Wandering Instincts: Episode 1

By Chun Ah Hyo

And there she was, her assumptions vanishing into thin air. She clung to the nearby chair with her left hand, relying on her belief – as strong as the chair's footing — that it would be enough to prevent her from slipping, even if the hands offering unsolicited support to her right hand faltered and let it go. 

She would rather anchor her trust to the frail legs of the old iron chair than to the breathing pulse of a living being's hand.

To her surprise, which she realized at that moment as she tried not to fall, her instinct of breaking the fall was overpowered by the thought that an unknown hand was grasping her right hand, helping her. And her hands, which she had always assumed to be long and big enough, fit inside the stranger's hand...with ease.

As she stabilized her feet, she knew she must now turn and thank the stranger. Before she could, she heard, "Are you ok?"

Instinctively, she replied, "Yes, I am. Thank you so much." 

She repositioned the iron chair which had slid from its place a couple of inches. "I am sorry to bother you. And thank you, really. Thank you so much."

"Please. It's completely fine. Thankfully, you are fine," the stranger had the kindest eyes and just a hint of a smile. 

She walked to her cab which had already arrived. On her way back, she kept on thinking how she could slip out of nowhere! The floor had appeared damp but she was extra cautious. Still...

She took two sips of water after reaching her hotel room and opened the half-read documentation on her phone. Eleven missed calls from three unknown numbers flashed on the notification panel. She would call back after a while, but definitely not now. 

~ 춘 아 효

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