Love Is .........

14 장

Disclaimer: This chapter touched on the issue of stillbirth and the loss of a child. It may be a sensitive issue to some. If you choose to read it, please be advised. Some parts might be similar to what you have read or heard and it purely co-incident. 

P/S: Please prepare a box of tissues and handkerchief if you must. You might need it. 

- A woman who lost her husband is called a widow. A man who lost his wife is called a widower. And a kid who lost his parent is called an orphan. But there's no word for a parent who lost their kid. DO YOU KNOW WHY? IT'S BECAUSE NO WORD CAN DESCRIBE IT. THERE'S NO WORD IN THIS WORLD THAT CAN DESCRIBE THE EXCRUCIATING PAIN. -

From Hi Bye, Mama K-drama

November, the peak of autumn where you can see the beautiful autumn foliage of red and orange covering most South Korea areas. It is an excellent time to take a stroll at the parks and have picnics with the family, especially after the end of scorching summer. The eleventh month in Gregorian Calendar used to be the month Kim Tae Pyung look forward to as it is the month they will have their family trip. But, since 4 years ago, November has become the saddest time of the year for him. It is also the same month where his daughter was taken away from him. Forever. How unfortunate for him to have a child whose death date comes the same as the birth date. When he was asked to write down those two dates on the urn, he cried hard seeing those dates.

November 9, 2016. A date that he will forever engrave in his memory. The first heavy test upon him and their family. The day they met their angel for the first time but had to let her go, she was no longer with them. Kim Ha Neul, a name they gave her before sending her off to the heaven (Haneul) hoping for the day they could reunite. Everything that happened that day is still fresh, and it is by far the most painful 24 hours in their lives, especially to Eon Jin.

Flashback

It was 5 in the morning, and Eon Jin woke up and straight away checked on his son, Kang Hoon. His fever had gone down, and only the chickenpox scar remains. That may take some time to shed off. It has been 4 days since Kang Hoon is down with chickenpox fever and Eon Jin has been nursing him alone because her husband is away for outstation. It is a tough job caring for a sick son alone when she is heavily pregnant. Closing the door behind her, she rubbed her belly tenderly. Trying to make contact with her unborn baby inside. Unlike usual, her baby is not very active since last night. Her movements are relatively slow, and she has not been kicking yet since Eon Jin woke up this morning. She moved her hand slightly to the left of her belly where her baby's legs are. She pressed the area a little. Usually, her baby will kick when she caressed her stomach but not today.

Remembering what she read in books that you can 'wake' your baby up by drinking cold water and lying on your left, she did as what is written. Taking a glass of cold water and lay down on the sofa. Waiting. After about an hour, still, no movement felt. Slightly panic, Eon Jin decided to go to the hospital to check. Her husband was soundly asleep as he just got back from an outstation last night and he looked so tired after a long haul drive.

"Yeobo, I need to go to the hospital. I think something happened to the baby," Carefully, she woke her husband up.

Tae Pyung bounced to wake up in an instant when he heard the words, 'hospital and baby,' from Eon Jin. He asked Eon Jin if something is wrong, but Eon Jin just said she did not know. They need to go to the hospital to check. Tae Pyung called his mother and brother and asked them to babysit Kang Hoon while Eon Jin got ready. Around 30 minutes later, his mother arrived, and after briefed her, they set to the hospital.