By Kim Heung-sook
I was in a room full of pain. There wasn't any blood, IVs or other graphic elements. Just a number of people crouched on the floor with their backs to me. Still, their pain permeated through me and I didn't know what to do. Then a man came in and patted everyone on their stooped shoulders. I could only see his silhouette and his voice wasn't audible, but I understood that he was saying, ``Everything's going to be fine.'' When we shook hands, his hand was warm. He was Barack Obama.
When I woke up from the dream, I felt wonderful. ``Everything's going to be fine,'' I repeated to myself, despite the worldwide economic crisis, the unexpected passing and illnesses of my friends, and my dwindling savings and static debts.
I talked about the dream to my family and they said I should buy some Lotto tickets. ``Remember the winners who bought lottery tickets after seeing Presidents like Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young-sam in their dreams? If the two Kims brought gook luck to dreamers, why not Obama?'' they chuckled. I told them I would buy some Lotto tickets.
It was a busy day. I had an article to finish and some cooking, laundry and shopping to do, a threesome lunch and a hospital visit. I managed to send the article on time and rushed to lunch. I had secretly planned to go shopping after the meal, but as I enjoyed time with my two friends, I decided to meet a third friend first before doing anything. As soon as the lunch was over, I headed for the hospital where one of my long-time friends was being treated for pneumonia.
I didn't know where the hospital was, but kind guidance was everywhere. When I arrived at the hospital at around 4 p.m. after transferring through three buses, I learned that my friend was in the intensive care unit. The entire building seemed to be writhing with pain. Hospital staff said that visitors were allowed into the ICU only for half an hour in the morning and another half hour in the evening.
Barred at the ICU entrance, I was looking into the room through glass doors, yearning to get a brief moment with my friend. I had this strange feeling that if I held his hand, he could fight his illness better. Nurses and doctors were coming and going and a few of them asked me what I was doing there.
A while later, a nurse came and guided me to where my friend was. He had several tubes linking his body parts with machines and a device in his mouth, which obviously provided oxygen. He couldn't talk, yet recognized me with his eyes. I held his hands, one after another, trying my best to send my energy to him. At some point, I felt he was feeling better, if not less painful. ``Everything's going to be fine,'' I said to him, earnestly believing what I was saying.
When a nurse approached me and asked to leave, I said thanks and complied with her demand. As I walked through the hospital building, I was overwhelmed by an indescribable mixture of sadness and peace. Outside, people were complaining about the weather, but I couldn't feel the northern wind. Everything seemed so remote, so surreal. I knew I had to go back home, but didn't know how. Then, from nowhere a bus to my neighborhood appeared.
Is it a good thing or a bad thing that home is where reality governs? When I got home, I was greeted by all the chores that had awaited me all day. It was almost midnight when I settled for a cup of caffeine-free tea. Then somebody blurted out, ``Have you bought a Lotto ticket?'' I thought I was obliged to buy some as a person who had had Obama in her dream. I felt heavy and exhausted, but ventured out. After quite a search, I bought 5,000 won worth of tickets. The coming weekend, the winning numbers were announced and I won nothing. ``Oh, Obama betrayed you!'' my family teased, but I thought I had used up all my luck when I met my friend in the ICU.
In writing up New Year resolutions, I'll definitely put ``Never buy a lottery ticket!'' on the list. I believe the end of the Year of the Mouse means that of quick profit-making. I have the hunch everything's going to be fine in the Year of the Ox if only we persevere like oxen. Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy Ox Year to all my readers! Thank you and best wishes, Mr. Obama, for coming all the way into my dream!