Beneath The Glitter

As Hye-ja pushed open the metal door, she was astonished and startled by the sight before her. Lying on the floor was a frail, human-like body, unlike any she had ever seen before.

The woman's skin was a deep, rich brown, a color Hye-ja had never encountered in her village.

But it was not just the woman's skin color that shocked Hye-ja - it was her condition. The woman was clearly pregnant, her belly swollen and distorted. Hye-ja's eyes widened in surprise, and she felt a surge of compassion for this stranger.

Nzanzu, sensing Hye-ja's gaze, weakly pointed to her womb and then to her legs. Hye-ja's eyes followed the gesture, and she saw that Nzanzu's legs were covered in bruises and scars.

Despite her initial shock, Hye-ja's training as a midwife kicked in. She knew that she had to help this woman, no matter what. She gently knelt down beside Nzanzu, trying to communicate with her in a soothing voice.

Ju-Hoon, who had been watching the scene unfold, looked up at Hye-ja with wide, curious eyes. "Halmoni, who is this?" he asked, using the Korean term for "grandmother."

Hye-ja hesitated, unsure of how to explain the situation to Ju-Hoon. But before she could respond, Nzanzu's eyes locked onto hers, and Hye-ja saw a desperate plea for

Hye-ja's eyes widened in astonishment as she took in Nzanzu's appearance. She had never seen a black person before, and the sight was both shocking and fascinating.

But Hye-ja's training as a midwife quickly took over, and she knelt down between Nzanzu's legs, assessing her condition. "Ju-Hoon, go find some water," she instructed, her voice firm and calm.

Ju-Hoon nodded and ran outside, returning with a Jerry can of water. Hye-ja took it from him and poured some water onto her hands, washing them clean. She then reached into her suck and pulled out some herbal remedies she had collected from the forest.

As she worked, Hye-ja's mind was racing. She knew she had to act quickly, but she also knew that she had to be careful. She didn't know who had held Nzanzu hostage, or what they might do if they found out that Hye-ja was helping her.

But Hye-ja's compassion and training won out over her fear. She began to tend to Nzanzu's wounds, using her herbal remedies to clean and dress them.

Using a sign language trying to assure her, that everything will be okay.