I walk along the beach shore. “So beautiful,” I whisper underneath my breath.  I look beyond the ocean’s view. The beautiful rays of the sun hit my skin and release a soothing warm feeling throughout my body.  I can feel it.  The little bit of hope that I still have for a peaceful vacation.  My hope rises with every step I make.  ‘Today, will be a good day.’  I take a big breath before I continue walking.

“Excuse me, Ah Mor Ri noona,”

The hope I had momentarily felt vanishes.  I get that frightening feeling in my stomach again. “…yes?”  I turn around slowly. It’s a little boy.  The same little boy from a couple days ago. I release a sigh of relieve. “Oh… Ji Wook, right?”

He nods his head.  “Can you play with us?” he asks as he points to his friends, “we promise we won’t make too much noise so nobody will know you are here.”

I look around.  The beach is practically empty. Only a few families are around.  “Don’t worry about that. Let’s play.”  I feel that once nonexistent feeling of hope regenerate again.  I run along with the children and we start playing. 

…

I have a great time.  Just me, the children, the ball, and the beach.  ‘It’s like all my worries have vanished,’ I try to convince myself.

…

…

The day goes by as if it never happened.  We play for hours without break.  We decide to stop only when the sun decides to fall.

“We had so much fun. I hope you can play with us again,” Ryu Ji Wook says to me.

“Of course!” I tell him.

“How about tomorrow?” the children ask me almost simultaneously.

“Sure, I will play tomorrow,” I agree.  I give each child hug and a high five before I walk back to the hotel.