Six months have passed. I've changed the sign from 'Memorium' to 'Hope Healing Center.' Now, instead
of buying and selling memories, we provide counseling and treatment for people who truly need help.
The first change: All services are provided free of charge.
The second change: Instead of erasing memories, we teach people how to live with them.
The third change: In the afternoons, we run a free classroom for children from difficult circumstances.
Today, another new visitor came.
"Hello . can I receive counseling?"
She appeared to be in her early twenties, wearing maternity clothes.
"Of course. Please sit down."
"I . I have to have this baby alone. I'm so scared ."
As I listened to her story, I thought a memory donated by a mother who had come for Seo-yeon's follow
up service a few months ago might help.
"It's okay. We can get through this together."
I no longer absorb other people's memories. Instead, I stay by their side, watching as they heal
themselves.
At 3 PM, the children arrived.
"Teacher! What are we learning today?"
"Today, shall we learn about feelings?"
Children from single-parent families, children living with grandparents, children from financially
struggling families . various children come here. If Chae-won were alive, she would be about the same
age as these children.
"Teacher, what should we do when our hearts hurt?" asked 8-year-old Min-ah.
"It's natural to hurt. But don't bear that pain alone—share it with someone."
"Like you, teacher?"
"Yes, like me."
After the children went home in the evening, I reported to the photos of Eun-ju and Chae-won.
"Today I helped five more people. And I taught twelve children."
I make this report every night. To them, and to myself.
"There's still a long way to go, but . I won't give up."
I suddenly looked in the mirror. My face, which used to constantly change like before, was now stable. It
was my real face. Guilt and sadness were etched there, but at the same time, there was hope too.
Then the door opened.
"Hyung."
It was Min-ho.
"How was your day today?"
"It was okay. How about you?"
"I did well too. I learned a new counseling technique."
Min-ho now works with me in this endeavor. But not manipulating memories like before—he's learning
proper psychological counseling.
"Hyung, Mr. Jong-ha came by today."
"Really?"
"Yes. He was watching what you do here. He didn't say anything, but . his expression seemed a little
softer."
I smiled. I don't expect forgiveness, but I hope he finds some peace.
"Let's work hard tomorrow too."
"Yes, hyung."
Looking out the window, I saw stars floating in the sky. Are Eun-ju and Chae-won also among those stars,
watching over us?
"I'm sorry . and thank you."
I vowed once again to do my best with what I can do now.
Epilogue - One Year Later
"What is . this?"
Inside the envelope was a thick stack of documents.
"After we get married, we want to create a scholarship foundation for children. For single-parent families
and children from difficult circumstances," Seo-yeon explained.
"But there are limits to what we can do alone . We were hoping you would serve as honorary chairman."
I looked through the documents. The name 'Chae-won Hope Foundation' was written on them.
"Chae-won?"
"Yes. Named after that child you told me about. After learning about your heart, I also wanted to share
the help I received with other people."
My heart was moved. A foundation to help other children, named after Chae-won who died because of
the sin I committed.
"I would be honored to do it."
Then another visitor entered. It was Park Min-su, the man who had wanted to remember his daughter
and wife a year ago.
"Teacher, hello."
"Min-su, how have you been?"
Min-su's expression was completely different from a year ago. He looked lively, and above all, peaceful.
"Good. Really good."
He took out a picture frame from his bag. It was a new family photo.
"Did you remarry?"
"Yes. I met someone who went through the same pain. She also lost her husband and son in a car
accident."
Min-su looked happy.
"We understand each other's wounds and are healing together. And ."
He hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"We adopted a child. A 6-year-old girl from an orphanage."
"Really?"
"Yes. Her name is Eun-jin. At first, I wasn't sure if I could raise a child properly, but . thanks to that
memory you gave me, I found the courage."
Min-su pointed to the child in the photo.
"I'll be this child's first father. And I'll pass on all the love I received to her."
I smiled. To think that memory could lead to such good things.
After all the visitors left in the evening, I was cleaning up alone.
"Hyung."
Min-ho came in.
"Today was really meaningful."
"It really was."
"Hyung, can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"Don't you regret it? You could have lived like before."
I thought for a moment.
"Regret? Not at all. Rather . I feel like I'm truly living for the first time."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The old me was just existing. But now . I'm living for someone else. That seems more meaningful."
Min-ho nodded.
"I learn a lot watching you, hyung. What real courage is."
Then the door opened. It was Lee Jong-ha.
"Hello."
Jong-ha, whom I was seeing for the first time in a year, had changed a lot. The sadness was still there, but
the anger seemed to have largely disappeared.
"What brings you here?"
"I just . wanted to see once."
Jong-ha looked around. The children's drawings, thank-you letters, and the photo of Eun-ju and Chae
won hanging on one wall.
"It's changed a lot."
"Yes. There's still a long way to go."
"I heard about the Chae-won Foundation."
"Oh, how did you ."
"Seo-yeon contacted me. Asked me to participate as a board member."
Jong-ha looked at Chae-won's photo.
"At first . at first I hated you. Enough to want to kill you."
I bowed my head.
"You can still hate me."
"No. Now . now I'm grateful."
"What?"
"Watching you live like this, I realized what I had missed."
Jong-ha continued.
"Eun-ju and Chae-won . they liked helping other people. Especially Chae-won—whenever she saw
homeless people on the street, she always wanted to share her allowance."
"I see."
"But after they died, I was so consumed with anger that . I forgot what they really wanted."
Jong-ha's voice trembled.
"What you're doing . this is exactly what they wanted. Helping other people."
I couldn't find words.
"So I decided to join the foundation. And ."
Jong-ha paused before speaking.
"I forgive you."
" .What?"
"Not completely. I still get angry and sad sometimes. But . I can see that you're truly repenting."
Tears flowed from my eyes.
"Thank you . truly thank you."
"But promise me. Promise you'll live like this for the rest of your life."
"I promise."