A Shattered Soul

Part One: Dreams

FOUR YEARS LATER

            Taegun awoke to screaming as he lifted his head from the sweat stained pillow.  The faces of innocent lives flashed before Taegun’s eyes, his gun in his hand and his finger on the trigger.  The screams of a desperate father could be heard over the sound of the gun shot.  The last thing Taegun can remember is terror, shear terror in the eyes of his victims. 

Damini was still lying next to him. 

“You didn’t have to stay” Taegun said abruptly.   

She was awake too; no one could sleep in this God forsaken hell. 

  “I like to know that my most valued customer is alright.  Are you ok?” she asked. 

Taegun just ignored her and put on a t-shirt. 

“It was your nightmares again, wasn’t it?” Damini asked once again. 

Taegun pulled out his wallet and handed her a hundred dollar bill. 

“No, I don’t mind just laying with you, we don’t even do anything.  It’s nice and I like to know that you are ok.” Damini said concerned. 

“You don’t even know me” Taegun retorted. 

“From you speaking in your sleep I know enough that you shouldn’t always be alone” Damini replied agitated. 

“I’ll just call in a different girl then, I don’t want you in my business” Taegun said coldly. 

“No Taegun listen to me.  You have been calling me for the past 3 years.  I don’t even know why you are in Thailand in the first place.  I can tell that you have had one messed up past and I want you to know that you have a friend” Damini said. 

Taegun put the bill back in his wallet and walked over to open the door as she left. 

“I’ll see you later this afternoon, at Tony’s place ok?” Taegun said. 

  Damini kissed his cheek and walked out the door.  Taegun went back to his bed and looked at his clock, 5:47 A.M. 

God I have to get some sleep, Taegun said to himself. 

  He sat on his bed, until he finally lay back down.  Sleep filled his eyes, and before he closed them, shouts were heard from upstairs.  For the next two hours Taegun just sat on the edge of his bed staring at his hands.  At 7 o’clock he finally got up and went down for breakfast.  A noodle shop down the street was open from dusk till dawn. 

“Sawatdee” Taegun said to Mr. Wattanna, the noodle shop owner. 

“Good morning to you too mister Pryce, didn’t sleep well again it seems” replied Mr. Wattanna. 

“I’ll have the usual” said Taegun. 

“You didn’t answer my question Mr. Pryce” replied the shop keeper. 

“You know Mr. Wattanna; I have been coming to your noodle shop for breakfast for about 3 years.  In those three years I can account every morning rain or shine, sick as a dog or healthy as a horse you constantly ask about how I slept” said Taegun “I have to ask, are you really concerned for my health or are you trying to teach my some wise Asian bullshit, you know like Mr. Myagi or something like that, because frankly every morning I can truthfully say that I have never answered your question”. 

“Haha, I know Mr. Pryce, but as an old man as myself, I like to make sure that the young people around me are healthier than myself.” replied Mr. Wattanna.