Six months had passed since Chaewon started working at the center.
"Teacher, you did really well in today's counseling session."
"You have a talent for teaching children too."
Chaewon had a special connection with children who had trauma. Perhaps because she had experienced
memory loss herself, the children opened their hearts to her.
"Teacher, I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I . my memories are slowly coming back."
"Really?"
"Yes. Memories with my mother. And . memories from that night too."
Chaewon's expression became serious.
"That night . I saw your car coming."
I tensed up.
"But I don't resent you. Rather . I'm grateful."
"What are you grateful for?"
"Because that accident happened, I could become who I am today. I met a wonderful family in America, I
was able to study, and now I can do this work."
Chaewon took my hand.
"Teacher, you also came to do this work because of that accident. Maybe . maybe everything was meant
to be."
"Meant to be?"
"Yes. You, me, and even my mother . maybe we were all meant to meet so we could help more people."
That night, I visited Eunju and Chaewon's grave. I wasn't alone anymore. Chaewon was with me.
"Mom, I'm here."
Chaewon knelt in front of the grave.
"I remember. How much you loved me. And how you tried to protect me even in your final moments."
Chaewon placed flowers down.
"I'm fulfilling your dream. And I'll continue to fulfill it."
I also placed flowers.
"Eunju . Chaewon has grown up so wonderfully. And I . I will spend my lifetime carrying on your will
together with this child."
The wind blew, scattering the flower petals. It felt as if Eunju was blessing us.
True Epilogue - 10 Years Later
New Beginnings
"Congratulations, Director Kang Minjae."
Many people applauded at the awards ceremony. I was receiving the 'Social Contribution Award of the
Year.'
"Thank you. But this award isn't something I can accept alone."
I stood in front of the microphone.
"Ten years ago, I made a terrible mistake. Because of that mistake, I nearly lost a precious life. But that
experience changed me and allowed me to help more people."
From the audience, Chaewon smiled and applauded. She had now become the assistant director of the
center.
"This award belongs to everyone who has worked with me, and . to those who gave me forgiveness and
a new opportunity."
After the ceremony ended, Chaewon approached me.
"Teacher, your speech was really good."
"Thank you."
"Teacher, but I have one more piece of good news."
"What is it?"
Chaewon held out her hand. There was a ring on it.
"I'm engaged!"
"Really? To whom?"
"To the doctor who volunteered at our center. Do you remember? Dr. Kim Junho."
"Ah, that guy! He's a good person."
"Yes. And . I'll continue doing this work even after marriage. This is my life now."
I hugged Chaewon tightly.
"Chaewon, thank you. Because of you, I was able to heal completely."
"Me too, teacher. Because of you, I was able to truly find myself."
Final Memory
That night, I stayed alone at the center to organize things.
I suddenly remembered the day I first opened this place ten years ago. Back then, I was buying and
selling other people's memories, losing even my own identity.
But now it's different. I've completely accepted myself, and I was able to turn even the mistakes I made
into stepping stones for growth.
I looked at the photos hanging on the wall. Thousands of people who had passed through the center.
People who had overcome their pain and started new lives.
And in the very center hung a photo of Eunju and young Chaewon.
"Thank you. For changing me like this."
Just then, the door opened. It was Minho.
"Hyung, are you still here?"
"Yeah. Just . thinking about a lot of things."
"What about?"
"Now . I think I'm truly at peace."
Minho put his hand on my shoulder.
"Watching you change taught me a lot too. What real courage is, what real love is."
"Thank you too. Without you, I couldn't have come this far."
The brothers looked at each other and smiled.
"Hyung, let's go home. We have a lot to do tomorrow too."
"Alright."
As I closed the center door, I looked at the sign one last time.
'Hope Healing Center - Memories are not to be erased, but to be healed'
Ten years ago, I was a merchant who sold memories. Now, I am someone who plants hope.
And this is the real me that I found.
The End
"We all make mistakes. But how we accept those mistakes and how we turn them into stepping stones for
growth determines who we really are."- From Kang Minjae's memoir 'From a Shop That Sold Memories to Becoming Someone Who Plants Hope'