Page 43 of Perfect Happiness
Jane heard from her mom that Yuna was disappointed by their grandma’s inheritance.This was understandable from a financial perspective.The house was old, and the wetlands, although worth a lot of money, were locked in a green belt.The soil was soft and there were several places where sinkholes had formed, making the land unfit even for a family cemetery.Not to mentioned the fact that Yuna must have hated the memories that house conjured for her.It was only human nature to cut off painful memories.
Yuna never went back to Woohyeri, not even after grandma died.Nor did she go on the holidays to perform ancestral rites for their grandfather.She always chose to stay at home alone.It was as though she had completely forgotten about her promise to return.
Jane had thought that Yuna had no plans of ever going back to that cabin in Woohyeri.But it seemed like she had thought wrong.Was she using the cabin as a weekend vacation home?If that was true, it was possible that Yuna had taken Jiyoo there last Tuesday.That would explain why Jiyoo had this hand puppet.
Yuna put the puppet down on the sofa.But so what?It wasn’t a crime taking your own daughter to the house you inherited.Nor was it a crime to give her your old finger puppet.
It wasn’t a crime, but it bothered Jane.She wanted to know why.But why did she want to know why?After Jane turned nineteen, she and Yuna became strangers.Jane made great efforts never to see or think about Yuna.
Jane paused.She could hear something.Something quieter than the whir of the refrigerator.It didn’t take long for Jane to realize the sound was coming from Jiyoo’s room.Jane shifted her weight to her two feet and leaned in toward the sound.
“Dad!”
The sound had grown into a faint scream.Jane ran into Jiyoo’s room.Her eyes were closed, and she was screaming in a hoarse voice as she squeezed her blanket.
“Dad!”
Jane ran in without turning on the lights, leaving the door open so the light from the hallway would guide her.She gently shook Jiyoo’s shoulders.
“Jiyoo—”
Jiyoo opened her eyes halfway.She extended her arms as if asking Jane to hold her.As soon as Jane took her hand, Jiyoo pulled Jane toward her.She was strong enough to cause Jane to fall on top of her.
“Dad—” Jiyoo whispered.
It sounded like sleep-talking.
“Dad—He’s calling me.”
Jiyoo’s eyes were still half shut, and she was whimpering through her dry lips.She looked like she was having a nightmare about her father.Jane lifted herself up and brought Jiyoo close to her.
“It’s okay, little one.”Jane patted Jiyoo on the back.“Don’t worry.It’s just a dream.”
But this did nothing.The more Jane tried to calm her down, the deeper Jiyoo was being pulled into her nightmare.Before long, her whimpering turned into sobbing.
“Wake up, little one.Wake up.”
Jane wasn’t used to dealing with upset children.And this was the first time she had ever seen Jiyoo upset.Jane didn’t know what she could do for her outside of hugging her and offering her words of comfort.
“Jiyoo, it’s me, your Auntie.Auntie is here.”
There was a trembling sound coming from the back of Jiyoo’s throat.Her sobs were halting, and between the sobs, she would gasp for breath or mutter incoherent words.
“Beneath the attic ...a loon is howling ...Dad ...the Half Moon Marsh ...he’s calling me.”
Two things surprised Jane.The first was the name Half Moon Marsh.And the second was Jiyoo’s body, which was burning up.Her cheeks were glowing like red-hot coils, her lips were as dry as dead leaves, and her breath was stale.
Jane realized Jiyoo must be suffering from a high fever.That was why she sounded so delirious.Jane pried Jiyoo from her and laid her down on the bed.
“I’ll get the thermometer.”
Jane’s mind went blank when she arrived in the living room.She couldn’t believe she didn’t know where the medicine was kept.She searched all over the house—in the living room, in the hallway china cabinet, in the bathroom cupboard—but she couldn’t find the medicine.Jane started cursing at her own stupidity when she remembered that her mom liked to throw things away.Jane started slamming cupboards in anger when she stumbled upon the medicine drawer in the kitchen.
Jiyoo’s condition had gotten worse in the time it took Jane to find the medicine.Her hands were shaking, her head was turning side to side, and she was squirming.Jane held Jiyoo as she put the thermometer up to her ear.38.9°C.Jane didn’t know if this was a high enough temperature to make a six-year-old act like this.Was it enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room or would some Tylenol do the trick?
What did Mom usually do when Jiyoo had a fever?Jane ran to the kitchen and started rummaging through the medicine drawer again.She grabbed a bottle of white syrup and read the instructions, which were written in felt pen on the front of the bottle.
Ibuprofen.10 ml, 4x per day.
