Bedevilled — 2016

“Don’t,” Bok-nam said softly. “You had all day. You had three thousand days before today. Everyone on this island knew. Everyone said nothing. You are all the same.”

She turned and walked back to the compound, her spine crooked, her bare feet silent on the wet stones. That night, the wind changed. It brought the smell of iron and salt. Hae-won couldn’t sleep. She sat on her porch, listening. The men were drunk again. She heard Jong-sik’s laugh, then a sharp crack—a slap, or something worse. Then silence. bedevilled 2016

Hae-won didn’t finish the thought. She watched Bok-nam’s silhouette disappear into the screaming rain. Then she looked at the phone again. “Don’t,” Bok-nam said softly

Hae-won stepped back. Her hand reached for the phone. Everyone on this island knew

Hae-won froze. The phone beeped: 10% battery.