This is a story about how hope vanished and returned. In 1994, on a rainy evening, in a Korean-American suburb in Chicago, a wet hungry baby was born.

This is a story about how hope vanished and returned. In 1994, on a rainy evening, in a Korean-American suburb in Chicago, a wet hungry baby was born.

The peanut-butter stain on Alyssa’s blouse could wait. It might even be useful.

The peanut-butter stain on Alyssa’s blouse could wait. It might even be useful.

I was diagnosed with cancer yesterday. This is how it happened.

I was diagnosed with cancer yesterday. This is how it happened.

Sometimes my Mind has a bad bite, and the fear of the big bites makes me want to keep Her numb.

Sometimes my Mind has a bad bite, and the fear of the big bites makes me want to keep Her numb.

Suzy hadn't lost her job. That morning, her alarm had triggered a series of actions, ones she took some days and skipped on others...

Suzy hadn't lost her job. That morning, her alarm had triggered a series of actions, ones she took some days and skipped on others...

She pressed the button on the garage door before her neighboor could see her face, not because she was embarrased, but because she didn't feel safe. From what, she didn't know.

She pressed the button on the garage door before her neighboor could see her face, not because she was embarrased, but because she didn't feel safe. From what, she didn't know.

The last $100 — Where did it go? My brother needs it more. He might have a place to live. I heard he found work at an optometrist's office in Koreatown. Six years since his last job. At last?

The last $100 — Where did it go? My brother needs it more. He might have a place to live. I heard he found work at an optometrist's office in Koreatown. Six years since his last job. At last?

Content warning: This post contains descriptions of domestic violence and difficult subject matter. Her voice reached me, but my expression stayed vacant, my mind hollowed, and my hands still.

Content warning: This post contains descriptions of domestic violence and difficult subject matter. Her voice reached me, but my expression stayed vacant, my mind hollowed, and my hands still.

She said he was dead, but I needed to call him to make sure. I called his cell phone, again and again and again..

She said he was dead, but I needed to call him to make sure. I called his cell phone, again and again and again..

Her eyes darted past the back of his head through to his mouth. She twisted her old mouth into a shape more ugly. I shouldn't tell you about how old she looked. I'll follow her lead for the rest of my life.

Her eyes darted past the back of his head through to his mouth. She twisted her old mouth into a shape more ugly. I shouldn't tell you about how old she looked. I'll follow her lead for the rest of my life.

I turned the corner and looked up. A slurry of umbrellas, worn down tables, and dirty jewel tones came into my line of sight at a particular height on the second story.

I turned the corner and looked up. A slurry of umbrellas, worn down tables, and dirty jewel tones came into my line of sight at a particular height on the second story.