<1003rd Wednesday> I wish to forgive you

Ghil Won-ok(L) looks at the Peace Monument Girl with her big smile at the 1003rd Wednesday demonstration on 4th of Jan.

I am prepared to forgive you.

I have come here to mark the 1000^th Wednesday Demonstration on 14 December 2011.
Since then I have been sitting here for 22 days.

I’m not lonely even in the pitch-black darkness of midwinter.

Someone has put a scarf around my neck.
Someone has put a pair of shoes on me.
Someone has left a bunch of flowers for me.
Someone has left pocket money for me out of their own purses.

I’m not lonely for you are with me.
You have come to my side holding your children’s hands.

I have been here for a very little while.
But another ‘I’ have come here every Wednesday for 20 years.

Long time ago, that innocent young ‘I’ was taken as a sex slave in wartime.
But people called me ‘a dirty woman’ and pointed.

Their misunderstanding
My embarrassment and humiliation
I could not go out of my room and lift my face.

Nevertheless, I’ m all right.
I’m all right with this seemingly never-ending issue.
For I know that you will be with me in 2012 too.

Some people are not happy with me sitting here.
But if they say just one word, ‘Sorry’
I am all right with all this.

It is nothing like I want to hear many words.
I am all right with the icy coldness and hurtful memories
If they say just one word ‘Sorry’.

I am sitting here today to ‘forgive’ them.

*This was written in the first person speaking from the viewpoint of the Peace Monument Girl.

Choi Sun-hwa  sun@theasian.asia