I Swear You Will Be Fine

Dear Josh,

As you know, we are heading back home today from Seoul.

We didn’t expect to miss you as much as we did. It was meant to be a shopping and eating trip, something you wouldn’t necessarily like. So it felt easier to plan. We were wrong though.

A lot of the trip reminded us of the last trip the 3 of us took together to Japan. Your name comes up almost every couple of hours. When we got to the hotel, we talked about how much you would have liked the room, and the bathroom. You always loved your baths when we travelled. Every time I look at the massive bathtub, I think of you, and what a mess you would have made splashing water and probably flooding the bathroom.

The additional bed is missing in the hotel room. The one you and Jess would have squabbled over.

Every restaurant we go to, we still look at the menu and talk about which foods you may have eaten. Not very many. Although I did say that you may have enjoyed the Korean BBQ beef! Last night, we had bingsu. Do you remember when Jess, you and I shared an Oreo bingsu? It was your favourite flavour. When we were waiting for the lift to take us to the dessert cafe, one of the passengers from the earlier lift had to get out because it was overcrowded. While waiting with us, he started a conversation with Jess. He was on a school graduation trip with his friends. It reminded us of how these things were normal and expected, but not something you could cope with.

This morning we went to the palace. Again, we were reminded of the time we visited the palace in Tokyo. The weather was warm just like the last time. As we were walking on the street looking at the many ladies and girls dressed in their beautiful hanboks, I saw a boy on the other side of the street. My heart dropped for second. He looked just like you.

You are everywhere we go. From the purple lilies and red roses that line the sidewalks, to the beautiful trees. We miss not being able to shop for clothes for you. You would have liked the clothing here.

We still managed to buy you something though. A little “Robin” from Batman & Robin, one of your favourite characters. And a little Snorlax, another of your favourite Pokemon characters. I am reminded of the time you spotted a giant Snorlax and asked me to buy it back for you. This Snorlax has a little LED light. We will place them in your room tomorrow.

As we fly back, I will look for you in the clouds. Like Shalini says, it somehow feels like we are closest to you then.

Love Mum