Jongsook

The heavy rain had been falling for hours, turning the streets into endless puddles. Jongsook had first gone to her parents' house. She stood outside their door for a long time before they finally answered. Through the closed door, they told her coldly that they no longer considered her their daughter and that she had brought eternal shame to the family. After a short, sharp exchange, Jongsook turned and walked away without looking back.

She spent the next few hours tracking down old acquaintances. Most of her former gang friends had either settled down and started families, were serving time, or were already dead. Those who remained free looked at her with suspicion, clearly unwilling to get involved. No one was willing to take her in.

In the end, using her very last bit of money, she bought a bus ticket to the address her parents had once given her. All she had with her was an old gym bag containing a few items that were far from clean or new. It rained the entire way. By the time she arrived, her black tank top, her only relatively clean pair of pants, and her sneakers were completely soaked. Heavy strands of hair clung to her face and neck.

Jongsook stopped in front of the door, set her bag on the ground, and stood there for a moment just staring at the wood. Then, she gave a few soft, brief knocks with her knuckles.

—...Hey. It's me. Jongsook.

She shifted her weight from foot to foot, water dripping from her clothes.

— Are you letting me in or not?

Her voice sounded tired and dry. She waited, neither taking a step back nor a step forward.