hey gave her. ieseems sek ging 9 be okay” eongrho wat clay ying robe considerate, and hed ranige 1 scot ay sharp mood alike. shor: while fer be Ly and jut a ae inking to mg tae Fought to lecsen my te an freshen up. someone knocked on the door of he wid “Tomy saprng at my emer ine ‘Pmso ssbmed to fce you she began babbing ween the came neem “There no need for ehat Hew ae ou! ‘She took a dep teeth "Wal ou see Bow it with old asthe sgt shock Shei rough a shopping bag with ee which she now thee “what hi ‘Something I prepored befor we came up % Seoul You swt nay ater months withoat met tse 50. CES sogeter, the 160 of you. 6s Mack pout wan aid dae i Insnge and her hung Found ou hey ght ys 09 sme fom coming Try fei io Yeongtye ust he cs eid medicine. {pt load of modicinal olin to rae the smell Shes Become such a srawny thing st ghost, and ow what with ong a that ood. Tae begining o gee eck and ted of tis toes ‘seal actin’46 Tedegcrion “There no oretop beri there? 11g and see they ave oven the nase oom Se took oa ofthe packs out of er bog and lef. Repesedly winding my tie sod my and and ckaching caw able myself get more and rove worked up, the iron returned which Yeorg-ho ladToefy appesed. Luckily hort whi ater my wie wok: ‘up Only hen, when I saved how much bese tis was aa, {shed woken up whe I wat thee lone, dd my mother. Taw’ ars cone wo een ike god ein. My mother-in-law came back and wi theft ding wie’ eyes ined on. The older woman's face wns ested in smiles fom the moment she opened the door, whee 7 ‘wiles exprsion wa dificult decipher Sed spent ll dy Iyingin bed and now, wheter because ofthe dip ot inply du to sweling, her fae as practicly Hoods sca at whe mil odng «steaming paper cain one hand ny moda lew grasped nye hadi he cter "This... Her eyes welled with eatsTake ths Ab, look a yous See! My wile besten took the paper cup heibal ‘medicine They sy fe eng the ba: Why nthe ol Aap buc before your inte wha the ery ame med- ce made up fr you, emamber?” >My wife sie ic and shook her head. “Thi ft hen ‘medicine! Her eiesion cheers ad incre, and het yes lle with someching sage ic pig my wit handed the ep back o her mothe. ee herbal medicine Jt hold your nove and dink it down quick “Ym nt drinking "Drink fe This your mothers with. ven the dead io Kang 07 fot thee wither obeyed, at youl ignore your ow smother ‘She ld dhe cop to my wi ip. site hestal medicine? “Of couse jst sda? My wile held her note and tao pf the ack lig my mothern-e l ses, excl, Mire, dak more’ Hr ey Fake below ther wrinkled id, “rilkeep eee and deo i ie ter? My wie ay back dow pin ‘What wend you ike to ea? Shall I hy snnething sweet rotake avy the sere ‘Ten all sight? All he sme the ob woman kept on pestering me 1 £0 tn find» shop. fed be hazed into goingand even tui sel the seen tof he shop hese Then my wie pushed cr Daaket dead go up. “Where as you going The batroor 1 picked up she IV bag and followed after her. She ang, the tag wp inte the ret and Iorked the door. A! chen, secompuaiel by several guoas, vomited up everyibingin bee omc, ‘She tagged out of the elt, ling the Sint sme tec jce anche sour tag of semi-geted food. AST dnt done ifr er the was freed to pick up her 1V big with her bandaged Jet hand, bue she dd old Ke bigh enough and 1 gual amount of blood began 10 flow back dows the tbe Taering fora the picked up the bg of ‘ck gost her mother had set doen by the bed Her ight and which chtched the heavy bag, il nd the IV nee$8 The Hagen ebedde fo i but she did't pay this the ptt bie of notice. Then she le the ard ~ apd [had abso no esto go and fn ove what he wa yp 1. Aller Tie while, the door baaged loud enough to nak te schelgie and her mother own is danpprora, end ‘ny morber-in-a busin. She nd pucker obscas one Jnandyand the poper shop bg in the other~ ‘oven at ghnce that the bac ig hd est ou. ‘Mr Cheong, what on earth were you thinking of at sting thee the? Dida yo gs whst teh ight ve been planing? [Moc thn anything ae, I was strongly tempted jit 10 alk out ofthe wad i go home, "Yos, Yeon ye do you know how mach chit work? Would you touts? Mone erped gether with your ‘own prea’ seat and beod! How can you cl youn ny Aaugheo? "The moment sw may wie bette wae. noe her red Blood eicng backward into the TV bag. “Look at yourself now! Stop eting meat, an he wort wil deour you Whole Te «look ina mito, go tell se sha yo ook le ‘inal herigh pitched screeching sid nto ow sts Bu my wie merely gaed a che sobbing woman as dough she were a compete strange, and eveneuly 3: having lcd ta this peforennce ba gone on ite lng nu, tot back ap cmt the bed, She pled the alt to her ‘est and dosed ber ees Only then did ae the IV ba, ow half ill of rim blot could we Hen Kang 49 nh shy tht wom i ig To ec yee hep tevig a i ete sgh she wants w sae Or why She sobs the hana my rit with hr won ade Myr ey Ue eos me The hig ans 7 test. Something i shiny oa poe I dat waht igh be og te pment se dae en tah Te Syed en ab, can lap al ine No mater howe ely Liat dean go él an hed tte ae ape ae ae cms afore that lap. Bese of rent Late th et Tai the ena Ite hae lg thre Bod ar eth, tae ube bees re ted in very nook and ny and ough ‘Nephi orm xed oe kb to ny wes (eine, jut one mere Hn, sae. ato Be sms gh he lac window Mp a wed aly et ‘samp ont ny bo Xe perhaps hat ight work ‘Nolen ilp. Noho ca ae me Nady on mabe me bree I packed ay nothin offi a and when Tgp bac the ward wn die The ehoolgi and er mother, presimaby fed ap wit al the commotion bad ned of dhe tevson tnd igh line ahead of rs, end dan tei curs My soe wa epg. ay down hua onthe raped sie leaded to fl sleep. Thad ably nodes how Las ing to soe tic mest out. Only one thing was clear end ‘hac was hat this wot fr was Dound co cause me no end of woul, ‘When | eventally scceeded in iin asleep, 1 had 2$0, TheMgeaan dear. the eam, 1 wos killing someone thet a ie int dsiessoach wi all mysueagdh then ached x the wound and wrenched out the lng codd-up inettns, ke ating hI pele off a the squishy es and muscle and leony the bons Burin the very intat Toke up cesed co remember iho os ht had Ele {i as cali in the mornings dik. Driven bya veange ‘compulsion | paled back the Moret coving my wife. 1 “unbled a the ptch- bac das, bu thee was no watery ood, no ripped intestines, 1 could lic the ether patents sleeping eth conning nile gasp, my wile wat n= aatucly sleet. {fk an odd tembling laste snyeelf and reached out wih ny inde: Finger to ouch her pirun She mu ave Whee [woke up again the ward wat aay i ‘Goodness, youve been espn 0 deeply he young ge mother sid You dt even wake up whe they cme and ‘rough the fod! She sounded though se leah: erry foc me.T si the mea ay thst ha Ben et on the ed MY ‘wife hada even opened the rice bow bad eft the may sntoached and gone. were? The IV haa bee pled out too an the Moody neni ws danging fom the end of ee Jong pls tobe “Wher she poate ping say the ees af dol fom wound any mouth ‘Se was dey gone when we woke up! “Wine Induce, you shoud have woken me, you know! ‘Bren if tied to, you sleep lke log .- of coune, T would have waken you shad semed like someting Hen Kuag st ted hoppens! Her fae reddened ether fom anger cesimple censon Tagjed my clothes and rushed out, looking stud pasty a pased down the cocrdor and came co he it, Duc my wife was nowhere to be sen. dat ave cine or thi [eal hem ate office da I be ex hours ter tan sual geting laht now my wie sbould aeady have been bring dchaged decided thet whea I took hee bore 1 ‘svi el her and indeed me that we should jus chink of the whole thing a3 bud dic, Toa the dws 1 the ground floor She wasn the Inbiygs0 hurried out ao the hospital guren, ou of breath but making are sen he are how The nly people in the eanfon were hove pues who nd already fishes their breaks The cay- morning chill which would pa oF soon enough i sly mild even now You coal el who ‘ass Jonge patie bed on how they looked ~ whether Signed ad goers o poset. As eew ner the foonin, snhch was ry. notced at here yas seme kind of comme tion; de people achcrd dhere wer ll looking a something 1 puted my woy dough the aI hada lee ewe ‘Mi wie wa sng on «bench by he fountain. She Bak emoved ber hop gown ad plied on her es ering ter gan cllartones, emacaed bent and town aiples completely exposed The busdage ha been aa wound fom er ltr ad the Hood tha was leaking out seemed to be Nowy ekg atthe sutured tea, Sunbeas bated her face and nuked body Hw longa he bee ting hee he “Good pri... se Took Hk se ome om te psychi ste wand ht young won?2 Therein “Whe dh ling” “sok ike she’ ppng someting “At oa ovr thee They oming now! ‘Whe Lexned to bok every snide mile mane a mileage guard coud bo sen ying ove hes frre {ooked my we exo ce here sine wi Hood he dan app pick Her ee, wh had been ang ely the peed ence ne ie They ec tough led wh wer Thought omy donot ow tat won. Andis true Kwa nota le Newt, comeled ty wpe sities which ceed to be shied my legs ead se towne her 2 movment which I could not fr de ie af sre conte ‘Daring wha ae you ding? T msm in ow voi, ckine pth hop gon and ing it cove es be hee “WR hot." ame inl ~ her ie ia ale which ould nthe beza moi iar. ad which had belived Thnew 2 rd hot jut got edd? She red he ee htt silt er fee! own the sccang sug reeling the os on Ba we “Hie | dane sonehing wong” 1 pesedooca be: lend igh and bi which had eon rte in heZFrumbed othe beach. wae ssl whie-oe br. with ther ming here an there. alow took whic kd ive een aed by pers bie. wid ed odie we peng