“Grandma, I’ve met someone I want to marry.”

“Really?” 

My voice rose an octave in surprise. An unfamiliar joy blossomed in my chest.

It wasn’t just a simple happiness, but a mixture of pride, tenderness, and an unexplainable sadness all at once. 

Why is it that emotions grow so layered and complex as we age? 

When I was a child, happiness was pure and uncomplicated, but the joy I feel now is intertwined with so many other feelings, making it much more complicated. 

Yet, I am undeniably happy. 

How could I not be? Yoojin is my one and only precious granddaughter. 

“That’s wonderful! So, who is this person?” 

“Someone really good, Grandma. A really wonderful person. Actually, we’re on our way to see you right now. We wanted to surprise you, but I thought I’d give you a heads-up so you wouldn’t be too shocked. You are at home, right?”

“Yes! Where are you now?” 

What could be more thrilling than this? My granddaughter is coming to visit—with the person she wants to marry! 

That little girl has grown to an age where she’s ready to settle down…. 

‘—I’ll never come back here again.’ 

Suddenly, my daughter’s sharp voice echoed in my ears. 

‘—I never want to see you again, Mom.’ 

Ji-yoon. 

Her name pierced my heart, like a thorn buried deep within. It took root, spreading through every corner of my mind. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to say her name out loud. 

Yoojin, your mother… 

Is she not coming with you? 

“We’ll be there around noon, Grandma. Let’s go somewhere nice for lunch, okay? And don’t you dare eat without us!” 

“Oh, don’t be silly! Where would we go? Grandma will cook something special for you.” 

“No, Grandma! Don’t bother. Please don’t prepare anything complicated. Your happiness – your joy – is more than enough for us.”

Joy. 

Why wouldn’t I feel it? How could I not? 

I smiled as if my granddaughter were already here in front of me. 

Even though my lips trembled slightly and tears gathered in my eyes, no one would notice. 

“Don’t be ridiculous. Why go out to eat? Just hurry up and come here. I’ll make it simple, Grandma will take care of everything. We’ll just do it at home.”

At the word simple, my granddaughter laughed—a clear, cheerful sound, like the chime of a bell. 

What could be more delightful than the arrival of a guest? 

My heart, so accustomed to silence, now stirred like the sea awakening in spring. Even my body, which only moments before had felt heavy and sore, suddenly seemed lighter. 

Ah, where should I begin? What should I do first? 

Excited and restless, I began to move around the living room, pacing back and forth. 

I should wear my new shoes – the ones that are still clean and unscratched. 

And what kind of man would my granddaughter be marrying? 

Yoojin was such a beautiful, intelligent, and kind-hearted girl.

She had gone to the United States to study at a prestigious university and, perhaps inheriting her mother’s creative talents, had secured a job with a prestigious fashion company. 

Her work had taken her to several countries and I heard she was doing very well. She had already been promoted to team leader and was highly respected in her field. 

Maybe because of her ambition, she didn’t seem to be in a hurry to get married. 

It was often said that young people today find marriage a challenge and often avoid it altogether. In the shop we often talked about how it’s better not to bring up the subject of marriage unless they bring it up first. 

“It’s a good thing.”

That’s what I would say: 

“Even if I was born again, I wouldn’t want to get married.” 

Why would anyone want to get married when there’s so much of this beautiful world to enjoy on your own? 

You can study and work as much as you like, live as you like. Eat when you’re hungry, travel wherever your heart takes you. 

But if Eugene wanted to marry because it made her happy, I was more than ready to support her wholeheartedly, no questions asked. 

If it was a marriage with someone she truly loved…. 

Suddenly, my steps faltered. 

Lost in thoughts of my granddaughter, I hadn’t noticed the rock in my path. 

Startled, I quickly reached out to steady myself against a nearby wall. The sharp sting in my wrist reminded me of the impact. 

Oh dear, I should have been more careful. 

This always happens when I let my mind wander while walking. 

The warm July breeze brushed the back of my neck. Even though it was still morning, I could feel the sweat beginning to rise, leaving damp patches under my arms. 

I must not smell like sweat.

I wanted to leave a good impression on the young man who would soon become my granddaughter’s husband. 

I wanted to appear clean and well-presented—the kind of grandmother Yoojin could feel proud of, not embarrassed by. 

“I can do this.”

I told myself, lifting my head in determination. 

The familiar and timeworn scenery unfolded before me.

The old walls were adorned with cascading clusters of bright orange trumpet vines. Leaning electricity pylons framed the deep blue sea that nestled between them like a magical secret. 

The sea I had lived beside my entire life…. 

“Mom!” 

For a moment it seemed as if a young girl might suddenly emerge from the sea and run down the alley towards me. 

I could see her vividly in my mind – the short, neatly cropped hair, the dark eyes with a faint purple tint, like ripe berries, and the bright red backpack hanging from her small shoulders as she ran, carefree and full of innocence. 

Had I ever hugged her? Had I ever held that little girl? 

I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. 

But the familiar feeling crept in – that piercing pain in my heart, sharp and unrelenting, like the cut of a knife. I bit down hard on my lip to steady myself. 

Why is it that the regret, the pain, never really goes away, no matter how much time passes? 

I shook my head again, as if to banish the memories. 

If there’s one thing a person can never change, it’s the past. 

The memories of what was done – or endured. The memories of the pain caused and the pain suffered. 

These can never be changed. They can never be undone. 

Just keep walking.

I told myself, almost instinctively. 

One step at a time, moving forward. 

Isn’t that the only thing we humans can do as time goes on?