Page 138 of Perfect Happiness

“No,” Jiyoo said as she shook her head and rid her mind of the images.“It’s nothing.I just—”

“Good,” Mother said with a nod.“It’s okay.It was just a dream.It’ll all disappear when you wake up in the morning.”

“Shall I stay here until you fall asleep?”Mother asked in a concerned tone.

“No.”

Jiyoo had never fallen asleep while being watched by Mother.At least, not as far as she remembered.She thought it would actually be harder to fall asleep if Mother was watching over her.

“Good.Then I’ll go back to finish my bath.”

Mother turned off the lights and went out of the room.She left behind a damp, fishy smell.

Mother was right.Jiyoo thought she was dreaming that same dream, but she wasn’t.The dream always ended at the bottom of the stairs.And that was because Mother’s voice always stopped her before she got to the bathroom.Because of this, she had forgotten all about the bare foot dangling over the side of the bathtub.At least until she saw the legs with white sneakers dangling from the wheelbarrow.

Jiyoo wondered if the white sneakers were also a dream.If they were, then the loon in the attic had to be a dream, too.

Yes.It was a dream.The kind of dream that Dad Puppet protected her from, the kind of dream that disappeared as soon as she woke up.Jiyoo lifted herself off the floor.Immediately she looked out the window again.The light was motionless in the middle of the footpath.Although the snow was obscuring the light, she could see it clearly enough.

But isn’t that strange?Mischievous Mouse asked.I don’t remember you falling asleep tonight.But don’t you have to fall asleep to dream?

Jiyoo searched her memory.Had she fallen asleep without being aware of it?Sometimes, when she lay in bed with her eyes closed, it felt like she was both asleep and not asleep.That night was like that, and so was tonight.According to the doctor, this happened when Jiyoo was only in a light sleep.Jiyoo regretted not asking the doctor if she could dream while only in a light sleep.

Just do something to test if you’re dreaming or not.Mischievous Mouse said.Mother’s not home right now.

Jiyoo turned her head and looked at the wall behind the bed.The pounding and the crying were only getting louder.

Doesn’t it seem like it knows Mother is gone?Doesn’t it seem like it’s asking you to hurry?

Mischievous Mouse asked the question, then answered it.

It might be a person, not a loon.

No.Jiyoo shook her head.Who would be here but Mother and Stepfather?It could be a thief.But a thief wouldn’t try to send Jiyoo a message.They would take what they wanted and run away as fast as possible.

Go over to the bed.

The good daughter inside Jiyoo, whom Mischievous Mouse hated, reminded Jiyoo of the promise she made to Mother.She told Jiyoo to jump in bed and go to sleep.She warned Jiyoo that if she broke her promise to Mother again, she would never be forgiven.She showed Jiyoo an image of her dragging her suitcase through the doors of an orphanage.

Jiyoo went over to the bed and sat down.The sounds beyond the wall continued.It was now banging on the wall in counts of three.Thud, thud, thud...thud, thud, thud.

I have an idea, Mischievous Mouse said as it appeared again.Say something to the wall.If it’s a loon or if this is a dream, you won’t get a reply.If it is a real person, then you will get an answer.Nothing will happen if you talkto the wall.You won’t be leaving the room.You won’t be breaking your promise to Mother.

This convinced Jiyoo.She worked up her courage.She cautiously knocked on the wall twice.The loon stopped crying immediately, as if to listen to the sound Jiyoo was making.Jiyoo pressed her ear against the wall and spoke to it.

“Is anyone there?”

There was a loud thud on the wall.Just once.As if to say,Yes!

Jiyoo took her ear from the wall in shock.Was it really a person?Or perhaps it was just a coincidence.Unable to decide, Jiyoo decided to ask again.

“Are you a person?If yes, knock once.If no, knock twice.”

Thud!

Jiyoo stared in the direction of the sound.She asked her third question.

“Do you know me?”