Fantasy and Reality

When Chung is severely bullied in her childhood or felt uncertain of her place in society, she resorts to reading and writing. By immersing herself in her own fantasy-world and imagining pleasant alternatives to her actual experiences, Chung successfully avoids her painful struggles with racial discrimination or frustration towards the lack of transparency in her adoption. Although this method protects and provides her with a coping mechanism throughout her difficult childhood, it simultaneously causes her overwhelming despair in moments when her fantasy and reality clashes. The first and most traumatizing experience Chung encountered in the clash between her fantasy and reality occurred when a young boy who was meant to be her friend bullied her relentlessly because of her race.

Upon discovering her mothers’ abusive nature, Chung realizes that the previous image she had built up of her mother was largely misguided. To avoid the painful...