Summary

In September 2010, Hyeonseo is accepted by the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies but her mother and brother struggle to adjust to their new lives. Her mother misses her siblings and cannot find any meaning or future potential in the South. She says she wants to go home despite the consequences. She is "prepared to die [and wants] to die at home" (282).

Hyeonseo begins to plan her mother's return journey. Her mother is confident she can bribe the right people to avoid punishment upon her return. At the same time, Min-ho decides to apply for university to further his potential in the South. Suddenly, their mother decides not to go back to the North since she will miss her children too much. Hyeonseo feels responsible for condemning her mother to live with the loss of her siblings and feelings of regret for...