Joohyun felt herself lifted up from the floor. She looks up at a young man’s face.  He must be one of the workers on the peach farm.

“Goemapseuminida.” Joohyun could barely get the words out.

“Geokjeongmasayo.” He smiled down at her. “We’ll get you to my aunt’s clinic.”

Ahjumma wraps her in blanket and stays with her in the back of the car.  Joohyun found comfort in the older woman’s arms.  If she closed her eyes she could imagine something else. Another feeling – one she had right after she had one of her crying jags. It was something beyond her closed eyes – in the back of her mind.  Just before she succumbs to sleep Joohyun could swear that she would feel something lightly brush her head.

When she told Ahjumma – the old woman just looked at her and shook her head. Joohyun was just tired.  That same day Ahjumma went to the temple and lit the incense sticks.  She prayed fervently for the girl she was taking care of, for the baby in her womb and that the spirit who was guarding them be a benevolent one.

“This is my father’s car.” Joohyun addresses the young man.

“Yes, Atty Seo left it with me.  Just in case you needed something in the city.” The young man smiles at her from the rear view mirror. “Let me introduce my self – I am Lee Gikwang.  My family owns the peach tree farms next to yours.”

“My father owns a peach tree farm?” Joohyun was surprised.

“It was the only payment he wanted after he won the land grabbing case for our family.” Gikwang replied.

“I didn’t know that.  Has my father ever come here?” Joohyun asks.

“Several times.” Ahjumma answers.  “He never really lived on the farm but we maintain it for him.  Someday he may want to come back.”

“Why would he want to come back?” Joohyun was curious.

 “Ahjumma! Let’s not tire Agassi.” Gikwang responded.  “Ah, the clinic’s lights are open.  My Aunt is here already.”

With Ahjumma’s help, Gikwang gently lifts her from the backseat and carries her to the clinic.

The lady doctor told them that she would have to examine Joohyun.  Her gentle hands probed her stomach softly asking where Joohyun felt pain.  She examined the blood on the pajamas.  Calling out to the Ahjumma – the lady doctor changes Joohyun’s clothes and puts her in an IV drip.

“You must rest Agassi.  When I say rest I mean clear your mind.  Your body feels your stress and your body reacts to the fetus. What you had is called an implantation bleed – your baby is implanting in your uterus hence your body is removing the extra blood.”

“Is this normal?”Joohyun asks.

“It is for now.  You’re young enough for me to assume that this is your first pregnancy. Joohyun? May I call you Joohyun? I would need your complete medical history in order to assure you that it won’t happen again. But my nephew tells me that you’re going back soon with your parents. I’ll write up a medical report and you must give it to the doctor that will take care of you during your pregnancy.”

“Thank you Doctor –“Joohyun responds.

“Doctor Kang – I’m Gikwang’s Aunt. Now I’ll just leave you with them for awhile –I’ll write up my report.” The doctor gently pats Joohyun’s arm. “Rest – Ahjumma will stay with you.”

“Ahjumma – please show Doctor Kang my vitamins.” Joohyun tells the old woman.

The doctor looks at the bottle and gives a little laugh. “I wish I could tell you that I’d change them but I can’t.  You’re anemic and you need them.  But I know from having 2 children that these vitamins are hard to swallow plus you can almost smell them on your breath. I know it makes you nauseous.  But don’t worry in your 2nd trimester you’ll be less sensitive to the smell and taste of the vitamins. Mian Joohyun – you’ll need to drink them until your baby is born.”

With that the doctor motions Gikwang to follow her and leave Joohyun with Ahjumma.

“I know – Ahjumma.  I can see how worried you are. Mianeheyo.” Joohyun holds the older woman’s hand.

“Just rest Agassi.  The child knows you’re sad and is affected. Rest.” The old woman holds Joohyun hand until the young woman falls asleep.

In her office, Doctor Kang is talking with her nephew.

“She’s Atty Seo’s daughter?”

“Yes, He was supposed to bring her to you on her monthly visit this coming weekend but this happened.”

“Is Atty Seo keeping her here until she gives birth? I need to know.”

“I am not sure – why are you asking Gho-mo?”

“Because while I can ease my mind and her’s with an explanation for her bleeding I want to know her family history if she stays here.  The girl is exhausted – no amount of vitamins can ease her sadness.” The doctor shakes her head.

“I know – Ahjumma tells me that she cries every night calling out her man’s name and her mother’s as well. It’s a blessing that she’s able to take afternoon naps.”

“If she has another bleeding in the next 2 days she will need further medical attention.  She has to have her medical history on hand – it’s crucial because sometimes it’s hereditary for some women to easily miscarry.  This clinic is small and is only for healthy pregnancies.  You will need to monitor her closely.”

“That might be difficult – Atty Seo wants me to just check on her – you want me to go and see her? Talk to her?”  Gikwang asks.

“Yes, it’s not helpful that she only has Ahjumma. Just visit her once a day. By the way, does she know what her father did for our family?” Dr. Kang asks.

“I don’t think so.  I think it’s the first time she even knew about the peach tree farm.” Gikwang replies.

“Well, that’s Atty Seo’s business and we must respect that. Anyway – I’ll just go back home for a couple of hours and check on the family.  You can stay here until one of the nurses come then you can go back to the farm.  I’ll discharge Joohyun in the afternoon – you can pick her up then.”

“Thank you Aunt.  I’ll just stay here with her.  It’s the least I can do for Atty Seo.” Gikwang walks his Aunt out of the clinc and watches as she drives off.

 Joohyun felt much better when she woke up just before noon.  Ahjumma promises her gogumas and her favorite porridge when they got home.

“Gomawo Gikwang-ssi for helping me.”  Joohyun sat up on the bed.

Gikwang had to blink his eyes.  She looked like something not of this world.  Her skin was pale, her cheeks pink, her lips were red and the long brown hair fell in waves past her shoulders.  She was like those porcelain dolls he’d seen in pictures. Then he had to remind himself that just like those porcelain dolls the girl smiling at him was just as fragile.

“If you don’t mind – could I walk by myself to the car?”Joohyun requests.

“Mianeheyo Joohyun-ssi but Ahjumma would probably kill me if I let you walk.  Maybe tomorrow.” Gikwang lifts her up easily from the bed.

They were headed for the car when one of the first patients of the day came.

“Oh – Gikwang-yah when did you get married? Is she your wife? Such a pretty girl!” The very pregnant lady greeted them.  She looked like she was about to give birth any second.

“Ani – Min Jung she’s just visiting-“Gikwang blushes.

“Yah – she’s Atty Seo’s daughter!” Ahjumma said.

“Ahjumma!” Gikwang scowls at the old woman.

“Really? Oh – what a pretty girl you are! Is your father coming to see you? Ah tell him he has our everlasting thanks! You are so blessed to be his daughter.” The woman came up to squeeze Joohyun’s hand.

“We have to go Min Jung.” Gikwang hurries away. “Ahjumma! Follow me!”

When they get to the car Gikwang puts Joohyun in the front seat. 

“Ahjumma – when we get home please include me for lunch. I’ll have a nice visit with Agassi.” Gikwang tells the older woman.

“Did Dr. Kang want you to check up on me?” Joohyun looks at him and smiles sweetly.

He blushes beet red.  When she smiles her face transforms from just pretty to breathtakingly beautiful. He was fleeting envious of her young man. One lucky guy he thought to himself.

“You could say that.  I’m scared of my