Status Updates From Finding Junie Kim

“Amy throws her arms around both of us.

‘I love you two jerks!’

Which makes us both laugh. It is the best feeling in the world to know that your best friends still love you, no matter what.”

“The truth is I don’t want to talk about it, but they’re my friends, and I should tell them what’s happening to me. But I’m tired of taking about it. Is it because of the depression that I don’t want to talk about it, or do I not want to talk about the fact that I have depression? I have no idea. But I’m just so tired all the time.”

“When Doha had asked a similar question, his father had turned very serious. ‘My son, war is horrific and dehumanizing. It numbs us to suffering, pain, and death. Therefore, it requires average citizens to take extraordinary measures. For if we don’t do what we can to minimize the suffering of others, we will lose our humanity.’”

“Dr. Han gently wiped away his son’s tears and smiled. ‘Doha-ya, you were right to go with your friend, even though you worried us. There are moments in life when a person must decide between what’s right and what’s safe. It is one of the most difficult decisions in life, and I would never be angry at you for choosing to do what’s safe. But I will always be proud of you for doing what’s right.’”

“Grandpa is silent again. He stares at me with so much sadness that I can feel the tears prick the backs of my eyes again. His silence has always been part of his conversation.”

“Grandpa suddenly stands up and comes to sit next to me. He pulls me close and pats me on my back as if to say, There, there. It’s all going to be okay. I can smell peppermint and his spicy aftershave lotion. I want to remember this scent. This is what my grandfather smells like.”

“I glance over at my mom and I see that my dad has a tight grip on her hand, as if to say Chama. It's a Korean word that they use a lot. It means to endure and suffer through it. My grandfather says that it's something Koreans have had to do historically, because Korea was invaded so many times.”