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'
Synopsis
Prologue - Confession of a Memory Merchant
My name is Kang Min-jae, 29 years old. My profession? Memory merchant.
At 7 AM sharp, I unfailingly open the door to my small shop bearing the sign "Memorium." From the
outside, it looks like an ordinary café, but instead of coffee, we sell memories here. To be precise, we buy,
sell, store, and heal them.
People in this world fall into two categories: those who want to remember, and those who want to forget.
I work as a broker between them—sometimes like a doctor, sometimes like a counselor, sometimes just
as someone who listens.
But my own memories . they only go back three years. Everything before that is shrouded in fog, hazy
and unclear. Sometimes in dreams I hear someone's voice, but it vanishes the moment I wake up.
"Hyung . why did you do that ."
I had the same dream again last night. Someone was calling me, crying. But I don't know who it was or
why they were crying.
Today, once again, I'll have to peer into someone else's memories. I'll enter their lives, feel their pain and
joy alongside them, and sometimes carry their burdens for them.
I find myself wondering: Who am I, really? And why did I end up doing this work
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