Recurring Memory

Chapter I

She was helpless and miserable. It was hard to sleep at night, waiting for someone to come to your door. She was restless, physically and emotionally.

She has exhausted her little prayers. She wanted to see him. She wanted to know what happened, yet she didn't know that to expect. It could be a living Tae Pyung, or a corpus of him.

Their wedding photo hanging on the museum-like wall only made her heart clench. They missed their flight to Africa for their second wedding anniversary. They both have prepared everything they needed for the Safari adventure, they had their accommodation books ready. Yet everything got cancelled when on one spring night, he failed to come home.

But that day, amidst the heavy rain pour and thunder, it was clear to her hearing that the doors to their garage rolled up. The sound was definite, there was no way she could be mistaken. In the briefest instant, she jumped off her seat and ran as fast as she could to the main door. Before she could ever push down the lever, the door opened. By the door was Tae Pyung, weak and untidy as if he went through a difficult time. He has grown thinner. He got bruises all over his body. He had abrasions on his face. He smelled stinky, like iron rust, but Eon Jin didn't mind. She ran to him to wrap him to her embrace.

"Thank God! Thank God you're home," her words were full of longing and relief. It was an answered prayer.

"I am sorry for keeping you wait," he buried his face on her neck, sniffing the scent he missed for eighteen long days.

"It's okay, love. Now that you're here, everything else will no longer matter." Her despairs, her worries and her doubts went down the drain. He was the most important thing for her. He needed not to tell where he has been, she no longer needed answers to her then questions.

"Such a shame I didn't make it to our anniversary," he smiled yet it didn't reach his eyes. It was the most apologetic smile she has ever seen. "How can I make it up to you?"

"Have yourself fixed. We're off to an adventure."

He sealed the conversation with a kiss. She was over the moon. It was a twist of fate. She couldn't be more thankful for it. He was her life. Without him, she was never complete. Without her, he was nothing. Their feelings remained the same even after a decade of togetherness.

Her sanity was back. She found herself doing the same old things for her husband. She's a doting wife. She was a good cook. Her meals were Tae Pyung's favorite, that he'd choose them over any of those served in Michelin restaurants. She was patient and kind. She has never gotten angry. She was the type who calmly deals with everything. She was a good writer. Her words of love made him love her even more. She was perfect in his eyes. She was the most beautiful woman for him and he didn't need anyone's validation to prove himself right.

After a long, warm bath and hot, nice meal from his wife, he regained his strength. He was back to his good-looking self. His wounds were carefully taken care of by his wife. He has prepared his best excuses in case she'd ask. But instead of doing so, she busied herself with stitching the cuts on his forehead.

Her silence was deafening for him. He wanted her to say something. The apathy was unusual. Eon Jin would always ask for details. It was bothering him, so he thought he needed to confront her about it.

She was doing the dishes when he hugged her from behind. He rested his chin on her shoulder, which made her pause momentarily.

"Aren't you mad at me?" Tae Pyung asked.

"I will never have the heart to get mad at you, love." Her words assured him that nothing has changed for the both of them.

"When you asked me to come home that night, I was really eager to come home to you."