XVII. Tapestry

“Time unfolds beauty, wonder, and mystery to reveal the auspicious tapestry of life.” ― A.D. Posey

At Haeinsa Temple

Hae- Jin stood in front of the open doors to the Buddha Hall. Jeong Jun had left to meet with the Abbot.

She had chosen to continue seeing the temple. She stood before one of the statues trying to clear her head of worries and questions. 

She tried not to wonder what the Abbot and Jun were discussing.

Jun had said she could go to the meeting, but she knew she was already struggling with understanding the changes up to now. At times, the past could come riding in and surprise her. She would wait and let Jun explain everything once they reached home.

A man’s tentative voice called her by name, “Ms. Hae- Jin?”

She turned to see the man they had met on the trail standing shyly at a distance.

He smiled at her and said, “I thought I recognized you and your boyfriend when we saw you on the trail. I didn't want to interrupt your hike then. It is an auspicious meeting Ms. Hae- Jin. My children and I are here at the temple to give thanks. My wife and oldest son could not join us today. We feel doubly blessed running into you today.” As he spoke his eyes traveled to his children who were taking pictures on the open courtyard close to the hall.

“You might not remember me, Ms. Hae -Jin. I’m Ji-Suk. You were there the day the accident at the dock happened. You jumped in and saved our son Ji-Yun.” As he spoke his eyes glanced towards the teenage boy they had met on the trail.

“He isn’t the child that fell into the water anymore.” There was joy in his voice when he added with a smile, “His mother is having a tough time keeping his clothes fitting. He seems to grow overnight at times.”

“How are you feeling? Have you been able to recover fully from the accident?” He asked.

Hae -Jin tried to focus as memories of the day at the dock came flooding back. “I am doing well. Thank you. I have returned to work.” She said.

“I am glad to hear it Ms. Hae- Jin. We owe you. Your courage to jump in that day and try to save Ji-Yun got you hurt. I tried to reach for your hand once the boat reached you, but you went under the water so quickly. As if you were being pulled by something.

Ji-Yun had a life vest on that day which saved him. He tried to reach for you too once inside the boat. When both of us tried to lean out of the boat, our weights tipped our boat over.

He was hit by the boat and it gave him a severe concussion. I managed to swim with him to shore. His vest acted as a floater for both of us.

You both were in the same hospital.  He spent a month recovering from a coma. “

“Ji-Yun was in a coma too? I didn’t know. My mother never told me. I’m sorry” She said.

“Please don’t be Ms. Hae -Jin. We are the ones who feel terribly apologetic to you and your family. We visited you in the hospital and tried to pay for your hospital stay but the lady at the hospital told us the bill was being paid in full by your boyfriend. He was also the one who pulled you out of the water that day. We could tell he loves you very much as we saw how he cared for you at the hospital. We were so grateful he was there for you.” He said with relief in his voice.

Hae -Jin stood in stunned silence for a minute, trying to make sense of all this additional information.

Her heart was starting to feel scared. She could sense the panic starting to form, as questions started to slowly fill her mind.

“You say, I was pulled out of the water by my boyfriend?... I’m sorry but many things after the coma are still not clear to me, my memories are mixed up a bit.” She said trying to get clarification from him.

“I understand” he said, “Ji-Yun went thru the same thing. He woke up with mixed memories. He even said to us he remembered living in the past in Goryeo, as a Prince.” The father added with a small embarrassed smile.

As the father looked up Ji-Yun and his daughter stood next to him. Wondering who their father spoke too. The girl walked to her father and held his hand.

“Ji-Yun, this is Ms. Hae- Jin. She is the one who pulled you out of the water during the dock accident. We spent many days waiting for both of you to recover at the hospital. Today we all meet here. She is your savior.” He said, then turned to his daughter and added,” Ms. Hae- Jin this is my daughter, Ji-Ye-Seul”.

She tried to smile at them and then slowly and deliberately Hae- Jin met Ji-Yun’s eyes. Trying to see in them traces of the past. Searching for traces of a face she remembered.

A long silence fell as their eyes met.

A veil separating the present from the past fell for Hae - Jin, as images of the past flooded back.

The soldiers had flooded the Daminwon blocking their escape.

Their cries of “Find the 10th Prince!” had made them realize they only had moments left. Park Soon-Deok had put herself in the direct line of fire to save Prince Eun.

She had tried to escape the Daminwon with him after Soon-Deok had left, but Prince Eun wouldn’t move.

Fear had filled her then, but Prince Eun had remained calm, saying to her, “What can I do? I am her awesome person now. I am all she has.”

His smile had been the last one she saw from him as he pulled his arm out of her grasp and followed his wife leaving her empty handed.

She stood in full realization of the enormity of what was about to happen then.

In her mind she could see the battle field and the open courtyard, as they knelt, afterwards their faces in complete devastation: Prince Jung, General Park Soo-Kyung holding his daughter’s fallen body, and herself with Prince Eun ‘s body next to Soon-Deok’s. The General had asked her if they had been happy.

He had said his Seon-Deok would have married him anyway even knowing the outcome.

The memories made her eyes fill with tears.

Seeing her crying, Ji-Yun approached her and placed his hand softly on her shoulder. “Thank you unnie, for saving me." He said.

He then pulled a small ball out of his backpack, one that had been sewn from pieces of silk and handed it to her. “This is one of my creations, I like it better than the modern plastic kind. I think toys are the best way to forget your troubles.

I plan to grow up well now and someday own the best toy store in Seoul.” He said to her.

I also plan to have my best friend join me. Together her and I will make and sell toys someday.”

He then smiled at her and said, “You and Hyung should be happy together too unnie. You deserve it.”

Ji-Yun’s father then said to her, “You should join us at home for dinner one of these nights. My wife is a good cook. We’d like it if you could both join us.” He finished looking up behind her.

She turned to see Jeong Jun, standing there.