All his anger dissolved in those big, sad, earnest eyes. He went to her, pulled her up into his arms, and held on for dear life.

     Burying his face in her long, silky hair, he broke into sobs--big, racking sobs that shocked him. What kind of a man was he, weeping like a child?

     He felt Jessica's body shudder and realized she was weeping too. Was this a watershed moment from them-- a beginning, a new direction? More likely, an ending.

     They stood like that, crying like babies, until neither had any more tears.

     Finally, he let her go. His emotions were spent. He felt weak in the knees. They sat back down at the table. He heaved a sigh. His mouth tasted dark, bitter all the way to his throat.

     "Okay, Sica, you win. Go call your mom. Tell her you wanna go home. We'll do whatever you want."

     "I mean I was going to call her right this minute."

     "You might as well just go call her and get over with."

     Wiping away her tears, she went and got her cell phone and started punching in the numbers. "Taeyeon, is it 3541 or 5341?"

     "The numbers stored in your phone."

     "I can't remember how to find it."

     He took the phone and found the number for her.

     "Thanks." She took the phone and sat down on the sofa.

     He sat down beside her, his head in his hands. God, please don't let her go. I can't bear to lose her. You brought her back from the edge of death. Are you going to her from me now?

     Jessica's voice sliced into his prayers. "Hi, mom? It's me.  . . No, nothing's wrong. I'm doing fine. My classes are coming easier. My memory's a lot better. And I only read things twice instead of three or four times. . . Yes, Taeyeon's doing fine, too." She looked over at him. "My mom says hi."

     "Tell her I said hi."

     "Mom Taeyeon says hi. . . . Yeah, we're doing okay. That's what I want to talk to you about. Not about us exactly, but about me. I want to come home, mom . . . . No, it would be for more than just a visit." Her voice filled with emotion. "I want to come home to stay--permanently. . . . Yes, I've thought a lot about it. . . No, Taeyeon doesn't agree, but it's my decision mom."

     For several minutes, Jessica was silent, listening. Taeyeon could tell, whatever her mother was saying, Jessica wasn't happy about it. She started twisting a strand of hair around her finger. She twisted it, let it go, twisted it again.

     "Mom, that's not fair. I tried it your way. I've been here for months. It's not gonna work. It's not fair to Taeyeon or me to prolong the agony."

     He started at her. Is that what it's been for you, Jessica--agony staying here with me?

     she looked at him, as if realizing what she had said. "I don't mean agony. It's just not fair--fair--I cant be his wife--I can't change how I feel. Yes, Mom, I'm listening. I know you have my best interest at heart. Yes, Mom, I know you love me. Okay, if that's how it has to be, I'll give it a few more weeks. But then, I'm coming home, okay?" She handed the phone to Taeyeon. "She want's to talk to you."

     Taeyeon took the phone. "Hello, Umma."

     A mature, melodic voice replied with a note of sympathy, "Hello, Taeng. I'm sorry Jessica's insisting on coming home."

     "Me too."

     "She still has no memory of your life together."