One day in March, as the feeling of spring was slowly beginning to emerge, activists Haeng and Gamja went to visit halmoni in Gyeonggi-do. Over the past few months, halmoni had grown so weak that the activists carried many worries with them, talking about her in the car until they arrived. As always, when they reached her home, halmoni’s daughter, who takes care of her, warmly welcomed them. Although her daughter always expresses her gratitude with a table full of food whenever the activists visit, they had gently declined, feeling sorry to eat while halmoni was lying down. Even so, she once again prepared a generous spread for them, saying it was just a snack.
When they arrived, halmoni was asleep. As they asked how halmoni had been doing lately and whether her eating had improved, they were saddened to hear that there was no good news. At the sound of their quiet conversation, halmoni woke up, looked at them for a long while, drifted back to sleep, and then opened her eyes again. The activists had thought they would simply sit quietly by her side that day, since they had heard she had so little strength that she found it hard to speak. But after catching her breath, halmoni said to them, “Eat, eat.” The activists were both moved and made to smile by her tenderness, feeling her wish to make sure they were fed before they left, even when she herself was unwell.
From halmoni’s daughter, they heard that halmoni used to have many friends. Knowing how active she had been before, the activists thought, of course, she must have. There is another elderly woman in the neighborhood who is the same age as halmoni, and because she is still able to get around, she often comes to visit. They heard that each time the two meet, they hold each other tightly as if it might be their last meeting, and the story touched the activists deeply. When they said to halmoni, “Halmoni, spring is really almost here. When spring comes, let’s all go outside together,” she replied, “Let’s all go to Mapo together.” Halmoni used to go on outings to Mapo when she was young. The activists wished they could truly feel the spring breeze with her and share many stories together.
When it was time to leave, and the activists told halmoni they should get going, she held their hands tightly and would not let go. They were relieved to feel that she still had strength in her grip. She said to the activists, “See you again, see you again,” and then, with a playful tone, said “See you again” to her daughter as well when her daughter briefly came out to see them off. Even while lying there, her sense of humor had not gone anywhere. Thanks to her, they were able to say goodbye with smiles.
The activists think of halmoni both on their way to visit her and as they turn back to leave. They hope that, filled with the warmth and energy of spring, halmoni will be able to rise again with renewed strength.
When they arrived, halmoni was asleep. As they asked how halmoni had been doing lately and whether her eating had improved, they were saddened to hear that there was no good news. At the sound of their quiet conversation, halmoni woke up, looked at them for a long while, drifted back to sleep, and then opened her eyes again. The activists had thought they would simply sit quietly by her side that day, since they had heard she had so little strength that she found it hard to speak. But after catching her breath, halmoni said to them, “Eat, eat.” The activists were both moved and made to smile by her tenderness, feeling her wish to make sure they were fed before they left, even when she herself was unwell.
From halmoni’s daughter, they heard that halmoni used to have many friends. Knowing how active she had been before, the activists thought, of course, she must have. There is another elderly woman in the neighborhood who is the same age as halmoni, and because she is still able to get around, she often comes to visit. They heard that each time the two meet, they hold each other tightly as if it might be their last meeting, and the story touched the activists deeply. When they said to halmoni, “Halmoni, spring is really almost here. When spring comes, let’s all go outside together,” she replied, “Let’s all go to Mapo together.” Halmoni used to go on outings to Mapo when she was young. The activists wished they could truly feel the spring breeze with her and share many stories together.
When it was time to leave, and the activists told halmoni they should get going, she held their hands tightly and would not let go. They were relieved to feel that she still had strength in her grip. She said to the activists, “See you again, see you again,” and then, with a playful tone, said “See you again” to her daughter as well when her daughter briefly came out to see them off. Even while lying there, her sense of humor had not gone anywhere. Thanks to her, they were able to say goodbye with smiles.
The activists think of halmoni both on their way to visit her and as they turn back to leave. They hope that, filled with the warmth and energy of spring, halmoni will be able to rise again with renewed strength.