When Mary Lou was 21, she met Kang Jun, a man nearly twenty years older than her. Theresa was worried about the age difference, the distance, and how quickly the relationship seemed to move, but Mary Lou was determined to follow her heart. They married quietly, and only a month later, Mary Lou left for South Korea. At the airport, Theresa held her daughter tightly, both of them knowing that their lives were about to change in ways neither could fully understand.
After Mary Lou moved away, the years passed painfully slowly. Theresa received only one money transfer each year, always followed by the same brief message: “Mom, take care of yourself. I’m doing well.” But instead of comforting her, those words began to make her more afraid. They felt distant and rehearsed, especially after a single video call where Mary Lou looked tired, distracted, and unwilling to explain why she never came home.
Despite the financial support, Theresa felt deeply alone. Every Christmas, she cooked Mary Lou’s favorite food and set an empty place at the table, hoping that one day her daughter would walk through the door again. After twelve years of waiting and wondering, Theresa finally made a decision. Though she had never traveled abroad before, she bought a ticket to South Korea, determined to find out for herself what “doing well” truly meant.
