‘Dear Jiwon,

        Boot camp is serious business. I’m scared. The others in my platoon told me that to watch out of the guys with the red and black hats. I was told to listen to them and not break the rules. As long as I follow them and do what I’m told I will be okay. I’ll back through this. I’ll be back in no time. It’s so weird having my hair so short. I hate it actually. I have to send back my things. It should be sent by mail maybe, I don’t know. It should arrive at your address. I didn’t want to send it all the way home. Some of my personal belongings are in there, include my phone and clothes that I wore on the way there.

        They gave us all numbers. My number is 214. I will be that number for the next two years. Two years is too long. It’s a long wait for finally being with you. You are my rock and I don’t know where or what I would do without you. You have supported me and kept me stable throughout everything. I wish that I could do the same for you. I wish that I could be with you right now.

        I miss you. I miss you so much right now. Everything is so quiet and it’s scary. I’m scared that something bad is going to happen. Jiwon, I’ll come back as a better person. I’ll become a better man. You know what they say when a person comes back from the army. They become a better person. Wait for me.

        Yours truly, Hanbin.’

‘Dear Jiwon,

        I passed boot camp. I’ve officially became a solider. They are moving me to another place with different people. I hope they like me there. The people I was training with were good people. They didn’t pick on me because I’m shy or bully me because I’m not as buff as they are. Watch by the end of my service I will be buff. I will be as muscular as you, well maybe not as you, but enough.

        They keep yelling at me. They keep telling me that I need to work harder, to push myself, and to keep going. I don’t know if I can go anymore. I’m so tired. We get up at dawn and run shirtless in the cold. We take turns monitoring the grounds. We have a buddy system just to go to the restroom. The water is cold when I shower. Everything is timed. We sleep at a certain time for a certain amount. We eat in a rushed pace. We are timed when we change into our night time clothes. Everything has to be perfect. I can’t do it anymore.

        How is everything over there? How is Hanbyul? Is she growing up beautifully? Has she become a beautiful woman yet? How is everyone? Do they miss me as much as I miss them? How is my mother? I miss you guys so much. I’m so lonely here. It’s scary here. Can I go home and be with you?

        Yours truly, Hanbin.’

‘Dear Jiwon,

        I hate it here. It’s too cold, and it’s always snowing. The snowing never seems to stop. They have us shoveling snow. I can’t sleep because of insomnia. It’s keeping me up and I need as much sleep as possible. I spend every night thinking about what if something happens or what if something happens because of me. I lay awake staring at the ceiling. I’m lucky to get maybe a few hours of sleep. I’m going to keep this short because I’m so tired and I hope to get a good sleep tonight. I miss you Jiwon. I’ll come back safely. Look after everyone for me okay? Wait for me.

        Yours truly, Hanbin.’

‘Dear Jiwon,

        A year has passed already. I missed your birthday and Christmas, but I’ll make it up to you. I’ll buy you something amazing. I’ll take you out on a nice date. I’ll make sure that you will have the best day ever. I have one more year and that means another year without seeing you. I’ve built up days to see you by built up they will only let me have two days off, for New Years. I’ll get to see you. You will see how much I have grown. I’ll be home in a few days from now. I’ll see you then I guess. I don’t know if you will be there. I will see.

        Yours truly,