Written by IU (Lee Ji Eun) Illustrated by Laura Sofía Fernández Forero Herramientas Digitales de Diseño e Ilustración Communication Faculty Universidad de La Sabana @2021-2 Bogotá, Colombia
Yet even as time passes, there are wounds that don’t heal; because I cannot love myself fully, today it is a sorrowful night. The face in the mirror feels unfamiliar, that I silently close my eyes as usual. When the night arrives, I want to move on to tomorrow and be that child who dreamt of so many wishes again. Did she suffer for so long just to become the person I am today? Day by day that passes, I get farther away from her that I don’t think we will ever reconcile. I don’t think it will get better.
When I was young, there was an endless sea in my heart but now only the faintest traces remain. Back then my breath was filled with excitement. That gentle wind flowing above my head makes me want to become a wave and run anywhere. Now I slowly open my eyes with less fear.
Every moment of the world comes to me and becomes a dazzling gift and me who doubted so many times, I think can finally give to my younger self a reply. The long-lost memories are calling me from the other side with the voice I had forgotten for a long time.
Now I go back to the place where the sea inside me was born and now I know that even if I get swept away and lost, I can be free. I will never again let the darkness take over me when I close my eyes, and I will never again pretend not to recognize myself.
Even sometimes, there will be days in which I will lose against life but even if I get lost again, I know the way back.