Farewell, my love.

I woke up in my king-sized bed. My daughter by my side, my husband hugging me, my loving husband.

We may not have lots of money, but we had enough to survive. My husband is a farmer, I'm just a housewife.

I went down to cook some breakfast, Bacon, Orange juice and Eggs.

Then my husband hugged me from behind and called me the most beautiful girl.

I don't know how he does it, how could he love me, I have lots of scars.

These are the scars that no one would ever want to have.

I was abused when I was a child, by my own father. I was being hit with a stick everyday, my father was drunk every night my mother told me to escape and I did.

"Honey, I'm gonna go to the farm today." Minho said.

"Of course honey. Wait listen to the radio." Yuri said.

Voice on Radio:

Okay. Bob, so what do you think about the new rules?

I think it is frightening Robert.

Exactly Bob. Folks, we just want to pass on the new rule coming from the president: a man who is registered as a citizen of America between the ages 18 to 35, will be randomly picked to serve America due to the decreasing of soldiers. That ends our Morning Talk. Good Morning Idaho.

My husband looked at me with a forced smile.

"Hon. I promise that will never be me." Minho said.

Then he left.

"Mommy, what did Daddy mean?" My daughter asked.

"Oh no Honey. We we're talking about grown-up stuff." Yuri said.

"Okay. Eat your breakfast." Yuri said with a smile.

When Minho got home, he was exhausted.

"Hard day Baby?" Yuri asked.

"Yeah. Something like that." Minho said.

Minho went to Yuri and said "Honey. Whatever happens, you have to remember that I love you so much."

"What? Why are you saying this? Is something wrong?" I asked.

"I just wanted you to know." Minho said with a reassuring smile.

"Honey, promise me you won't be picked." I said.

Minho nodded and hugged me.

Those words repeated every night in my head. It haunted me.

I had a dream...

Minho was with me in our kitchen with our daughter. Then suddenly our house exploded and I got my daughter trying to find shelter.

When I realized Minho wasn't behind me, I looked around and the town and they were screaming and scattering around like ants...

I called out to him but there wasn't a reply...

I saw him and he looked at me with a sorry face...

Then he got shot.

When I woke up, I was in Minho's arms and he told me "It was a nightmare. I promise you, it will never happen."

My daughter was looking at me with fear...

"Honey, don't worry. It's okay. Come here. I'll tell you something." I said.

"No matter what happens, we will always be a family, okay?"  I said.

My daughter nodded and hugged me and Minho.

I woke up and told them to sleep first.

I was cooking and a little oil got in my eye...

"Ah! Ouch!" I shouted but not that loud.

I got a towel and rinsed my eyes.

I was wiping my eyes and then I saw an envelope on the counter.

"Huh?" I asked myself with worry and fear, "What is this?"

I slowly approached it and opened it slowly hoping it wasn't what I thought it was.

It said...

Dear Mr. Choi,

You are a 21-year-old registered citizen of America, you have been called to serve your country.

My heart stopped and I couldn't breathe.

My Husband came down and looked at me and asked "Why are you reading that?"

"What is this Minho?! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! You promised, you, lied, you lied, YOU PROMISED!" I ripped the letter and punched him.

"When were you going to tell me?" I asked with tears in my eyes.

"Yesterday, but I was... Scared that you would react like this." Minho said.

Our daughter was looking at us crying "Mommy, is Daddy gonna be a soldier?"

"Yes, honey." I said comforting her.

"But, that means Daddy's gonna die." She replied.

"No, shh. No I won't." Minho said.

A few days later...

"Honey, promise you'll write letters to us." I asked.

"Every single day. I love you. Take care of our daughter." Minho told me.

"I will." I said.

He kissed me and my Daughter Goodbye.

I would recieve letters from him every week...

I would stack them up and tie them together and put them on top of our fireplace.

I missed him, his smell, his hugs, his kisses and his loves.

Sometimes, I would sleep in his jacket.

One week, I didn't get any letters.

But he can't be... No. It could be a late delivery.

That night I had a dream...

It was Minho...

"Hi Hon." He told me.

"Why aren't you writing to us?" I asked him.

"It's complicated." Minho told me.

"But I do want you to know, I love you a lot. I will love you always and forever. " He added.

"I love you too but~" I was suddenly awaken by my daughter.

"Mommy." She told me.

"Yeah? What is it?" I asked.

"Why aren't you dressed up?" My daughter asked.

"Huh? Dressed up for what?" I asked.

"Daddy's funeral." She replied.

My heart stopped and I asked "May I see the letter?"

She handed it over:

Dear Mrs. Choi,

We are sad to say that your husband has been shot and thrown into an unknown river according to his other fellow soldiers whom he was with, condolence.

I said as calm as possible "Honey, your daddy won't have a funeral. But he wanted you to know that he loves you very much."

"I know. He told me in my dreams, he said he loves you too." She said.

I couldn't help myself but cry.

I couldn't say anything to Minho but this:

Farewell, my love.