The Walk Home, With Her Daughter a Few Steps Ahead
On the walk home, her daughter gets a few steps ahead. Sujin follows, unable to match her pace, holding onto the words she never quite asks.
On the walk home, Sujin is beside her grown daughter. When her daughter moves ahead, Sujin can’t put their changed relationship into words.
On the way home, Sujin’s grown daughter walks ahead along their usual route, making dinner plans with a friend on the phone. Following behind, Sujin can’t link arms with her or add to the conversation like she used to. In the counseling room, Dalbit asks what Sujin couldn’t say on that walk. Sujin admits that whenever her daughter picked up the pace, she slowed her own steps. The story ends with those words left in the room.
When Your Pace Differs From Your Child’s
When your child walks at her own pace, you can also notice where your own steps begin to slow.
When did you hold back words while spending time with your child?
I keep thinking about that moment on the walk home, following someone a few steps ahead and holding back what I wanted to say. I saw one person walking at her own pace while the other couldn’t keep up and slowed down. If you’ve walked a similar path, you’re welcome to share what stayed with you.
Scenes
- 01 · Daughter Walking Ahead The Pace on the Way Home — On the way home, her daughter starts walking a few steps ahead. Daughter: Mom, I’m having dinner with a friend tonight. Sujin: Okay. Take care.
- 02 · The Call Continues Plans With a Friend — Her daughter walks as she makes dinner plans with a friend, while Sujin slows down behind her. Daughter: Yeah, then let’s meet in front of the station. Sujin: Go on ahead. I’ll take my time.
- 03 · No Longer Walking Side by Side Slowed Steps — Sujin tries to match her daughter’s pace, then stops. Her daughter walks on ahead.
- 04 · The Words She Swallowed Words Caught in Her Throat — For the first time, Sujin says in the counseling room what she couldn’t bring herself to say on the walk when her daughter walked ahead. Dalbit: Sujin, what was the first thing you wanted to say on that walk? Sujin: I wanted to walk together. Like we used to.
Stories by Dalbit
- Dalbit
- When I see my reflection in the subway window, I have even less to say to my husband.
- On Friday evening, I was left alone in a room with the light on.
- After saying you’re okay on your first day
- I get asked for favors every lunch break
- There’s someone you think of when you’re sick, but on payday, you hesitate.
- When I get back from a celebration, I start doubting the story I’ve made up about myself.
- At lunch on her first day, one chair was left empty
- After hearing my friend’s news, I fall behind at work