Take me as I am 2
By Steve
- 381 reads
Every First Wednesday of each month, I go to the same McDonalds in the midst of New York City. I eat a Big Mac with a Coke and realize who lucky I am. What made me run away from South Korea? I remember. I do not want to remember. Those days I spent in loneliness, wanting no one to see me. I sought out the darkest places and found food in trash dumps of Chinese restaurants. Rainy days in which I coldly viewed the world. I wanted to forget my language, forget my experiences, and just find some corner in which to die.
Look at me now. I have all that I desire. Most people mistake me for a rich Asian woman. Actually, I am a rich Asian woman.
It's not easy though. I mean, some men have some dark, strange fantasies. One man had a fantasy about raping a poor Asian woman. He hurt me while he was role playing. He apologized and paid me double, but I think I will drop him as a client. He does not respect me. Another man wants to be Madam Butterfly next Friday. Once each week, I meditate away these faces that I put on for men. I am faceless as the moon. I am not what I appear to be. I am the light of my soul. I am not some dirty slut.
-Soo Jin?
I look up and I see a face. His hair is in the shape of a upside-down ricebowl. How could he have a haircut like that? But that name sounds like familiar. Why does it sound so familiar?
-Who are you?
-Soo Jin, is it really you? I've been searching for you for 20 years.
Who was he? He keeps on saying that name. Why does it sound so familiar? (It's your name, your Korean name.) Who's speaking to me?
-Please leave me alone, you creep. I don't know who you are. Please, someone help me. This man is harassing me.
-Soo Jin. Mr. ----- told me what happened. He became a Christian. He is deeply sorry for what he did to you.
-Please, go away. I don't know you.
I start to run away from him. I run and run and run. It's raining outside. Quickly, I hail a cab. I start to cry. That was Woo-Jin. How did he find me? Why was he looking for me? How can he have recognized me after 20 years. My face, my face. I have washed my face so many times, dipped my face in the well of nothingness. How could he have recognized me? And that man, Mr. -------...
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