THE RESTLESS AUTUMN (completed) (a full-length novel)

Twin Confessions

Eun-jung hesitated before asking, "How much does it cost?"

The doctor glanced at his patient. "I'll take care of it."

"But..."

"We'll work on it until she gets completely healed." Dr. Son put one hand on Eun-jung's shoulder. "I'll help her."

"Thank you, doctor," said Eun-jung after giving him a bow.

On his way out, the doctor asked, "Do you know who did this to her?"

Eun-jung nodded.

"Have you reported this to the police?"

"I couldn't leave her like this."

"Doesn't she have any other relative?"

"I'm the only one she's got. Her brother is in prison. I'm her sister-in-law."

"Well, then, let's see what we can do."

"You're a kindhearted soul, Doctor Son. I can't thank you enough." Eun-jung bowed repeatedly.

Dr. Son took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Eun-jung. She accepted with a stammering ‘thank you'.

Her jaw dropped long after the doctor was gone. To Eun-jung, his presence came like a burst of hues in the midst of grays. After spending time pondering on the earlier conversation, she went back to Euna's side and relayed the good news, though she wasn't sure how much of it she had understood because the only response she'd gotten was a slight nod.

Nurse Goh held Jung-hwa by the elbow as they walked inside Cheongdam Cathedral. It was the first time the elder Lee had seen the church after postponing the visit for more than a year. The conversations he had with Father Vincent in his house gave him a deep yearning for a total disclosure. Upon reaching a confessional, both stopped and looked at the green light above. "The priest is available, sajang-nim," Nurse Goh said. He opened the door and assisted the elder Lee inside. After making sure his employer was comfortable in his seat, the nurse took out the black wooden cane with him and gently closed the door.

The grid slid open. Jung-hwa heard the priest's voice through the lattice that was asking him to begin. He cleared his throat and inhaled deeply before he spoke.

"Father, forgive me for I have sinned. I've kept many secrets from my son for fear of hurting him. He grew up hating his mother for leaving us. My wife and I-separated when he was still young. What he doesn't know is-Mi-yeon is not his real mother. I don't know how to tell my son about this. He was a child I've sired with another woman. Mi-yeong tried to forgive, but I-it became too much when I didn't change my ways. My son is the only one I got, Father. I couldn't tell him the truth because I'm scared of losing him."

The priest calmly said, "It's not too late. Your son deserves to know. Mistakes are part of our lives. It's when we refuse to correct these mistakes that make us live in sin."

"But my sins are never ending, Father. I-I feel awful. There was-this-girl who duped my son years ago. She was a gang member. They plotted against him, deceived him, and then held him against his will to raise ransom money. But then something made her change her mind. I don't know why, maybe guilt… or pity, so my son was able to get out free… with her help. She decided to become a witness and turned against her gang mates. I pretended to have forgiven her, but I couldn't let it go. I tipped off the Chois, the family of her other victim. I want her to end up in prison, and she did."

There was a pause from the other side of the grid. The priest glimpsed through the lattice, unable to give a proper response. He took a moment to decipher what he had just heard. During this short span of silence, Jung-hwa broke into tears.